I have long believed that hosting the World Expo at Osaka Castle Park would be an excellent choice. The park’s accessibility from various locations, coupled with its sturdy, disaster-resistant terrain, makes it one of the safest and most practical sites. Moreover, it’s a popular park, loved by many.

Beyond Osaka Castle Park, Osaka boasts numerous other parks. If the Expo venues were distributed among these parks, it would offer several advantages:

1. Reduction in Construction Costs: Spreading out the Expo across various parks can significantly cut down on the overall construction expenses.

2. Lower Infrastructure Development Costs: Utilizing existing parks reduces the need for extensive new infrastructure development.

3. Revitalization of Central Osaka and Beyond: Decentralizing the Expo venues can invigorate different areas of Osaka. Easier access to various Expo sites would likely increase visitor numbers, boosting the local economy and bringing a vibrant energy to the entire city.

4. No Need for Massive Tree Relocation: There would be no need to transplant 1500 trees. Additionally, the mature trees and the majestic feel of Osaka’s parks can provide a more authentic and beautiful experience of Japan’s natural forests.

5. Accessible Roads for Construction: The wide roads surrounding Osaka Castle Park facilitate easy access for construction vehicles.

6. Abundant Nearby Accommodations: Proximity to quality hotels like the New Otani enhances convenience for visitors.

7. Boost for Local Businesses: The abundance of restaurants and shops in Kyobashi and throughout the city promises increased sales and economic growth.

8. Facilities for International Guests: The Expo Park in Suita City has excellent facilities for hosting international dignitaries.

9. Safe Environment for Educational Trips: The absence of soil contamination concerns makes these parks safe destinations for school trips.

10. No Disadvantages for the Public: The only parties potentially inconvenienced by dispersing the Expo venues across Osaka’s parks would be the political party Osaka Ishin no Kai and its affiliates. For everyone else, this approach offers only advantages.

#OsakaExpo2025 #GreenExpo #SustainableExpo #UrbanParks #OsakaCastlePark #EconomicGrowth #CommunityEngagement #InnovativeUrbanPlanning #EnvironmentalSustainability #PublicSpaces
#UrbanRenewal #OsakaExpo2025 #CityParks #EconomicGrowth #CulturalTourism #InnovativeCities #GreenSpaces #CommunityEngagement #GlobalEvents
#Expo2025 #Osaka #UrbanPlanning #SustainableDevelopment #PublicParks
#OsakaExpo2025 #GreenExpo #SustainableExpo #UrbanParks #OsakaCastlePark #EconomicGrowth #CommunityEngagement #InnovativeUrbanPlanning #EnvironmentalSustainability #PublicSpaces

Today, while visiting the Hankyu Department Store in Osaka, I was delighted to find a charming German store named Käthe Wohlfahrt. Browsing through the adorable wooden crafts, I was pleasantly surprised to see a piece that matched one I had received from a German friend in the past.

Käthe Wohlfahrt is based in Rothenburg, a town on Germany’s Romantic Road. The traditional German Christmas decorations and the warmth of German Christmas traditions from yesteryears are palpably felt through their exquisite wooden crafts.

https://kaethe-wohlfahrt.jp/

In Osaka, the German Christmas Market event is held annually, and this year, Käthe Wohlfahrt has made its first appearance in Japan. Such events, steadily gaining popularity in Japan, have the potential to deeply root German Christmas culture in the Japanese market, bridging cultural gaps and bringing a slice of German holiday spirit to Japan.

#ChristmasMarket #OsakaEvents #GermanCultureInJapan #TraditionalGermanCrafts #CulturalBridges #KätheWohlfahrtJapan #HolidaySeason #InternationalRetail #CulturalAppreciation #OsakaDiscoveries
#GermanChristmas #CulturalExchange #Osaka #KätheWohlfahrt #TraditionalCrafts

Currently, Japan is abuzz with discussions about politics and money. Whenever I visit Osaka Castle and behold its magnificent stone walls, I ponder over Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s leadership from 400 years ago.

Max Weber, a German sociologist from over a century ago, distinguished between two types of politicians:

1. Politicians who engage in politics for money.
2. Politicians who use money for politics.

Politicians of the first kind are merely opportunists. When they hand out money, they command, “Do this!” This is bribery, reducing workers and citizens to mere tools.

In contrast, the second type of politicians humbly say, “Please accept this money,” without issuing any orders. This is a ‘gift’ or ‘donation,’ which in German also means a ‘burden’—implying a sense of obligation. Workers feel energized to do anything for such leaders, exclaiming, “This person is incredible!” and “Let’s follow this leader!”

So, what is the nature of the money used by today’s Japanese politicians?

Each time I look at the grand stone walls of Osaka Castle, I feel Hideyoshi’s approach to money and his leadership style resonate deeply within me.

#PoliticalEthics #HistoricalWisdom #MaxWeber #OsakaCastle #PoliticalLeadership #ToyotomiHideyoshi #MoneyInPolitics #PublicService #LeadershipValues

In what seems to be an “unprecedented measure” to counter the declining birthrate, the Kishida administration announced tuition-free college education for households supporting three or more children. This declaration, made by the Minister of Children’s Policies, a female appointee of Prime Minister Kishida, has been met with a barrage of criticism.

Labelled as a de facto tax increase, this policy mirrors the confusion of low-amount tax reductions, making it an obscure form of taxation. This move almost certainly dashes any hopes of revival for the Kishida administration.

Why such a policy? The answer is simple: opposition from the Ministry of Finance in Japan. The Ministry, clinging to the fallacious theory of fiscal austerity (which prohibits spending beyond income), restricts policy flexibility. It appears unconcerned with safeguarding the national finances, focusing instead on enhancing its political clout.

The Ministry’s sole preoccupation seems to be expanding its amakudari (descent from heaven) post-retirement positions, ignoring the financial health of the nation, the well-being of its citizens, and the growth of the Japanese economy.

Moreover, without increased revenues, political donations to politicians do not rise. Budget allocations appear to serve two primary purposes: increasing political donations and expanding post-retirement opportunities for bureaucrats.

Under the Kishida administration, substantial subsidies were distributed to the medical and tourism sectors. Unfortunately, the taxes paid by Japanese citizens are being used solely for political and bureaucratic self-interests. Yet, most Japanese remain blissfully unaware of being deceived by the Ministry of Finance and the Japanese media.

This represents the current state of politics under Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party: a solidified collusion between politics, bureaucracy, and business.

#JapanGovernment #PublicPolicy #GovernmentSpending #FiscalReform #SocialAwareness #PublicDebate #GovernmentAccountability #TaxPolicy #CitizenAwareness #LDPJapan #PoliticalCritiqu
#JapanesePolitics #EconomicPolicy #FiscalChallenges #KishidaAdministration #EducationReform