The Jetstar international network to Japan continues to increase, adding a new flight service between Osaka and Singapore (via Manila) announced in the 18th of January 2012. The new four times weekly Airbus A320 service begins in the 25 March 2012 (subject to regulatory approval) and represents an additional 1,400 seats per week in-and-out of Japan.

More information on this attractive new flight service between Osaka and Singapore (via Manila) is available in Jetstar. 

The Yumeshima District is designated as Industrial/Logistic Zone open to businesses from FY2012. Located at the center of the Osaka Bay Area, the Yumeshima District is well positioned to develop a concentration of environmental and energy-related industries and efficient logistics services, by leveraging its geographical advantage together with its highly convenient accessibility. Interested in the District, please visit the Yumeshima District.  

In addition, the Sakishima Cosmosquare district is designated as R&D/Sales Zone. The district has progressed as a commercial center in which a number of MNCs have so far set up their offices namely Hitachi Zosen, Mizuno, NTT DoCoMo Kansai, IBM Japan R&D, and so forth. 

More information on the Osaka Bay area can be found in the attached PDF file.  

Click here to download PDF document.

Osaka Station North District is a hub of Osaka, accessed by 2,500,000 people every day. The Osaka Station North District Project has set five development goals as follows; 1. Gateway to the World, 2. Visitor Attractions, 3. Development of a Knowledge Capital, 4. Public-private cooperation, 5. Cityscapes full of streams and trees. 

As for Knowledge Capital, the district has been an important research center of the Kansai Region and home to a large number of research institutions engaged in R&D activities through industry-university-government cooperation. In this district, innovative projects are underway to create next-generation industrie, technologies, cultures, and to publicize information on the latest trends.

The details are available in the Osaka Station North District Project.  

It is announced that Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) will merge with the Osaka Securities Exchange (OSE), bolstering the TSE’s position as the third largest in the world by market capitalisation of company listings.

Expected to be completed by January in 2013, the proposed combination was described by the pair as a step towards the revitalisation of the Japanese economy. The detailed information is available via BBC News Business. 

 (via Bloomberg)

According to Japan travel updates from Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) Singapore Office, the radiation level at major cities and tourist attraction in Japan is low and thus, we are safe to travel to Japan! More details are available via Radiation Level at Major Cities and Tourist Attraction. 

OSAKA SUPPORTER Official Website provides you with the latest and exciting Osaka tourism information.

In addition, for those all over the world who love Osaka, want to know the charm of Osaka, or want to widely disseminate the charms of Osaka, join Osaka Tourism Supporter at Osaka Supporter Exchange site for Osaka fans.

The email magazine is sent twice a month or so to those who register Osaka Tourism Supporter. The email magazine has seasonal Osaka tourism information, recruiting information for event support, etc. Supporters’ opinions are also sought through surveys on tourism, etc.

Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Mr Yukio Edano and Singapore’s Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim had a meeting in the 23rd of September 2011 in Singapore to discuss opportunities for strengthening bilateral cooperation in the creative industries. The details are available at Joint Press Statement.

Full-scale work has been ongoing to redevelop the Umeda Kita Yard, north of JR Osaka Station, where about 2.5 million passengers of railways and subway lines pass through daily. The UMEKITA Development Project is viewed as a core project of Osaka City’s growth strategy zone concept, and holds the key for improving the global competitive strength of the Kansai metropolitan area.

The name of the combined facilities of UMEKITA Phase 1 Development Area Project has been designated as GRAND FRONT OSAKA. These facilities include Block A (offices, shops, and restaurants), Block B (knowledge capital, offices, shops, restaurants, hotel, serviced aparetments, and convention center), and Block C (condominiums). The UMEKITA Phase 1 Development Area Project is expected to be completed in the spring of 2013. More information is available via Grand Front Osaka.
 

In the 13th of September, the government unveiled a logo, which Japanese agencies and corporations will employ to promote Japanese culture, embodying the idea of Cool Japan in such sectors as animation, fashion, food, and so forth.

The prominent designer Kashiwa Sato, who created the red and white Uniqlo logos for the casual clothing store chain used globally, designed the logo incorporating the English words JAPAN NEXT. Mr Sato states that he designed the logo with the image in mind of Japan that overcomes the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami disaster and eventually, is reborn as a stronger, more creative and confident nation, the next Japan.
 

AirAsia X has announced its second destination in Japan after Tokyo. The latest international route from Kuala Lumpur to Osaka will be the airline’s 16th destination to date. Currently, AirAsia X flies to destinations in Australia, UK, France, Taiwan, Korea, China, Iran, New Zealand, India and to Tokyo in Japan.

Accordig to a press release, it will commence direct flight services between Kansai International Airport, Osaka and Kuala Lumpur in the 30th of November 2011 (with four non-stop weekly services).

Azran Osman-Rani, chief executive officer of AirAsia X stated: "The Osaka service marks AirAsia X’s second foray into the Japanese market. In less than one year since the commencement of the airline’s inaugural flight to Tokyo in December 2010, we are pleased to be adding one of Japan’s commercial and economic hub into our growing international network. The four times weekly flight is expected to help meet demand from business and leisure travellers between, South East Asia and Japan."
 

(http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/08/11/airasia-x-announces-osaka-as-new-destination-japan%E2%80%99s-second-route-after-tokyo/)

Meeting with Truong Tan Sang, a standing member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee at Hanoi in the 9th of July, Mayor Hiramatsu thanked the Vietnamese government and people for their support for Japan to overcome the consequences of the devastating earthquake and tsunami.

He also affirmed that the relationship between Osaka and Ho Chi Minh City had developed fruitfully, especially in the fields of politics, economics, culture and people-to-people exchange, which had contributed actively to the development of strategic partnership between the two nations.

Moreover, Mayor Hiramatsu pledged that Osaka would continue to expand exchanges and to strengthen cooperation with Ho Chi Minh City and other Vietnamese localities in the future.

News sourced from Sai Gon Giai Phong Newspaper http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/National/2011/7/94451/

Relevant article http://www.nhandan.com.vn/cmlink/nhandan-online/homepage/politics/external-relations/japanese-city-urged-to-increase-investment-in-vietnam-1.303282#ae1NiPrvny0t

Fauzi hopes that the visitation of Osaka Mayor Hiramatsu can reinforce the relationship between not only the two cities but also the two countries in a number of fields. He acknowledged that Japanese companies had contributed largely to the advancement of Jakarta’s economy.

In this dinner party, the Mayor of Osaka along with his delegations were served with Indonesia’s culinary and entertained with various Betawi’s traditional arts. Fauzi Bowo also offered souvenir of traditional Betawi’s puppet (or wayang golek) to Osaka Mayor Hiramatsu.
 

News sourced from Berita Jakarta

http://www.beritajakarta.com/English/NewsView.asp?ID=19544

Most of Japan remains unharmed by the disaster and the streets have leapt back to life. Food safety is also monitored closely with strict measures in place to prevent domestic distribution of produce with radiation higher than the standard set by the International Commission on Radiological Protection.

The all-clear signal was enough to send tourist streaming back. It has also boosted the confident of tour agencies and airlines locally promoting bargain airfares and tour packages.

Japan Association of Travel Agents launched a new campaign with the motto –

Cheer up Japan – Smile Up with Travel.

Japan top drugmaker Takeda Pharmaceutical has reached a $12 billion deal to buy Swiss drugmaker Nycomed, reported by the Nikkei business daily news on 12 May 2011.

It will be the largest ever acquisition by a Japanese drugmaker and make Takeda ranks world 10th largest pharmaceutical company.