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
Residents in Osaka Welcome Taiwan Recognition
Osaka’s small but vocal Taiwanese immigrant community scored a notable victory this past week. No longer will Osaka residents born in Taiwan have to list “China” as their place of birth.
A change in the law, announced this week, allows foreign residents to list their “region” of birth as opposed to their country.
Whilst this does not undo Japan’s diplomatic decision to switch recognition from Taiwan to China which took effect in 1972. It does however, undo a 1964 statute forcing Taiwanese residents to list their nationality as China, since at the time, Japan recognized Taiwan as The Republic of China.
Recent data shows that just 5% of people born in the Island nation, which the Chinese Government claims is a rogue province, identify as Chinese.
Residents Rule Change Angers China
Of course, the move did not go unnoticed in China.
Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry criticized the Japanese government’s intervention. He said that the Taiwan issue is a “purely Chinese, internal matter”.
With more than a hint of sarcasm, Japan’s Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki responded to Guo’s comments. Suzuki said: “The use of the nationality/region column on foreign resident’s documents is a purely a Japanese internal matter.”
In reality, this is merely a paper exercise and the long-term political fallout between Japan, China and Taiwan is minimal. However, for the Taiwanese living in Osaka, this is a small victory that they will celebrate for some time to come.
Expo Chief Back on Duty After Hospital Stay
The minister overseeing final preparations for the Osaka 2025 International Expo returned to duty on Tuesday this week. Yoshitaka Ito was hospitalized on Feburary 10th as a precautionary measure due to a urinary tract infection.
Initially, doctors expected he would spend about a week in hospital. However the 76 year old had to extend that stay to 2 weeks. He was finally discharged on Sunday February 24th. He returned to full duties at his office on February 26th.
Ito said he was feeling healthy, well-rested and ready to get back to work making Osaka’s Expo the best possible event it can be.
Osaka Mayor Wants a Less Formal Workplace
Osaka and its residents have never been noted for their formality. Indeed, it is their outgoing jovial nature, in contrast to most stereotypes of Japanese people that gives the city its unique charm and charisma. However, at city offices, the highly formal, hierarchical structures that characterize offices across the country remained in place. Until now. Osaka City Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama wants to change that.
In a directive issued this week, Yokoyama asked all staff to refer to each other using the suffix “san”.
Traditionally, one would only refer to someone of similar or lower standing in the managerial hierarchy as san. Higher ranked officials and managers would have their own titles. Yokoyama feels this stance is outdated. He hopes the directive change, which is purely advisory and non-binding will have a positive impact on office environments in the city.
“We want to create an environment where subordinates and superiors can communicate at a closer level.” Said the mayor, addressing media this week.
Whilst clearly well intended, most staff would probably appreciate more robust rules to combat overwork, power harassment and bullying, which remain rife in many offices across the country.
And Finally…
Baseball Pitcher Taisuke Yamaoka found himself in hot water this week. The Orix Buffaloes star was suspended by the Osaka-based team this week, amid allegations of online gambling. Online gambling of any kind is illegal for residents of Japan. It is alleged that Yamaoka took part in an online Poker Tournament. He participated via an online gambling portal website based outside Japan. Though such sites block users from registering accounts with either a Japanese address or credit card, vpns and other such software make these rules fairly easy to get around.
Yamaoka confirmed that he spoke with Osaka police about the allegations last week. It remains to be seen if any criminal charges will be brought. Both Yamaoka and the Buffaloes management were keen to stress that the site Yamaoka used does not facilitate baseball betting in any way. Yamaoka did not gamble on anything other than poker games, according to his own statements. Nevertheless, it’s not a good look for a baseball star and idol to so many kids in Osaka.
That’s all for now, but be sure to check back again same time next week for another round of This Week in Osaka!
