Latest news with #OsakaWorldExpo
Malaysian Reserve
5 days ago
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
CMG sends LOD to MITI regarding designs used at Osaka World Expo
DIRECT marketing firm Current Media Group (CMG) has sent a letter of demand (LOD) to the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) regarding the latter's use of its designs in the Malaysian pavilion at the Osaka World Expo in Japan which the company said was without permission. CMG is also requesting a formal recognition for its contributions. The company said the LOD was issued yesterday after all informal attempts at communication had failed and MITI was given sufficient time to respond in good faith. 'Should MITI fail to respond satisfactorily within the statutory period, CMG will pursue every legal remedy available under Malaysian law,' it said in a statement. On April 25, CMG founder Fey Ilyas took to social media and accused MITI of using his company's designs for the expo without payment or credit. He added that the company was hired in 2022 to develop the pavilion's concept, theme and architecture, and had presented the proposal to key figures including MITI Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz. Fey shared that the company was promised it would be officially appointed for the project but was told in January 2023 that the appointment would not proceed and the ministry wanted to open a tender. He claimed that for two years, CMG faced delays and was denied proper recognition or fair compensation for its work. Moreover, Fey explained that CMG was advised to remain silent to avoid risking future opportunities. MITI later announced it was investigating the allegation and would take legal action if needed, but according to CMG, the ministry has not contacted it for any documents, interviews or clarification, and has not provided any meaningful update on the investigation since then. 'CMG reiterates its willingness to engage in constructive mediation at any time, so long as that process is undertaken in good faith, recognises the value of creative labour and upholds equitable terms,' it said. — TMR
Malaysiakini
5 days ago
- Business
- Malaysiakini
Miti served letter of demand over alleged creative appropriation
The Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry has been hit with a letter of demand seeking compensation and acknowledgement of a direct marketing company's designs for the Malaysian pavilion at the Osaka World Expo in Japan. The company, Current Media Group (CMG), instructed its counsel to formally issue the legal demand on July 17. In a statement today, CMG said it decided to pursue legal action against the ministry after exhausting all informal avenues for dialogue and giving the ministry ample time to act in good faith.
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Miti served LOD over alleged use of creative firm's pavilion design
KUALA LUMPUR: The Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) has been served a letter of demand from a creative consultancy company who is seeking acknowledgement and compensation for use of the firm's designs for the Malaysian pavilion at the Osaka World Expo in Japan. In a statement, Current Media Group (CMG) said should Miti fail to respond satisfactorily within the statutory period, it would pursue every legal remedy available through the law. "After exhausting all informal avenues for dialogue and giving Miti ample time to act in good faith, CMG instructed its counsel to formally issue a Letter of Demand on July 17 seeking formal acknowledgment of CMG's contributions and fair compensation. "Should Miti fail to respond satisfactorily within the statutory period, CMG will pursue every legal remedy available under Malaysian law. "CMG reiterates its willingness to engage in constructive mediation at any time, so long as that process is undertaken in good faith, recognises the value of creative labour, and upholds equitable terms," it said. On April 25, CMG's founder Fey Ilyas claimed that the concept, theme, and narrative structure of the Malaysia Pavilion bore clear similarities to the proposal CMG developed and presented to Miti before the official tender process. The post quickly garnered attention, prompting Miti to issue a statement on April 26 indicating that an internal investigation was under way.
Japan Today
02-07-2025
- Business
- Japan Today
Kuwana City officially outlaws making staff get down on all fours to apologize
By SoraNews24 The problem of customer harassment appears to be on the rise in Japan, with people taking advantage of the country's famously accommodating customer service as a target of their abuse. It can come in many forms, from repeated phone calls to making clerks shave their heads, but one peculiar form is forcing workers to assume the dogeza position of prostrating themselves in apology. A few months ago the issue was highlighted by a viral video of a security guard at the Osaka World Expo getting into a dogeza position in front of an angry visitor. However, the official response from the expo is that the guard voluntarily bowed down in this case. In April, the nation's first customer harassment prevention ordinances went into effect in Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture, as well as Tokyo, Hokkaido, and Gunma prefectures. What makes Kuwana's ordinance unique is that it includes actual punishments for customers who harass staff. First-time offenders will get a warning letter and if their behavior doesn't improve, their names will be made public as an official harassing customer. This only leaves the issue of what exactly constitutes customer harassment. According to the ordinance, businesses must submit an incident to the mayor's office of Kuwana, which will then consult with a customer harassment countermeasure committee to determine if it should be considered such. Such a matter was decided on June 30 when Kuwana City announced that a case where a customer demanded a courier get down on all fours to apologize constituted customer harassment. As a result, the customer will be sent a warning letter and now faces a public naming and shaming if it happens again. Online comments about the news largely felt that the punishment was far too light for treating another human being in such a way. 'Just a warning?' 'Does making people bow down make them happy?' 'That person should be arrested.' 'I can't even imagine if someone told me to get down on all fours.' 'I wish they'd arrest those jerks who yell at convenience store clerks in the morning.' 'A written warning, lol. Is that assuming the first time might have been a mistake?' 'They need to crack down on customer harassment more. Those people are getting too bold.' 'The city should also post their photos and offenses so other businesses can identify them.' 'If I were the courier, I guess I could see that just bowing down and apologizing might be faster than sitting there listening to someone complain on and on.' 'Give the delivery companies their address too so they can blacklist them.' 'That's already a crime. It's called coercion.' Coercion, a crime that might go by names like 'extortion' or 'duress' in other countries, is the act of making someone do something against their will through the threat of violence or other intimidation. In the previous case of the clerk who was made to shave his head, the customer made several suggestions that he was capable of violence, and thus was arrested for coercion. But in this case, there appears to have been no threats of violence, which most likely means the courier would have to have felt his job was in jeopardy by not bowing down for it to be coercion. The problem is that would need to be demonstrated in court, which would look really bad for the company as a whole. So, it's understandable they might pursue this as customer harassment instead. It's probably best that a lot of legal tools are available to handle the different nuances of criminal and anti-social behavior so people can get the protection they need. Sources: 47 News, Research Institute for Local Government, Itai News Read more stories from SoraNews24. -- Tweeted photo of employees bowing in apology angers Japanese internet users -- Saitama senior arrested after calling telecom provider 24,000 times to complain -- Kyoto man arrested for forcing appliance store clerk to shave own head in apology External Link © SoraNews24
Korea Herald
11-06-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Experience the Charm of Guangxi and Embrace a Green Future Together
, June 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from China Trade News: A vibrant showcase of Guangxi's unique cultural heritage unfolded at the 2025 Osaka World Expo on June 11, as the Guangxi Week of the China Pavilion kicked off with a dazzling array of performances. The event featured Folk Songs for Dear Friends, highlighting the region's mountain song traditions; The Reunion, a puppet drama retelling the classic love story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai; Fragrant Tea in Guangxi, a celebration of local culinary and cultural industries; and Thank You, a dynamic fusion of ethnic costumes, singing, and modeling. These performances offered global audiences a glimpse into the breathtaking beauty and rich culture of Guangxi. Mr. Liu Youming, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional People's Congress, emphasized Guangxi's role as a "shining pearl" in southern China, renowned not only for its "landscapes second to none" but also for its openness and inclusivity. In recent years, Guangxi has actively implemented national strategies, driving high-quality economic and social development with notable achievements in sci-tech innovation, digital economy, and green growth. Since the 2005 Aichi Expo, Guangxi has participated in five consecutive World Expos, using its themed weeks to demonstrate its commitment to global cooperation. "Though geographically distant, Guangxi and Japan share a long-standing friendship," noted Mr. Wu Shengrong, Commissioner General of the China Pavilion and Director of the Exhibition Management Department at the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT). Bilateral trade reached 6.7 billion yuan in 2024, up 10.8% year-on-year, while Japanese tourist arrivals surged by 82.3%. On June 5, the Japan Association for the Promotion of International Trade visited Guangxi under CCPIT's invitation, signing a Memorandum of Cooperation with the CCPIT Guangxi Branch and co-hosted the Guangxi-Japan Economic and Trade Cooperation Exchange Forum. Mr. Xue Jian, Consul-General of China in Osaka, highlighted Guangxi's upcoming events, including the "Guangxi Products Silk Road Tour" exhibition, eco-environment and health industry promotions, and immersive cultural heritage experiences. He expressed hope that the Guangxi Week would deepen Japan-Guangxi exchanges and inject new momentum into China-Japan relations. Mr. Xue Jian, Consul-General of China in Osaka stated: "During this event, Guangxi will host a series of diverse activities, including the 'Guangxi Products Silk Road Tour' premium goods exhibition, presentations on its ecological environment and health industries, as well as immersive cultural tourism and intangible heritage experiences. These initiatives will comprehensively showcase Guangxi's breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and dynamic development progress." He added, "We sincerely hope our Japanese friends from all sectors will seize this Guangxi Week opportunity to deepen exchanges, expand cooperation, and jointly write a new chapter of mutual benefit. May this effort inject more positive energy into the continued improvement and growth of China-Japan relations." Mr. Mitsu Nagano, Executive Director of the International Bureau at the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, stated: "This World Expo offers visitors a rare opportunity to appreciate some of the world's most extraordinary exhibits up close, allowing them to explore diverse global cultures and broaden their horizons. Additionally, attendees can experience cutting-edge technological innovations. This demonstrates that the Expo is not merely a tourist attraction but also an intellectual and recreational experience. Guangxi, renowned for its pristine ecological environment and reputation as a 'Longevity Homeland,' holds great potential for enhanced exchanges and cooperation." Mr. Minoru Ikeda, Chairman of the Japan-China Economic Relations and Trade Center (JCC), stated: "As a non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting economic exchanges between Japan and China, the JCC has long engaged in extensive cooperation with various regions across China. Our member company, Arakawa Chemical Industries, established Wuzhou Arakawa Chemical Co., Ltd. in Guangxi's Wuzhou City in 1995, and the company continues its operations there to this day. Currently, Guangxi is experiencing robust development, and we hope more friends will visit to witness its latest progress firsthand, while enjoying its breathtaking landscapes, diverse culture, distinctive cuisine, and unique charm." During Guangxi Week, the opening ceremony of the Guangxi Week at the China Pavilion of Expo 2025 Osaka and the launch event of the "Guangxi Products Silk Road Tour – Expo Stop" were held. The activities also included exhibitions of Guangxi products and business matchmaking sessions at the Grand Prince Hotel Osaka Bay, featuring over 200 types of high-quality specialty products from Guangxi. Representatives from 35 renowned Guangxi enterprises engaged in trade discussions with more than 60 representatives from Japanese business associations and companies, facilitating the "going global" of Guangxi's traditional competitive products and promoting win-win cooperation between Guangxi's industries and the world. Following the opening ceremony performances, the artists divided into three groups—puppetry, lusheng (Miao reed-pipe wind instrument), and duxianqin (monochord)—and stationed themselves in three different areas of the exhibition hall to continue artistic showcases for the audience. The performances included puppet shows such as Lion Dance for Blessings and The Reunion, lusheng performances like Slope Dance and Dong Village Carnival Night, as well as duxianqin renditions of Breeze Over the Bridgeand and Folk Songs as Sweet as Spring Water. Concurrently, the Guangxi Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition and small-scale cultural performances were launched as regular activities, with scheduled shows held both inside and outside the China Pavilion from June 11 to 13. In the "Lush Mountains and Clear Waters" exhibition area on the first floor of the China Pavilion, daily demonstrations featured traditional crafts such as puppetry, round silk fans, embroidery, and pottery, along with a special exhibition of the Li River Painting School. Interactive activities including rubbing art production and ethnic costume experiences allowed visitors to engage directly with Guangxi's cultural heritage. At the outdoor area of the China Pavilion, two to three warm-up cultural performances were staged daily. These shows brilliantly combined Guangxi's ethnic minority traditions with local intangible cultural heritage operatic arts, showcasing the region's vibrant ethnic culture and its green development philosophy emphasizing harmony between humanity and nature, while creating a jubilant atmosphere. The Guangxi Week at the China Pavilion of Expo 2025 Osaka, themed "Magnificent Guangxi, Green Future," was organized by the People's Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, with CCPIT's Guangxi Branch serving as the implementing body. The event saw participation from 12 regional departments of Guangxi and municipal governments of Nanning, Guilin, Fangchenggang, and Hezhou. Approximately 100 distinguished guests from various sectors attended the opening ceremony and related events.
