Latest news with #Osaka-KansaiWorldExpo
The Mainichi
25-05-2025
- Business
- The Mainichi
Japan-1st 'calm' spaces at station in Osaka offer sensory solace, yet hurdles remain
TOKYO -- At Osaka Metro's Yumeshima Station in Osaka, which opened this January ahead of the ongoing Osaka-Kansai World Expo, visitors with sensitivities to things such as light and sound can take a moment to cool down and calm down away from sensory overload in Japan's first in-station spaces built for the service. According to subway system operator Osaka Metro Co., the "calm down, cool down" spaces are a first of their kind to be set up within a railway station in Japan. However, Jiei Kato, the 19-year-old president of Crystalroad Inc., a company based in Tokyo's Chuo Ward that sells the same kind of facility, said that the spaces "still face a number of challenges." Kato himself has sensory sensitivities. In 2020, Kato started research organization Kabin Lab to disseminate information and develop products for sensory sensitivity while conducting research and product development in collaboration with companies and universities. In an online survey by Kabin Lab, over 80% of sensory-sensitive respondents said they have given up on outings due to the lack of rest areas. According to Osaka Metro, Yumeshima Station has two "calm down, cool down" areas, each with two booths, positioned on either side of the ticket gates. Each box-shaped booth placed along a wall is about 1.8 meters high, 1.5 meters wide and 1.5 meters deep, and contains a grey sofa. On a visit in March, Kato said he had a good first impression as the booth's exterior is black, the same color as the walls, and it is located in a place where not many people seem to come. On the downside, however, it lacked a roof and had direct light from above, while the walls were made of a reflective material, making him feel it was too bright. Furthermore, the entrance to the adjoining booth was close, making it hard to ignore those nearby. Kato commented, "People with sensory sensitivities, especially those with psychological conditions, have a strong desire not to be seen coming and going." There was also no indicator the booth was in use, making Kato worry about the possibility of someone entering. The calm-down spaces are installed in a number of places at the Expo 2025 venue. One, which Kato worked on as an adviser, has its own separated room that blocks outside noise and allows the user to adjust the lighting. When the Mainichi Shimbun conveyed Kato's feedback to Osaka Metro, an official responded by saying that the concept is at the halfway stage. Regarding the brightness, the official reported that users with other disabilities felt it was dark, so it was not possible to create a space in line with everyone's needs. The official added that the ideal of a closed space with a roof where users can adjust lighting presents challenges in terms of security and equipment. Regarding the closeness of the entries to each booth, the official explained that not much station space was available for the rest areas. However, after hearing about the concerns over a lack of an in-use indicator, one that lights up as the spaces are occupied was installed. Yet since there is just one for both spaces, it can prove difficult to know which, or whether both, of them are in use. Additionally, the lamp is motion detection-based, so if the person inside stays still, it'll shut off. The official said they wish to improve the system based on user feedback. While pointing out the areas for improvement at the facilities in Yumeshima Station, Kato said he welcomes a broader introduction of the calm-down spaces in stations and elsewhere. He agreed that they can pose a challenge considering the difficulty of hearing emergency announcements if they are fully noise-blocking. Another potential problem with the calm-down facilities is the possibility of misuse for criminal activities. Talking about his hopes for their spread going forward, Kato remarked, "Even if the calming down spaces are not actually used, their mere presence provides a sense of security and increases the choices for where to go out."
SoraNews24
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
The Osaka-Kansai World Expo has lots of food and souvenirs, if you dare enter where they're sold
They are not for the faint of heart or wallet. In my previous reviews of the 2025 Osaka-Kansai World Expo, I came to the basic conclusion that it's a pretty good time as long as you don't focus on more than one of the major pavilions and explore the more open areas with an equally open mind. I also found it to be busy but not overly congested, save for one exception: the souvenir stores. There are a few gift shops around the venue and each one is operated by a different company. Near the West Entrance, you'll find one run by Kintetsu Railway and another right next to it by JR West. Meanwhile, by the East Entrance, there's one managed by bookstore chain Maruzen Junkudo and another by Daimaru department stores. ▼ Inside the Daimaru Expo store They all have a slightly different array of goods, with almost everything bearing the likeness of Expo mascot Myaku-Myaku, but one thing they have in common is that they're insanely busy and crammed with people. ▼ This Myaku-Myaku doll display is very symbolic of the overall situation. The whole experience and all the elbows to the ribcage involved in it took me right back to the many mosh pits I found myself in during the '90s. Here's a look at some of the goods available, and I apologize for the photos which are not up to my usual standards as I was getting shoved around and could barely get glimpses of the shelves in the scant moments people weren't picking them clean. Often in articles like these, we like to ask the staff what the most popular items are. However, at the Kintetsu store the staff were insanely busy and it didn't matter anyway because I could see swarms of people buying stuff in real time to tell you what the hot items were. When I was there, people were going after the plush toys featuring Sanrio characters like Hello Kitty, dressed up as Myaku-Myaku. Despite being steeply priced at 13,200 yen (US$92) for the large ones and 6,930 yen for the small ones, the staff were literally struggling to keep the shelves stocked with them. The plush key chains provided a much cheaper alternative, with the elongated Nobi Myaku-Myaku ones only 880 yen each. Students seemed to be going for these ones mostly due to their price and ability to accentuate a school bag. Some were dressed up as comedians or Osaka obachan. I admit I scoffed at these when I first wrote about them, but the Myaku-Myaku piggy banks for 8,800 yen were getting very low on stock when I was there. Perhaps it's how they marketed it? The JR West store was also a madhouse, but slightly less so and I was able to quickly ask a clerk what the biggest seller was. She told me it was the Myaku-Myaku Assorted Sweets for 2,499 yen. For the most part, food items were more sanely priced. However, the stores seemed to know when they had something interesting and priced accordingly. Case in point was the Myakumen instant ramen for 2,116 yen. JR West also had some Myaku-Myaku crossovers with dolls of the ICOCA card platypus mascot dressed as the Expo mascot. There were also some Myaku-Myaku-Minion items, showing that Universal Studios Japan and the Osaka-Kansai Expo were partners rather than rivals. Over on the other side of the venue, the Maruzen store had a diverse range of Myaku-Myaku items, such as different-colored dolls, super balls, and omamori lucky charms. Items that didn't have Myaku-Myaku were few and far between but some interesting ones here were wall hangings and displays featuring artwork from Dragon Ball or Ranma 1/2 . Prior to coming here, I had planned to try my hand at the Myaku-Myaku capsule machine in the Daimaru shop. It sold Myaku-Myaku figurines with a rare chance to get a silver or gold one. However, it had already sold out by the time I got there. There were also some Myaku-Myaku Tamagotchi at one point but those had sold out by the time I got there too. Considering it was only a couple weeks into this six-month event and stuff was already selling out, hopefully they'll either get some more stock prepared or are planning the next wave of different items. ▼ Myaku-Myaku Hi-Chews were also pretty popular but luckily they were well stocked with those. It's hard to recommend browsing one of these shops unless there's something you really want to get or you're into full-contact sports. Luckily, for more casual purchases there were smaller satellite souvenir stalls set up elsewhere in the venue. The selection is more limited but there also weren't as many people. Thankfully, getting something to eat isn't as much of a physical ordeal for the most part. There are some major chains like Sushiro and Kurazushi there, but they're about as popular as the major pavilions there. Because it's possible to book a table at Kurazushi using their app, I gave it a shot two weeks in advance, but still couldn't get a seat. ▼ Sushiro to the Future: Expo Edition ▼ Maneki ekisoba restaurant But aside from those, there are several food-court-style places to eat, and they never seemed too busy that I couldn't get a seat, even around lunch and dinner time. However, as I mentioned in a previous article, the pricing is rather severe. I opted for this food court in the northeast part of the venue because it had a gorgeous Aomori-style paper lantern float by the entrance. Even the different food vendors there had lantern-style signs up. I decided to get some Takoyaki from the stall run by Kukuru, a popular octopus-ball shop in Dotonbori. It seemed like an appropriate thing to get at the Osaka-Kansai Expo and they had a cool robot that slathered on the Takoyaki sauce and mayo. This paper cup of beer and tray of takoyaki set me back 1,900 yen, a price that I believe would get you arrested for trying to charge in Osaka proper. It was good though, and the cuts of octopus inside were much larger than your typical takoyaki at least. For more budget-conscious nourishment, the three big convenience store chains, Family Mart, 7-Eleven, and Lawson also have locations inside the venue. The bottom line is that you should probably go into the Expo expecting to drop a fair bit of money, much like you would at any theme park. Another thing to note is that most places don't take cash here, which shouldn't bother visitors from overseas but is still a little strange for Japan. There is a limited range of lower priced items so you can still walk away with something though, even when on a budget. I tried to make a game of it by finding something cheap without Myaku-Myaku and came up with this box of T.M. Revolution cakes for just 1,404 yen. It still had Myaku-Myaku but it was the best I could do. I hadn't been sure if Myaku-Myaku was all that popular until actually going to the Expo and seeing people gobble up items with its likeness. It kind of makes me wonder if that gooey creature will still be around in Japan once the event has finished. Photos © SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
SoraNews24
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Fatal flop or fun? What is the 2025 World Expo in Osaka really like?
Let's compare what's being said on the Internet to what's really going on. In the weeks leading up to the 2025 Osaka-Kansai World Expo, a lot has been said about the event being poorly planned, over budget, and even hazardous. Osaka Mayor Osaka Governor Hideyuki Yokoyama alluded to a concerted effort to bash the event for either financial or political gain. Meanwhile, Osaka Governor Toru Hashimoto has been spending his online time confronting the chorus of complaints about the event, most notably from Mayor Fusaho Izumi of Akashi City in neighboring Hyogo Prefecture, who called the Expo and its signature Grand Ring 'the waste of the century.' Reading all this from the comfort of my home made me wonder who to believe. Negative press aside, I wasn't really motivated to go to the Expo myself, mainly because there wasn't any especially big draw. The flying car seemed destined to be the centerpiece for a while but got scaled way down to a simple viewing and occasional test flight demonstration. Left without an aim there, I couldn't really justify the 7,500 yen (US$52) admission. ▼ Sure, flying cars are essentially just helicopters or large drones, but I wanted to go up in one damnit… As luck would have it, an opportunity came when I covered Japanese candy maker Glico's exhibits and announcements there recently and I also had some time to go around and really take in what the Expo is and how well it lives up to the negative hype going around online. So, let's look at some of the common complaints. ● No One is Going Leading up to the opening, there was some speculation over whether the 2025 Expo could meet its goal of 28.2 million visitors, which would boil down to about 150,000 visitors per day. Since the organizers reported their one-millionth visitor on the 13th day after the expo opened, that would put them at a little under 80,000 per day, and even with that, there was some speculation that the numbers were being inflated. It's hard to estimate numbers from being there, but it was definitely a busy place. I arrived early in the morning and the train was packed. The crowd streaming out of the station was pretty similar to what Mr. Sato saw on the opening day as well. ▼ When Mr. Sato went on 13 April ▼ When I went on 30 April Because of this, the lineups to a lot of the bigger pavilions were substantial, and without a reservation anyone's chances of getting in are slim to none. On the other hand, the circular layout made it so people never bottlenecked anywhere and it was pretty easy to get around despite the large number of people. Most places had a rather spacious feeling. One thing worth noting is that World Expo attendance historically increases as time goes on, with the final weeks being the busiest as FOMO kicks in. For example, the record-breaking attendance of the Shanghai Expo didn't peak until mid-October, more than five months after it opened. So, even if Osaka is underperforming now, that could easily change in the future. Unfortunately, that might also change the not-so-crowded feeling I just mentioned. ● The Grand Ring is the Waste of the Century I might as well address Mayor Izumi's famous comment too. Initially, I wasn't blown away by the whole ring idea. Despite it being a world-record-breaking architectural accomplishment (recognized by the Guinness organization as the world's largest wooden architectural structure), traditionally built wooden structure, it is, at its core, just a big ring made out of wood. Upon seeing it firsthand, my suspicions were correct. It is indeed a big ring made of wood. That's really about it. ▼ Wood underneath… ▼ More wood on top… There's some grass on top too, and it offers a nice view of the ocean on one side along with a not-so-nice view of Osaka on the other side. I'm not trashing the Osaka skyline and think it's actually quite nice. It's just that from the ring's angle and distance it doesn't look all that hot. The ring is about two kilometers (1.2 miles) around so it would take about 10 to 20 minutes to walk a full lap. Because of this, I think they really should have put more thought into the designs of the tops of the pavilions. From most angles, the inside of the ring just looks like a cluster of nondescript buildings. ▼ Most angles are not especially great. The Italy pavilion looks way better from the ground. ▼ But there are a few sweet spots where you can get a nice shot, thanks to the Turkmenistan, Austria, and Switzerland pavilions looking nice from above. On the other hand, it does get really pretty when the sun sets. When I was there, a large crowd gathered on the ocean side to watch it. ▼ The sun setting from the far side of the ring ▼ If you zoom in, you can even see the dots of people gathering around it. The size of the ring could make for some really good forced perspective shots with a nice enough camera. Another big benefit of the Grand Ring is that when I went underneath it, the temperature must have dropped around five to 10 degrees thanks to the shade and channeled ocean breeze. There are also a lot of benches and some free water dispensers. I'm not sure how well this will hold up when the full force of summer hits, but it definitely helps. It also acts as a symbol for the event. Gov. Hashimoto described it as containing so many different countries, some of whom are currently at war with each other, all in the same confined space and working together peacefully. In that sense too, the Grand Ring can be seen as a good representation of the event itself. So, I wouldn't go nearly as far as saying the Grand Ring is the 'waste of the century', but as the centerpiece of the event, they could have put a little more into the experience of being on it. ● It's Going to Explode! Hmmm… There's not much I can say about that since I didn't blow up personally, nor have their been any explosions reported aside from that one that happened long before the expo opened. The landfill underneath the Expo emitting methane gas has been the cause for some visitor cancelations, but I have to think they are taking that matter as seriously as possible for the simple fact that a deadly explosion would be really bad for business. ▼ Water does periodically erupt from fountains inside the ring that are projection mapped on at night. Then again, Governor Hashimoto does remind me a little of that mayor in Jaws who refused to close the beaches despite the threat of a giant shark. If they really want to put these worries to rest, full transparency about what they are doing to channel the methane gas away from the venue safely would be a really good idea. ● They're Hanging Boulders over the Restrooms! I must say that is a complete fabrication. The boulders are hanging over an information center and some vending machines. The restrooms are located safely next to it. There were also some complaints that the restrooms lacked privacy, with configurations like child toilets with no stalls. I did notice a few facilities that seemed a little lax on privacy, and it did feel a little out of place at an event meant to showcase cutting edge culture and technology. But there were also many options for restrooms and I was never too far from one with more sufficient privacy if it bothered me. ● Stuff there is too expensive! Yup, that one is absolutely correct. I'd wager that everything I saw from food to souvenirs was about three to five times their price outside the venue. Acrylic keychains sold for about 850 yen ($6) and one food court was advertising a small plate of octopus balls for 900 yen as if someone would walk past that and say, 'Wow! What a deal!' ▼ For comparison, you could easily get octopus balls for around 300 yen in various places around Osaka. The one positive I noticed was that bottled water and other drinks from vending machines we not horrifically overpriced. I saw bottled water for only 130 yen, which is higher than the average Osaka vending machine but not as bad as places like Universal Studios Japan. However, that could be because they're competing with free water from the dispensers. Overall, I don't think the 2025 Osaka-Kansai World Expo deserves a lot of the flack it's getting for its attendance and construction. It does, however, deserve the flack for being overpriced. Sure, these premium prices are common for such events, but to truly represent Osaka, respect for the sacred bargain that the city is known for ought to be upheld too. Regarding whether it's worth buying a ticket for, that would also depend how interesting you'd find the things to see and do there, which I'll also cover in an article coming very soon. Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
SoraNews24
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
On-site coverage of the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo from our reporter's mother
Seiji's mom gives us her firsthand account. The 2025 Osaka-Kansai World Expo is now underway, and with an event of this magnitude, you can be sure we're here to bring you coverage that you won't find anywhere else. Naturally, we sent our ace reporter Mr. Sato on the very first day to tell us all about it. However, in the grip of expo fever, he was so excited that he accidentally took all his video with his camera set to inward. ▼ Mr. Sato checking out the Panasonic Pavilion ▼ Mr. Sato spotting a statue of Myaku-Myaku ▼ Mr. Sato looking up in awe at both the Australian and Swiss Pavilions However, in the few correctly oriented shots he took, we could see that there was a huge crowd there on opening day despite the nagging rain and a two-hour line-up that stretched all the way to the nearest station. That was actually a little surprising because a lot of buzz on social media has been describing the event as a disappointment and unable to draw flies. And just as Mr. Sato's Osaka-born colleague Seiji Nakazawa was pondering the situation back in Tokyo, his phone vibrated, notifying him of a text from his mother. ▼ Seiji's Mom (the kanji character for 'mother' covering her face): 'I came to the Expo!' It turned out Seiji's mother was also eager to see the international exposition early and headed there only a few days after the opening. Her message was accompanied by a photo of her standing in front of the Grand Ring, a wooden structure with a circumference of two kilometers that stands as the symbol of the event. As Seiji looked at the photo of his happy mom, he noticed something peculiar. There was only a sparse scattering of people both on top of the Grand Ring and along the path beneath it, lending credit to the Internet rumors. Seiji showed Mr. Sato, who said that the place she took the photo was a little far from the entrance so it was hard to say if the whole venue was devoid of people. Seiji started to worry that if it really was as crowded as Mr. Sato experienced, his mom's aging body might not be able to navigate the seas of people. He decided to ask her for more details. ▼ Seiji: 'Are there not many people? I heard the lines were crazy.' Seiji's Mom: 'Only the places that take reservations.' Not only did his mother not answer his pressing question of whether the place was crowded or not, the answer she gave seemed to defy logic. Why would only the places that take reservations have crazy lines? Seiji told her about Mr. Sato's experience and showed her the picture he took there, to which she replied, 'About 30 minutes.' She was clearly a woman of few words, but it was enough to start giving Seiji a grasp of the situation. While 30 minutes is still a long time to wait, it's only a fraction of the two hours that Mr. Sato stood there for, so the Expo was likely still a big draw but not enough to be a burden on her. Since Seiji's mom was no J.R.R. Tolkien, he asked her to instead use the 1,000 words pictures are known to say. She showed him images of bustling pavilion interiors and line-ups for the escalator to the top of the ring. On the other hand, there were also scenes with unoccupied benches and generally enough room to move about freely. He cross-referenced them with Mr. Sato, who said it looked significantly less crowded than four days earlier when he was there. The fact that Mr. Sato went on a day with miserable weather whereas Seiji's mom was enjoying a sunny day is also relevant when comparing the attendances. Afterward, Seiji was able to learn that his mother could get into the Mitsubishi Pavilion as well as the national pavilions of the Netherlands, Canada, and Poland all by reservation. Some other places she wanted to see like the USA Pavilion were too crowded and had wait times of 90 minutes even on a weekday, but pavilions that didn't require reservations were rather easy to get into. At least it seemed like there was enough to see and do with enough space that Seiji's mom could have a really good time. And when all is said and done, isn't that what the Expo is all about? Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
