Tokyo International News Agency

Tadashi Motegi, a secretary to the Chief Cabinet Secretary and known as one of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's closest aides, is facing intense scrutiny on social media following reports of habitual "fraudulent business trips" funded by taxpayers. According to reports, last year, while serving as the Chief International Exhibition Coordinating Officer for the Osaka-Kansai Expo, Motegi allegedly used official business trips to Osaka as opportunities to invite a woman with whom he was having an extramarital affair to stay at his hotels. These questionable trips involving overnight stays occurred at least five times, raising suspicions that he only paid hotel fees for a single guest despite having a companion. Motegi is a bureaucrat who has long enjoyed the deep trust of Prime Minister Takaichi, having previously served as her secretary during her tenure as State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. His appointment to his current role in the Prime Minister's official...

On October 13, 2025, Sho Sakurai of Arashi made a surprise appearance at the closing ceremony of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, becoming the top trending topic on social media. Appearing in the closing ceremony program, "Start for the Futures. ~To Each Future," Sakurai delivered a powerful message befitting the grand finale of the Expo. Announcer Yumi Oko Udo, his former co-star on "news zero," also made an appearance. The reunion of the former Monday duo prompted numerous posts on social media expressing surprise and delight, with comments such as "Is this News Zero lol" and "So sudden!" Attention also focused on Sakurai's choice of a Myaku-Myaku-colored tie, earning him praise for his thoughtful attention to detail. In response to this surprise appearance, fans showered him with praise, including comments like "He's truly a wonderful person 💕," "As expected, Sho-san, full of gravitas!", "He could create a whole country...

On October 13, the closing day of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, Tomiyo Yamade, affectionately known as "Expo Granny," achieved a remarkable "perfect attendance" by visiting the exhibition every single day of its 184-day run. This astonishing feat became a major topic on social media, drawing widespread praise from many people. Ms. Yamade's extraordinary passion for the Expo was evident in her decision to rent an apartment in Osaka, the host city, just to ensure her daily visits. On the final day, she expressed "the feeling that today is the last," her words reflecting a deep love for the Expo alongside a sense of accomplishment. Her dedication, overcoming days of intense summer heat while maintaining her health to visit every single pavilion, deeply moved many visitors and media outlets. On social media, congratulatory comments poured in, such as "Expo Granny is amazing! So glad she stayed healthy!" and "Congratulations on achieving perfect att...

It has been announced that ticket sales for the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo will conclude on September 30th for online purchases via the official website, and on September 26th for same-day tickets sold at the gate. Following this announcement, an exchange program has been introduced as a relief measure for "unused tickets," which had been a subject of debate, allowing them to be exchanged for same-day tickets on-site. According to the Expo Association, unused tickets can be exchanged for same-day tickets – valid for entry after 12:00 PM on the day of exchange – at the ticket exchange counter in front of the East Gate, from September 27th to October 12th. However, several conditions apply to the exchange. The number of tickets that can be exchanged is limited to several hundred per day, and all users must be present together in line. Exchanges will not be conducted at the West Gate. Furthermore, to prevent illegal resale, each visitor is limited to exchanging one unused ticket, an...

Hotel chain Super Hotel is generating excitement with its "#SuperHotelAutumnTravelDestinationChampionship" campaign on SNS X (formerly Twitter), drawing numerous user submissions. The company also plans to participate in an event at the upcoming Osaka-Kansai Expo on September 23, 2025, where it expects to highlight its initiatives for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Autumn Travel Campaign Offers Free Stays, Diverse Popular Destinations The ongoing "#SuperHotelAutumnTravelDestinationChampionship" campaign offers a chance to win free accommodation vouchers for Super Hotel, renowned for its natural hot springs, welcome bar, and extensive breakfast buffet. Participants are expressing excitement about various autumn travel destinations. User posts list tourist spots across Japan, including Hokuriku, Kyoto, Okinawa, Hokkaido (Kamifurano, Jozankei), Hiroshima, Osaka, Awaji Island, Nasu, Kagoshima, Kawayu Onsen, Miyagi, and Kanazawa, indicating high interest in ...

The sudden surge of the term "Yokoyama Expo" to the number one trending spot on X (formerly Twitter) has garnered significant attention from social media users. It has been revealed that this event will take place at the "EXPO Arena" within the venue of the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, sparking widespread surprise and excitement among fans. Many posts expressed surprise, with comments like "Yokoyama Expo!?" and "The buzz for this unheard-of event is incredible." Numerous others praised the naming sense, exclaiming, "What a wonderfully straightforward and excellent title!" The announcement itself appears to have been made very suddenly, with some users remarking on the swiftness of the information release, saying, "So fast, from yesterday to today! 😲‼️ lol" While many details about the event remain unknown, several posts suggest the involvement of Yu Yokoyama (SUPER EIGHT). There is speculation that talent from "Yokoyama-kai,...

A case of measles infection has been confirmed in a visitor to the Osaka-Kansai Expo. Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, and Kanagawa Prefecture are advising individuals who visited the Expo venue on June 21st to monitor their health for any changes. The confirmed case is a male teenager residing in Kanagawa Prefecture. Details of the Infected Person's Movements and Alert The male visited the Osaka-Kansai Expo venue last month on Saturday, June 21st. It has been confirmed that he entered the venue between approximately 8:00 AM and 8:30 AM, using a shuttle bus from the Sakai Expo P&R parking lot, and visited multiple pavilions (eight confirmed locations), including the "Yoshimoto Waraii Myraii Pavilion." Osaka Prefecture has published a list of the pavilions visited by the confirmed infected individual and urges visitors who were in the same locations during the specified times to promptly seek medical attention if they develop symptoms such as fever or rash by July 12th. W...