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.
International Sister Schools Scheme Set to Expand
Osaka Prefecture’s High Schools may soon offer subsidized immersive international English courses for students. Under a new proposal, announced this week, the prefectural government will subsidize up to 100,000 yen per student for travel to study at “sister schools” in foreign countries.
Many of Osaka’s public high schools already enjoy good relations with schools in other countries. However the prohibitive cost of international travel, post pandemic, and the weak yen, makes international study restrictively expensive for many.
As part of moves to prolong the legacy of this year’s Osaka International Expo, prefectural education officials hope they can encourage more students to study abroad.
A Number of International Destinations Under Consideration
While the main purpose of their exchange trips will be to improve student’s English abilities, the list of possible destinations is not restricted to countries where English is the primary mother tongue. Alongside the usual candidates such as the USA and Australia, Taiwan and Korea are also possible destinations.
Not only do Taiwan and Korea have a number of schools where classes are given in English, but they are also far less expensive to travel to than the likes of the US.
A budget flight to Korea from Kansai Airport for example is only about 10% of the cost of a similar flight to the continental United States.
Additionally, with students only staying for around 10 days, lesser distance also makes jet lag less of an issue too.
Prefectural officials plan to begin rolling out the scheme at 49 different high schools this year. Eventually it will expand to include all of Osaka’s prefectural public high schools by fiscal year 2028.
Rice Prices Remain High, Curry Index Reaches New Peak
Much was made in the Osaka regional news last year of the sharp increase in rice prices amidst a domestic shortage. Whilst international suppliers stepped in to shore up the shortfall, they did so at a cost.
In the latest retail price index, which uses the cost of making a bowl of curry and rice as one of its benchmarks, prices reached a new high. The total cost of buying and preparing all the necessary ingredients for a traditional Japanese curry and rice dish has increased by 20% in just 12 months.
Analysts predict this price will rise even higher by the end of the year, as international rice and perishable vegetable markets continue to see price rises amidst the ongoing global cost of living crisis.
High International Prices Pave Way for Domestic Alternatives
Despite this, some analysts also point out that there may be a silver lining in this seemingly distressing news.
If one ingredient becomes too expensive, recipes usually allow for swapping out one ingredient for another. International rice prices, coupled with ongoing inflation create an opportunity for locally produced alternatives. Many in Osaka already enjoy Udon noodles with curry as an occasional alternative to rice.
Such noodles are far cheaper in the current economic climate.
And this is just one example.
As one expert put it: “When staple food prices reach an unsustainable level, there are two options open to consumers, find a cheaper source, or just eliminate that food from your daily diet.
“We may find that this current impasse leads to a surge in sales of locally produced rice alternatives.”
Far beyond just Osaka there is a growing consensus globally that food costs are too high, and need to come down. How this will be achieved however, remains the proverbial $64,000 question.
And Finally…
Gamba Osaka once again cemented their reputation this week, as a nurturer of Japan’s best emerging soccer talents.
The club announced this week that their promising young forward, Isa Sakamoto has sealed a loan move to Belgium. The 21-year-old striker will join Westerlo, initially on loan, with the option to buy at the end of the Belgian season.
Such deals are not unusual, given the lack of synchronicity between the European and J-League fixture calendars.
Like most of Europe, Belgium is currently at the midway point of its domestic soccer season. Gamba, on the other hand, don’t kick off their 2025 league campaign until March.
In any case, with Westerlo currently sitting in the relegation zone, failing to win any of their previous 5 matches, the stage is set for a hero to emerge. Could Sakamoto be the one to save Westerlo’s season?
Only time will tell.
That’s all for now, but be sure to check back again same time next week for another round of This Week in Osaka!
