Osaka/Kansai Expo First Week: Congestion and Challenges
A security guard is holding a sign at the Osaka Expo site. Source: Mainichi Newspaper
One-line summary: During the opening week that attracted 500,000 visitors, operational shortcomings involving long lines, weather issues, and transportation access were fully exposed.
After opening on the 13th and through its first weekend, the Osaka/Kansai Expo surpassed 500,000 cumulative visitors, but customer complaints erupted as wait times for popular pavilions exceeded 2 hours and some outdoor performances were suddenly canceled due to strong wind and lightning forecasts. The “paperless and cashless” system, which operates the entire grounds exclusively through smartphones without cash or paper tickets, also struggled with battery depletion issues. The organizing committee announced, “From the second weekend, we will respond by expanding shade installations and mobile charging stations, and strengthening real-time congestion alerts,” but the prevailing assessment is that their initial slogan of “an expo without lines” has been compromised.
Expo Return Journey Crisis — 4,000 People Stranded Due to Chuo Line Suspension
The Yumenoshima Station was crowded with many people due to the suspension of the Osaka Metro Chuo Line service. Source: Sankei Newspaper
One-line summary: When the Chuo Line stopped for an hour on the 22nd due to a vehicle malfunction, thousands of expo visitors were stranded at Yumeshima Station.
Around 9:30 PM on the 22nd, a train made an emergency stop at Osaka Port Station on the Osaka Metro Chuo Line when an onboard safety device activated, causing a complete service suspension until 10:24 PM. With the expo’s effectively only rail route cut off, up to 4,000 people were trapped at Yumeshima Station, leading to a flood of social media posts declaring “Impossible to escape from Yumeshima.” A bus alternative transportation plan failed to activate because “100 buses could not be arranged immediately,” resulting in delays affecting approximately 11,400 people. The association and Metro officials acknowledged the delay in information sharing and stated they would “urgently revise the prevention manual.”
“Toyota Family to Acquire Directly” — Toyota Automatic Loom Works Considering Going Private
Toyota automatic loom, Source: Nikkei
One-line summary: The Toyota family has proposed delisting and restructuring Toyota Automatic Loom Works, the senior company of the group.
According to Reuters and Bloomberg reports on the 25th, the founding family, including Toyota Motor Chairman Akio, is considering a takeover bid for subsidiary Toyota Automatic Loom Works (6201) to convert it into a private company. While Loom Works supplies critical components such as engines and forklifts, its performance has recently plummeted due to emissions and certification issues, with its stock price dropping about 40% from its market capitalization at listing. This move is interpreted as a strategy to alleviate short-term performance pressure and accelerate business restructuring. Toyota stated, “We are discussing various options, including investment,” but reserved their official position.
Constitutional Democratic Party Pledges “0% Consumption Tax on Food for One Year”
One-line summary: Leader Noda announced a temporary one-year “0% consumption tax on food” as an anti-inflation measure in their Upper House election pledge.
In a press conference on the 25th, Representative Yoshihiko Noda stated, “Households are reaching their limits due to Trump tariff effects and soaring prices,” and indicated the possibility of extending the measure for up to two years until introducing an “earned income tax credit” system. The funding would come from spending cuts and increased taxes on high-income earners rather than relying on government bonds, though the Finance Ministry and ruling party oppose it as “undermining fiscal discipline.” This marks the first time an opposition party has proposed a significant consumption tax reduction since the rate increase became established in 2014, drawing attention as a potential game-changer in the election.
Kiyota Jiro, Chairman of Inagawa-kai, One of Japan’s Three Major Yakuza Groups, Passes Away
One-line summary: Kiyota Jiro (84), the third chairman of the designated crime syndicate “Inagawa-kai,” died of illness on the 21st, making organizational restructuring inevitable.
According to police, Chairman Kiyota (real name Shin Byeongkyu) passed away on the evening of the 21st at a hospital in Kawasaki City. Although he transferred the chairmanship to a successor in 2019 and remained as a symbolic figurehead, Inagawa-kai maintained its position as the nation’s third-largest criminal organization after the Yamaguchi-gumi and Sumiyoshi-kai, with about 2,800 members including associates across 17 prefectures. The leadership vacuum significantly increases the possibility of power struggles between factions and accelerated organizational decline, with police closely monitoring succession decisions and financial flows.
Four Wakayama Pandas to Return to China in June
One-line summary: Four female pandas, including the popular star “Rauhin” and her family, will return to Chengdu, Sichuan at the end of June as their contract expires.
According to an announcement by Wakayama Adventure World on the 24th, all four pandas – 24-year-old “Rauhin” and her daughters “Yuihin,” “Saihin,” and “Fuuhin” – will return home as the Japan-China joint conservation project concludes. With only two giant pandas remaining at Ueno Zoo in Japan, concerns have grown in the tourism industry about “the risk of panda extinction in Japan.” The facility explained that “the decision considers Rauhin’s advanced age health and support for future breeding,” and will organize a “Last Panda Week” farewell event before their June departure.
“Another U.S. Military Sexual Assault” — Flower Demo Spreads in Okinawa
One-line summary: An emergency protest was held in Naha on the 24th after news broke that two U.S. Marines had been sent to prosecutors on charges of non-consensual sex with a woman.
About 30 citizens and sexual violence survivors gathered at the prefectural office plaza on the evening of the 24th, holding flowers and chanting “Don’t pretend the damage didn’t happen” in anger over the sexual assault case at a U.S. military base revealed on the 23rd. Participants expressed disappointment with Okinawa Prefecture for the delayed disclosure of case information, stating “Nowhere is safe, inside or outside the base.” The prefectural assembly is preparing a unanimous protest resolution, with a special committee meeting scheduled for the 28th. The dispute over responsibility for preventing recurrence of U.S. military crimes between U.S., Japanese, and local governments has reignited.
IMF Significantly Lowers Global Growth Rate to 2.8%… Concerns Over Japan’s Recovery Slowdown
One-line summary: In its new outlook released on the 22nd, the IMF lowered the 2025 global growth rate by 0.5 percentage points to 2.8% due to Trump tariff effects.
The report analyzed that prolonged Trump tariffs have suppressed trade and investment, causing most advanced and emerging economies to enter a simultaneous slowdown phase. Even the U.S. is expected to see a 0.9 percentage point drop in growth, while Japan faces a decline of about 0.4 percentage points. Raw material-dependent Latin American and African countries will inevitably experience export reductions. The IMF warned against “policy addiction” of relying solely on fiscal expansion, stating that “easing tariff conflicts is the top priority.” Japan’s Finance Ministry has begun “reviewing countermeasures for tax revenue decreases.”
Pope Francis Dies at 88, World Leaders Mourn
One-line summary: The Vatican announced on the 21st that Pope Francis died of stroke and cardiac arrest, with a conclave to be convened within 15-20 days.
The first Latin American and Jesuit Pope from Argentina, who took office in 2013, had advocated for poverty, climate crisis, and refugee issues while promoting church reforms. Despite suffering from deteriorating health including bilateral pneumonia and kidney failure in his later years, he continued his activities, including personally conducting Easter Mass. U.S. President Trump, Argentine President Milei, and other world leaders and religious figures sent condolence messages. The Pope reportedly left instructions to be buried at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore rather than St. Peter’s. The conclave of 135 cardinals from around the world to elect a successor is likely to begin in early May.
JAL Proposes Taking Airport Ground Power (AGP) Private
One-line summary: Japan Airlines submitted a proposal for the June shareholders’ meeting to purchase all minority shareholders’ stakes in cash and delist AGP.
On the 25th, JAL explained, “Since JAL, ANA, and Nikku Building are both customers and major shareholders of AGP, conflicts of interest controversies have continued,” proposing a stock consolidation and voluntary delisting at 1,555 yen per share. The structure would remove all shareholders except the three companies that hold a 73% stake, with costs expected to reach about 5 billion yen. While JAL claims to be “protecting minority shareholders,” some investors are opposing it as “undervaluing corporate worth and undermining transaction transparency.”