Latest news with #Osaka-KansaiWorldExpo
SoraNews24
30-06-2025
- Business
- SoraNews24
App that lets you hunt down discounted food about to expire available at the Expo too
Good way to get the best deals in town, just not the freshest deals. Japanese supermarkets usually have a section filled with bentos and other freshly cooked foods like pizzas, croquettes, and spring rolls. But foods like these are only sellable for a limited time and when that clock starts to run down, the supermarkets often start slashing prices to cut their losses. Some regular shoppers get wise to this schedule and deliberately hang around until the stickers come out before buying something. But in our increasingly online society, there really ought to be a better way to handle this situation and a service called Tabesuke might just be it. This app lists shops in your area where certain items might be nearing the time they become unsellable but still edible. You can find stuff either by searching or just perusing a map of your surrounding area. The pins are color-coded and red pins mean those stores have something to unload cheaply before it's too late. ▼ 80 yen for some anpan? Hell yeah! You can then click on whatever item you want to put a hold on and set a time when you'll come to buy it. It's a win-win for both parties as the customer gets some great deals and shops can reduce wasted inventory. It's also a great way for small businesses to promote themselves and the whole world benefits too with an overall reduction in food waste. However, Tabesuke is managed by local governments and only a handful across Japan have signed up for it to date, so it'll require a little luck for your area to have Tabesuke coverage. For example, in Osaka where I am, there's unfortunately no data at all, but one big exception for the time being is the 2025 Osaka-Kansai World Expo. A separate program called Banpaku Tabesuke is being held exclusively in the venue of the Expo where guests can get some really sweet deals on the perishable food merch there. ▼ 30 percent off snake-shaped cakes at the time of this writing It's been very successful too, with over 11,000 registered users in the first month and a half, and over 80 percent of the 875 listed products finding homes without having to be discarded. Banpaku Tabesuke will be available for the entire run of the Expo. Although recent efforts have been effective at reducing food waste in Japan, current estimates are still well over four million tons per year. If Tabesuke could bring that 80-percent magic to the rest of the country, it could lead to a remarkable improvement in Japan's food self-sufficiency. By the way, the makers of Tabesuke, G-Place, came up with some other handy apps for daily life in Japan. Gomisuke is a neat browser-based app where you can learn all about your area's garbage collection rules. It's supported by 150 local governments and also multilingual. They even designed an evacuation system that lets governments give real-time disaster shelter information such as location and occupancy so people know the best place to go. It's some of the best stuff to hit the Internet since that map that shows you where all the Dr. Pepper in Japan is sold. Source: Tabesuke, Banpaku Tabesuke, Gomisuke, PR Times Featured image: PR Times Insert images: ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Japan Today
29-06-2025
- Japan Today
Police raid real casino in Tokyo where people gambled with online casinos
By SoraNews24 On the evening of June 25, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department raided Rizin, not the mixed martial arts association but what is known as a 'brick-and-mortar online casino' that was operating in the Kabukicho area of Tokyo. Let's start by unraveling what a brick-and-mortar online casino is. First, online casinos are prohibited in Japan, as is partaking in online casinos that operate overseas. That certainly doesn't stop people with the gambling bug from trying, but there are a lot of challenges, especially for the large elderly population in Japan, such as navigating websites in other languages and setting up dodgy payment systems. o, some rackets have been set up to help facilitate these hurdles. For example, a brick-and-mortar online casino can help set up accounts for their clients and accept cash directly from them to be converted into online currency. Despite being a criminal enterprise, gamblers can get a sense of security in dealing with people directly and even enjoy the social aspect of being among others, though it's probably still a far cry from The Stardust in the '70s. Anyway, Rizin operated secretly and only let in trusted customers by identifying their faces on security cameras and buzzing them in through double iron doors. At the time of the raid, five employees and seven customers with ages ranging from their 20s to 80s were arrested and police say they've found data on over 5,000 other people on the roughly 20 computers they seized. ▼ A news report on the bust Rizin was discovered by authorities during their investigation of Shizuku Ida, a 27-year-old woman charged with the romance fraud of a 29-year-old man worth about 3.7 million yen last year. She was said to have spent about 80 million yen at Rizin. Police also say that Rizin was raking in millions of yen a day, but the investigation is still ongoing. All the employees admitted to the charges against them. In online comments, many people were confused by both the existence of brick-and-mortar online casinos and why this one decided to call itself Rizin. 'A brick-and-mortar what?' 'The police are just helping the pachinko parlors with this.' 'Even if he gets arrested, he can just use all the money he made to open another one and keep it going for as long as he wants.' 'So, is this related to the fighting league?' 'I don't really get brick-and-mortar online casinos.' 'I thought about using one but figured my own phone would be safer. Guess I was right.' 'I think Japan should just legalize them and regulate them properly so we don't lose money to other countries.' Japan does seem to be heading down that path with an integrated resort and casino already under construction next to the site of the 2025 Osaka-Kansai World Expo. It doesn't seem outlandish to assume legalized online betting might be in the future as well. Whether this will ultimately be to Japan's benefit or detriment is the biggest gamble of them all. Source: NHK, YouTube/TBS NEWS DIG Powered by JNN Read more stories from SoraNews24. -- 23 people arrested in Aichi for operating and using illegal casino during coronavirus lockdown -- Man who gambled entire Japanese town's COVID relief money arrested -- Over half a million uncensored porn DVDs seized by Tokyo police in Japan's largest raid ever External Link © SoraNews24
SoraNews24
28-06-2025
- Business
- SoraNews24
Police raid real casino in Tokyo where people gambled with online casinos
Yo dawg, I heard you like casinos. On the evening of 25 June, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department raided Rizin, not the mixed martial arts association but what is known as a 'brick-and-mortar online casino' that was operating in the Kabukicho area of Tokyo. Let's start by unraveling what a brick-and-mortar online casino is. First, online casinos are prohibited in Japan, as is partaking in online casinos that operate overseas. That certainly doesn't stop people with the gambling bug from trying, but there are a lot of challenges, especially for the large elderly population in Japan, such as navigating websites in other languages and setting up dodgy payment systems. ▼ 'Crypto-what-now? On Telegram? I haven't used one of those since '42!' So, some rackets have been set up to help facilitate these hurdles. For example, a brick-and-mortar online casino can help set up accounts for their clients and accept cash directly from them to be converted into online currency. Despite being a criminal enterprise, gamblers can get a sense of security in dealing with people directly and even enjoy the social aspect of being among others, though it's probably still a far cry from The Stardust in the '70s. Anyway, Rizin operated secretly and only let in trusted customers by identifying their faces on security cameras and buzzing them in through double iron doors. At the time of the raid, five employees and seven customers with ages ranging from their 20s to 80s were arrested and police say they've found data on over 5,000 other people on the roughly 20 computers they seized. ▼ A news report on the bust Rizin was discovered by authorities during their investigation of Shizuku Ida, a 27-year-old woman charged with the romance fraud of a 29-year-old man worth about 3.7 million yen ($25,000) last year. She was said to have spent about 80 million yen at Rizin. Police also say that Rizin was raking in millions of yen a day, but the investigation is still ongoing. All the employees admitted to the charges against them. In online comments, many people were confused by both the existence of brick-and-mortar online casinos and why this one decided to call itself Rizin. 'A brick-and-mortar what?' 'The police are just helping the pachinko parlors with this.' 'Even if he gets arrested, he can just use all the money he made to open another one and keep it going for as long as he wants.' 'So, is this related to the fighting league?' 'I don't really get brick-and-mortar online casinos.' 'I thought about using one but figured my own phone would be safer. Guess I was right.' 'I think Japan should just legalize them and regulate them properly so we don't lose money to other countries.' Japan does seem to be heading down that path with an integrated resort and casino already under construction next to the site of the 2025 Osaka-Kansai World Expo. It doesn't seem outlandish to assume legalized online betting might be in the future as well. Whether this will ultimately be to Japan's benefit or detriment is the biggest gamble of them all. Source: NHK, YouTube/TBS NEWS DIG Powered by JNN Featured image: Pakutaso Insert image: Pakutaso ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
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!
