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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."
Yomiuri Shimbun
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yomiuri Shimbun
2025 Expo Osaka: Self-Driving Buses Halted after Minor Collision with Wall in Parking Area; No Injuries Reported
Yomiuri Shimbun file photo A self-driving bus connecting the Osaka-Kansai Expo venue and a nearby parking area All five self-driving shuttle buses at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo have been suspended in the wake of a minor collision caused by one of the buses. A bus lightly collided on Monday with a wall of a parking area while it was returning to a depot. The shuttle buses had transported visitors between the expo venue and a nearby parking area. No one was injured in the accident. Operator Osaka Metro Co. has suspended the service for the time being until the safety of the self-driving vehicles is confirmed. According to Osaka Metro, the accident occurred at around 4:30 p.m. Monday in the Maishima parking area north of the expo venue. After a driver manually parked the bus and left the driver's seat, the bus began moving. It collided lightly with a concrete wall about 50 centimeters high. Osaka Metro has suspended all five self-driving shuttle buses, including the one that caused the accident. It is investigating the cause of the incident. The company said the suspension will not adversely affect overall transportation services for visitors to the expo.
The Mainichi
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Mainichi
Self-driving bus at Osaka expo has minor collision with wall
OSAKA (Kyodo) -- A self-driving shuttle bus used to ferry visitors to the World Exposition in Osaka had a minor collision with a wall Monday after the driver manually stopped the vehicle and alighted, the bus operator said. There were no injuries as the bus was out of service and not carrying passengers. The operator, Osaka Metro Co., has temporarily suspended operations of five self-driving buses, including the one involved in the accident, it said Tuesday. The accident occurred around 4:30 p.m. in a waiting area of Maishima, an artificial island in Osaka. The bus started moving after it was stopped manually by the driver, with the operator now investigating the cause of the incident. The bus is used to transport visitors by connecting a parking lot and the venue of the 2025 World Exposition. Osaka Metro will use driver-operated buses for the service for the time being.
Yomiuri Shimbun
22-04-2025
- General
- Yomiuri Shimbun
2025 Expo Osaka: Nonsmoking Rule Not Being Observed at Expo Site; Contradicts Fair's Themes of Life, Health
The Yomiuri Shimbun People related to a foreign pavilion smoke at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo site in Konohana Ward, Osaka, on April 13. OSAKA — The nonsmoking rule is not being followed consistently at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo site. Some people have been seen smoking near ashtrays placed outside certain pavilions. The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, which has banned smoking at the site as the Expo is centered around the theme of life, is struggling to find ways to handle the issue. A red ashtray was placed discreetly in the shadow behind one foreign pavilion. Four men wearing access passes around their necks began to smoke while chatting on Friday morning. Another ashtray was also found near a different foreign pavilion. As the Expo promotes the themes of life and health, the association has totally banned smoking at the Expo site on the artificial island of Yumeshima in Konohana Ward, Osaka, requiring both visitors and pavilion operators to adhere to the rule. Two smoking areas have been set up outside the East Gate, which is connected to Yumeshima Station on Osaka Metro Co.'s Chuo Line. However, it takes time to go back and forth between these areas and inside the venue. 'I understand it's the rule, but it's still quite inconvenient,' a 49-year-old man who works at a merchandise store in the venue said. 'I can understand why some people secretly smoke.' Smoking in the venue poses the risk of causing an accident. Yumeshima is built on reclaimed land, the western part of which is made up of incinerated ash from waste materials that could emit methane gas. A spark ignited methane gas while bathrooms were being constructed on the west side of the venue last year, causing an explosion. Explosive levels of gas were detected in the western area during the rehearsal conducted just prior to the Expo's opening. Some within the association are proposing the creation of smoking areas in safe places that are strictly separated from nonsmoking areas. 'We want to find a way to accommodate both smokers and nonsmokers,' a senior association official said.
