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.
Sales “Below Expectations” as Expo Nears
At the time of writing it is New Years Day here in Japan. The 2025 Osaka Expo is just 4 months away. However, ticket sales remain sluggish and public apathy remains high. Organizers initially set a target of 14 million in ticket sales for the Expo. However, as of this past week, they are barely halfway past this sales target.
Current total advance ticket sales for the Osaka Expo sit at 7.44 million. Additionally, the vast majority of those ticket sales were to the corporate sector.
Business and Enterprise customers accounted for 82% of total domestic ticket sales for the expo thus far. Between the official Expo website direct sales, and additional paper ticket sales at convenience stores, the general public only bought around 12% or 775,000 tickets.
The remaining balance, some 6% of the total ticket sales was via affiliated travel agents to overseas customers.
Sales Slump, Political Issues, Prompt More Nations to Withdraw
In a further blow to the Expo’s planners, four more nations announced their withdrawal from the event over the festive period.
Iran, South Africa, Botswana and El Salvador all announced their withdrawal from the Expo. No official reasons were given, however, there is plenty of speculation. Iran currently faces internal unrest, after the recent toppling of neighboring ally Bashar Al-Assad, in neighboring Syria. Escalating tensions with Israel over their occupation of Palestine have also left Iran internationally isolated.
So, in short, the Iranians have far more pressing matters to deal with than a World Expo, held in a key US ally’s territory.
With Botswana, South Africa and El Salvador, it seems far clearer cut. The Expo just isn’t generating the ticket sales or the interest in those far-flung countries to warrant further investment. One source, speaking on condition of anonymity said: “The reality is for a lot of these countries, that the Expo has simply become more trouble than it is worth. The costs of going there and maintaining a presence over several months just isn’t worth it. These countries all have their own economic issues to deal with, that are of far greater importance at this time.”
These latest dropouts bring the total number of countries to withdraw from the expo thus far to 12. If sales don’t pick up soon, others may follow.
Organizers were said to be “reassessing their sales strategy” at this time.
We wait with baited breath, to see if, even at this late stage, organizers can turn this white elephant of an event around.
“Black Widow” Serial Killer Dies in Osaka Prison
One of the most notorious serial killers of the 21st century in Japan, has died. Chisako Kakehi was 78. She was convicted of three counts of murder, and one count of attempted murder. In 2021, her death sentence was confirmed. However, ultimately, she died on death row, before it could be carried out.
In one of the most callous cases in recent memory, Kakehi targeted lonely older men, seduced them, and then poisoned them in order to obtain their financial assets.
Using cyanide, she murdered her husband Isao Kakehi, then her future partners Masanori Honda and Minoru Hioki. Kakehi carried out the killings between 2012 and 2013. She was also convicted of attempting to kill another male acquaintance, Toshiaki Suehiro in 2007. Kaheki apparently owed him a debt in excess of 40 million yen. However, Suehiro survived the attack. Unfortunately, he passed in 2009 before he could see justice served.
Kakehi’s death brings the grisly story to an end. The victims’ families will now never know her full motives for killing their loved ones.
And Finally…
We close out today’s news roundup on a lighter note.
Kansai Airport expects to break records this holiday season. Ticket sales both inbound and outbound have hit new all-time highs in recent days, as much of the Japanese public takes a well-earned break.
In something of a rarity for hard-working Japan, calendar dates aligned this year to allow most workers to take a full 9 day vacation from work. Kansai Airport executives credit this for a renewed appetite among domestic travelers. Additionally, the weak yen, whilst problematic for exporters, makes inbound travel to Japan seem like a real bargain compared to previous years.
Wherever you are going, and whatever you are doing this holiday season, we at Osaka.com would like to thank you for all your support in 2024. We look forward to continuing to provide the very best coverage for you through 2025 and beyond.
That’s all for now, but be sure to check back again same time next week for another round of This Week in Osaka!
