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.
Osaka Archbishop Set for Key Role in Choosing Next Pope
It was a dark time this week for Osaka’s small yet active Catholic community this week. The passing of His Holiness Pope Francis was announced on Monday.
However, with the position as leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics now vacant, moves are already underway to determine Pope Francis’s Successor.
One of the select group of men charged with making that decision is Osaka’s own Archbishop.
Archbishop Manyo Maeda represents the Parish of Osaka-Takamatsu. He is one of only two Priests from Japan selected to participate in The Conclave. This gathering of 140 of the world’s highest-ranking Catholic cardinals and bishops will debate for several days before reaching a consensus on a new choice of Pope.
Could Osaka Archbishop Become the Next Pope?
Such a scenario seems unlikely but not impossible. Pope Francis, himself seen by many as a modernizing influence on the millennia old institution, was the first Pope appointed from South America.
With the Catholic church looking to grow its influence beyond just its European heartlands, rumors are rife that the next Pope may come from either Asia or Africa.
Neither of these continents has, thus far, produced a Pope. The vast majority of the Holy See’s leaders over the past 1500 years have been Italian.
However, if the next Pope does indeed hail from Japan, then a more likely candidate is probably Tokyo’s Archbishop Isao Kikuchi.
At 66, he is ten years younger than Archbishop Maeda. Given the relatively short reigns of the previous two Popes, many believe The Conclave will seek to appoint someone younger. Ideally, they want someone who could potentially hold the position for at least the next 20 years or so.
However, both Archbishop Maeda and Archbishop Kikuchi will participate in The Conclave. The new Pope is chosen from someone among that conclave, so both men have a chance at least.
In any case, it will probably be at least a couple of weeks before we know the outcome of The Conclave. Rules dictate it must begin within 15-20 days of the previous Pontiff’s passing, but there is no limit on how long these deliberations can run.
Still, as unlikely as it may be, Pope Maeda the 1st does have a certain ring to it.
Expo Implements Cooling Measures as Temperatures Rise
Just over ten days have passed since the Osaka International Expo 2025 opened to the public. So far, the event has been busy, with high attendances each day. This also brought with it some crowd control issues. However, with each passing day visitors and organizers alike report that the situation is improving.
However, the next point of concern for The Expo’s organizers is the increasingly hot weather. Last Sunday, the mercury nudged 28.1 degrees Celsius as Osaka sweltered in an early sign of the hot summer to come.
However, various Expo participants stepped up to help visitors beat the heat. The Scandinavian Pavilions offered rental umbrellas to those seeking shade whilst waiting outside. Water mist systems were also deployed throughout the venue.
The weather has cooled slightly since the weekend. However, forecasters predict more high temperatures in the days ahead. There is also the small matter of the Golden Week holiday Period. This is now a little over a week away. All signs point to a surge in visitors numbers during this exceptionally busy period for tourism all across Japan.
And Finally
One of Osaka’s brightest sporting stars looks set to clean up at this year’s annual Scottish football player of the year awards.
Celtic forward Daizen Maeda was named in the SPFL team of the season this week. The Osaka-born Japanese international striker has bagged more than 30 goals for Celtic this season.
He is also set to secure his 4th consecutive championship medal with the Glasgow side this weekend. Celtic only need to take one point from their match away to Dundee United on Saturday evening (Japan time) to secure their 4th consecutive title.
Maeda was also named as a candidate for Celtic’s own player of the year awards and seems a shoe-in for that accolade. The result will be determined by a fan vote via the club’s website. The winners will be announced at a glitzy event on the evening of Sunday, May 4th.
That’s all for now but be sure to check back again same time next week for another round of this week in Osaka!
