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Tag - osaka

 
 

OSAKA

An Upper House committee discusses a bill on the establishment of a secondary capital, in Tokyo on Wednesday.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Politics
Jul 23, 2026
JIP¡¯s priorities take center stage even as household relief stalls
The Liberal Democratic Party no longer finds itself strictly needing the Japan Innovation Party¡¯s support, yet the latter¡¯s priorities continue to shape the parliamentary agenda.
A cardiac muscle cell sheet that uses induced pluripotent stem cells
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Science & Health
Jul 22, 2026
Another iPS product approved for public insurance coverage in Japan
It is the second case of insurance coverage approval in the nation for an induced pluripotent stem cell-derived regenerative medicine product.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is facing growing criticism over the lack of unity between her Liberal Democratic Party and ruling coalition partner Japan Innovation Party.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Politics / FOCUS
Jul 22, 2026
Takaichi faces growing headache over LDP and JIP¡¯s lack of unity
Poor communication and mistrust were major sources of governance problems and parliamentary chaos that led to an extension of the current session of the Diet.
Wes-P has millions of followers and his viral clips made him recognizable out of Japan.
CULTURE / Stage
Jul 21, 2026
Can Japanese comedy get laughs in English? Yoshimoto Kogyo lets the jokes rip
A zany weekly comedy show in Tokyo and Osaka aimed at non-Japanese speakers tries to jump over language barriers.
The Osaka Bar Association holds a rally in September. The association has been supporting member lawyers dealing with physical and mental health issues, many of which arise from the heavy workloads and unique pressures of the legal profession.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Jul 20, 2026
Osaka bar group offering mental health support for lawyers
The Osaka Bar Association started providing support for its members in 2008, when it established a consultation desk staffed by lawyer-consultants with expertise in various fields.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attends a parliamentary meeting on Wednesday.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Politics / FOCUS
Jul 19, 2026
Takaichi expected to struggle during an extended Diet session
The ruling LDP and the Japan Innovation Party hopes to enact a secondary capital bill during this limited time.
Miki Tanaka says that a key part of her service as a sommelier is keeping a close eye on how her customers peruse and engage with the wine list when they first sit down at her restaurant.
LIFE / Food & Drink
Jul 19, 2026
Kansai¡¯s first Michelin-selected sommelier knows how to read a room
In April, Miki Tanaka was given the Michelin Guide¡¯s first-ever sommelier award for Kyoto and Osaka.
A municipal junior high school in the city of Kaizuka, Osaka Prefecture, where an unknown spray was released on Friday
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Crime & Legal
Jul 17, 2026
23 injured after substance sprayed at Osaka junior high school
Fifteen students and eight school staff members said they were experiencing?sore throats and skin irritation after the incident, according to the city¡¯s board of education.
A bill on establishing a backup capital clears the Lower House plenary session on Wednesday.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Politics
Jul 16, 2026
Parliament likely to seek extension as time runs out on backup capital bill
The ruling bloc is expected to submit a request for an extension ¡ª up to 10 days ¡ª by Friday.
The 139-kilometer extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line is expected to take around 26 years to complete.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Society
Jul 15, 2026
LDP and JIP decide on Kyoto route for Hokuriku Shinkansen line extension
The 139-kilometer extension, which will run through eastern Kyoto Prefecture and will have its own stop near Kyoto Station, is expected to take around 26 years to complete.
A view of the burnt-out building in Osaka's Dotonbori entertainment district in August 2025
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Crime & Legal
Jul 14, 2026
Careless smoker accused of causing fatal Osaka fire in 2025
The police called for prosecutors to indict the man on charges of gross negligence resulting in an accidental fire.
The financial failure of Osaka-based Zentoshin has left 63 creditors with claims totaling ?115.16 billion, according to Tokyo Shoko Research.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 10, 2026
Lenders seek $700 million after Japanese payments firm¡¯s collapse
The financial failure of Osaka-based Zentoshin has left 63 creditors with claims totaling ?115.16 billion.
Neyagawa Mayor Keisuke Hirose speaks to reporters in the city in Osaka Prefecture on Thursday.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Jul 9, 2026
City in Osaka Prefecture to tax vacant houses from fiscal 2029
Annual revenue from the tax is estimated to reach ?139 million, which will be used for measures against crimes and natural disasters.
Zentoshin served around 200,000 shops, many of which rely on early payments to maintain cash flow, raising concerns over their financial stability following the disruption.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 8, 2026
Japanese payment processor¡¯s collapse hits banks and restaurants
Zentoshin, an Osaka-based credit card payment processor, filed for bankruptcy on Monday.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and the Japan Innovation Party leader Hirofumi Yoshimura meet in Tokyo on Tuesday.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Politics
Jul 8, 2026
LDP and JIP agree to delay bill to reduce Lower House seats
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and JIP chief Hirofumi Yoshimura decided to postpone debate on the bill to a later session of parliament.
Zentoshin had liabilities of about ?125,929 million, making its bankruptcy Japan's biggest of the year, Teikoku Databank said Monday.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 7, 2026
Credit card payment processor Zentoshin gets nod to begin bankruptcy proceedings
The company provided a service that paid sales proceeds to credit card merchants before they received payments from credit card companies.
Osaka¡¯s infrastructure earned higher marks than Tokyo¡¯s in the Economist Intelligence Unit¡¯s latest Global Liveability Index.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Society
Jul 7, 2026
Osaka trumps Tokyo as both ranked among world¡¯s top 10 most livable cities
Osaka ranked seventh, while Tokyo, which improved its culture and environment score, moved up three places to reach 10th.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department and Osaka Prefectural Police have issued arrest warrants for three people, including a suspected fraud network leader, over alleged immigration and residency violations.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Crime & Legal
Jul 5, 2026
Suspected Asian fraud ring exec served fresh warrant in Japan
The man, Hu Shi, and two others were initially arrested last month by Tokyo¡¯s Metropolitan Police Department on suspicion of submitting a false move-in notification.
Japan Innovation Party head Hirofumi Yoshimura speaks to the party's local members in the city of Osaka on Tuesday.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Politics
Jun 24, 2026
Backup capital progress shows Takaichi is listening to JIP despite LDP concerns
A deal on the matter gave Takaichi the needed votes to become prime minister and form a ruling coalition.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Monday.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Politics
Jun 23, 2026
Takaichi and JIP agree to pass bill on backup capital this parliamentary session
The Japan Innovation Party has long sought a backup capital plan, agreeing to join the ruling coalition last year in exchange for passing legislation on it.

Longform

For many people, utility poles and power lines have become such a familiar part of Japan¡¯s landscape that they often go unnoticed.
Why Japan¡¯s utility poles won¡¯t be disappearing anytime soon

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