Each week, here at Osaka.com, we bring you a selection of some of the top stories about Osaka making the local and national news here in Japan. Sometimes it’s serious, sometimes it’s funny, but it’s always direct to you, from Osaka.
Here’s a look at some of the stories hitting the headlines in Osaka this week.
Table of Contents
Memorial Marks 80 Years Since Osaka Bombing
There were somber scenes in Osaka this week. Support groups gathered to commemorate 80 years since the first bombing raid on Osaka.
March 13th 1945 was the first in a series of bombings that struck Osaka and the surrounding area. The eventual death toll surpassed 15,000 residents.
The event was hosted by a joint committee comprised mainly of journalists, lawyers and researchers on the subject. The venue was Peace Osaka, the colloquial name given locally to the Osaka International Peace Center, in Chuo Ward
Memorial Raises Awareness of Non-Japanese Victims
An estimated 15,000 casualties resulted from the allied bombing campaign. Just over 9,000, predominantly Japanese nationals have been identified and memorials held for them.
However, to this day, the identities of many non-Japanese nationals caught up in the devastation remain unknown. Of particular concern are victims born in the Korean peninsula, as well as those forcefully relocated from China and Korea at the time. Creating a suitable memorial for these victims has been a priority since the memorial group’s formation.
A small number of detained POWs from the US also perished in the raids.
Since the establishment of this memorial in 2019, organizers have undertaken considerable effort to try and identify some of these unknown victims.
By interviewing bereaved relatives, survivors and cross referencing with public records at the time, every year, more names add to the list of victims.
To date the groups efforts have led to the recognition of 167 victims from Korea, 8 from China and 3 from the US Armed Forces.
However, there remains a great deal of work to be done. Estimates place the number of actual Korean fatalities in the bombings at around 1,200 people. Organizers hope the annual event will continue to raise awareness and draw further interest in the issue.
One Month Countdown to Expo Kick Off Begins
This week marks exactly one month until the official opening of the Osaka World Expo 2025. Organizers this week made a final push to encourage visitors to take up the number of early bird ticket offers available. They also asked for patience as demand is expected to surge in the days leading up to the event’s grand opening.
After a long, drawn out and often controversial building process, the Expo is now almost ready for the public. Ticket sales also appear to have picked up as the event draws nearer. However, sentiment among Osaka residents remains mixed.
For more on the upcoming Expo, check out our guide to what to see and how to see it.
Osaka Students Nervous as School Year Draws to a Close
Most of Osaka’s elementary and junior high schools will hold their graduation ceremonies for senior students over the next 10 days or so.
Unfortunately, a recent survey suggests that many students are anxious about their uncertain future.
Cited as primary sources of worry for graduating students are: struggling to make new friends at their next school, missing teachers and friends from their old school, and the pressure to make their parents proud.
Education officials encouraged students with concerns to speak with school counsellors. However, lack of mental health provision means that many of these counsellors are only at schools once a week or in some cases even less. This makes it difficult for them to give all students the time they need to fully address their issues.
In any case, ceremonies move forward regardless, but parents and mental health advocacy groups continue to express concerns.
And Finally…
Osaka’s World Expo site welcomed some VIP visitors this week. Crown Prince Akishino, the brother of Emperor Naruhito toured various Expo exhibits along with his wife Princess Kiko this week.
Crown Prince Akishino is the Expo’s Honorary President. Although this title is largely ceremonial the Crown Prince has taken an active interest in the Expo and been kept aware of developments on a regular basis.
His visit is part of wider preparations for the opening ceremony on April 13th which will be conducted by the Emperor himself.
Among the facilities the royal couple toured included the Japan Pavillion, and the Grand Ring, recently confirmed by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest man-made wooden structure.
Some citizens of Osaka will have their first chance to see these facilities up close in a few weeks’ time, with a series of rehearsal events planned for the first weekend of April.
That’s all for now, but be sure to check back again same time next week for another round of This Week in Osaka!
