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Osaka governor, mayor announce twin elections

Hirofumi Yoshimura (R), Osaka governor and leader of the Japan Innovation Party, and Osaka mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama meet the press in Osaka on Jan. 15, 2026. The Osaka governor and Osaka mayor said they will resign and run for reelection to their respective posts as part of the JIP's third attempt to transform the western Japan city into a metropolis like Tokyo.

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Plan to set up baby hatch in Osaka

Hiroyasu Chiyomatsu, mayor of Izumisano in Osaka Prefecture, explains the policy of setting up a baby hatch that enables parents to anonymously leave infants they are unable to care for, on May 29, 2025, at the city office. The western Japan city government said it plans to launch a baby hatch and a "confidential birth" system that allows women to give birth without revealing their identities except to the hospital, by the end of fiscal 2026 in cooperation with a local medical institution.

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Plan to set up baby hatch in Osaka

Hiroyasu Chiyomatsu, mayor of Izumisano in Osaka Prefecture, explains the policy of setting up a baby hatch that enables parents to anonymously leave infants they are unable to care for, on May 29, 2025, at the city office. The western Japan city government said it plans to launch a baby hatch and a "confidential birth" system that allows women to give birth without revealing their identities except to the hospital, by the end of fiscal 2026 in cooperation with a local medical institution.

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A-bomb exhibition begins in Osaka

Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura (2nd from R) and Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui (far R) attend a tape-cutting ceremony on the first day of an exhibition on the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the Osaka International Peace Center in the western Japan city on Aug. 22, 2025. Twenty-six items provided by the Hiroshima and Nagasaki A-bomb museums are on display at the event, which is being held until Dec. 27 to mark the 80th anniversary of the tragedy.

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World Exposition in Osaka

Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama (far R) waves from inside a self-driving bus during a test ride in Osaka on March 25, 2025, ahead of the 2025 World Exposition starting in the western Japan city in April. The bus, adorned with the expo's official mascot Myaku-Myaku, will transport people to the expo venue on the artificial island of Yumeshima from local railway stations.

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Osaka Metro Chuo Line Yumeshima Station opens

Opening of Yumeshima Station on the Osaka Metro Chuo Line. Photo shows (from right) Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Nakano, Osaka Governor Yoshimura, and Osaka Mayor Yokoyama waving to reporters from a test ride train.=January 18,2025,Osaka

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Osaka Metro Chuo Line Yumeshima Station opens

Opening of Yumeshima Station on the Osaka Metro Chuo Line. The photo shows (from left) Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Nakano, Osaka Mayor Yokoyama, and Osaka Governor Yoshimura waving to the press after the test ride.=January 18,2025,Osaka

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File - Ubisoft Closes XDefiant Servers and Studios

Inauguration of the new Ubisoft creation studio in Bordeaux in the presence of the first Deputy Mayor of Bordeaux, Virginie Calmels in Bordeaux, France on October 19, 2017. Barely six months after the launch of its XDefiant video game, the French giant has announced that it will be shutting down the online game's servers in June. “This decision also entails the closure of our San Francisco and Osaka production studios and the gradual reduction of our Sydney production site, with the departure of 143 people in San Francisco and 134 people in Osaka and Sydney,” Ubisoft detailed in a message sent to AFP on December 4, 2024. Photo by Thibaud Moritz/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Rice price futures index's listing

OSAKA, Japan, Aug. 20 Kyodo - SBI Holdings Inc. CEO Yoshitaka Kitao, Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura, Kansai Economic Federation Chairman Masayoshi Matsumoto, Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama and Osaka Dojima Exchange Inc. President Wataru Ariga pose for a photo in the western Japan city of Osaka on Aug. 20, 2024, in a ceremony marking the listing a week before of a Japanese rice price futures index on the Osaka Dojima Exchange. (Kyodo)

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Rice price futures index's listing

(from L) SBI Holdings Inc. CEO Yoshitaka Kitao, Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura, Kansai Economic Federation Chairman Masayoshi Matsumoto, Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama and Osaka Dojima Exchange Inc. President Wataru Ariga pose for a photo in the western Japan city of Osaka on Aug. 20, 2024, in a ceremony marking the listing a week before of a Japanese rice price futures index on the Osaka Dojima Exchange.

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Rice price futures index's listing

(from L) SBI Holdings Inc. CEO Yoshitaka Kitao, Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura, Kansai Economic Federation Chairman Masayoshi Matsumoto, Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama and Osaka Dojima Exchange Inc. President Wataru Ariga break a sake cask in the western Japan city of Osaka on Aug. 20, 2024, in a ceremony marking the listing a week before of a Japanese rice price futures index on the Osaka Dojima Exchange.

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Osaka expo construction site

Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama (2nd from L) visits the construction site for the 2025 World Exposition's Osaka Pavilion during a tour for the pavilion's sponsors on Nov. 13, 2023, on Yumeshima, an artificial island in Osaka Bay that will be the venue of the Osaka expo.

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Mega solar power system built on water in west Japan

OSAKA, Japan - Yasugi Mayor Hiroki Kondo (3rd from R) and other people cut the ribbon at a ceremony marking the opening of a mega solar power system built on the water in Yasugi, Shimane Prefecture, western Japan, on Dec. 11, 2014. Electric power generated from the system will be sold to Chugoku Electric Power Co.

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Japan opposition party decides to dissolve

OSAKA, Japan - Shintaro Ishihara, one of the two co-heads of the Japan Restoration Party, is projected on a screen via video link at an extraordinary party meeting held in Osaka on June 22, 2014. The opposition party decided at the meeting to dissolve with its two co-leaders, Ishihara, former Tokyo governor, and Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, set to lead separate parties.

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Japan opposition party decides to dissolve

OSAKA, Japan - Shintaro Ishihara, one of the two co-heads of the Japan Restoration Party, is projected on a screen via video link at an extraordinary party meeting held in Osaka on June 22, 2014. The opposition party decided at the meeting to dissolve with its two co-leaders, Ishihara, former Tokyo governor, and Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, set to lead separate parties.

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Japan opposition party decides to dissolve

OSAKA, Japan - Toru Hashimoto, one of the two co-heads of the Japan Restoration Party, speaks at an extraordinary party meeting in Osaka on June 22, 2014. The opposition party decided at the meeting to dissolve with its two co-leaders, former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara and Hashimoto, Osaka mayor, set to lead separate parties.

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Japan opposition party decides to dissolve

OSAKA, Japan - Toru Hashimoto, one of the two co-heads of the Japan Restoration Party, speaks at an extraordinary party meeting in Osaka on June 22, 2014. The opposition party decided at the meeting to dissolve with its two co-leaders, former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara and Hashimoto, Osaka mayor, set to lead separate parties.

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Osaka Mayor Hashimoto

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, who is also co-head of the opposition Japan Restoration Party, attends a press conference in Osaka on Feb. 3, 2014. Hashimoto officially announced his resignation as mayor and said he will run again in a mayoral election to gain support for his main policy goal -- the merger of Osaka prefectural and municipal governments.

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Osaka Mayor Hashimoto

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto (R), who is also co-head of the opposition Japan Restoration Party, and Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui, who is also secretary general of the JRP, look at each other during a press conference in Osaka on Feb. 3, 2014. Hashimoto officially announced his resignation as mayor and said he will run again in a mayoral election to gain support for his main policy goal -- the merger of Osaka prefectural and municipal governments.

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Osaka Mayor Hashimoto

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, who is also co-head of the opposition Japan Restoration Party, heads for a press conference in Osaka on Feb. 3, 2014. Hashimoto officially announced his resignation as mayor and said he will run again in a mayoral election to gain support for his main policy goal -- the merger of Osaka prefectural and municipal governments.

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Osaka Mayor Hashimoto

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, who is also co-head of the opposition Japan Restoration Party, attends a press conference in Osaka on Feb. 3, 2014. Hashimoto officially announced his resignation as mayor and said he will run again in a mayoral election to gain support for his main policy goal -- the merger of Osaka prefectural and municipal governments.

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Osaka Mayor Hashimoto

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, who is also co-head of the opposition Japan Restoration Party, attends a press conference in Osaka on Feb. 3, 2014. Hashimoto officially announced his resignation as mayor and said he will run again in a mayoral election to gain support for his main policy goal -- the merger of Osaka prefectural and municipal governments.

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Osaka Mayor Hashimoto

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, who is also co-head of the opposition Japan Restoration Party, attends a press conference in Osaka on Feb. 3, 2014. Hashimoto officially announced his resignation as mayor and said he will run again in a mayoral election to gain support for his main policy goal -- the merger of Osaka prefectural and municipal governments.

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Osaka Mayor Hashimoto

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, who is also co-head of the opposition Japan Restoration Party, attends a press conference in Osaka on Feb. 3, 2014. Hashimoto officially announced his resignation as mayor and said he will run again in a mayoral election to gain support for his main policy goal -- the merger of Osaka prefectural and municipal governments.

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Osaka Mayor Hashimoto

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, who is also co-head of the opposition Japan Restoration Party, bows during a press conference in Osaka on Feb. 3, 2014. Hashimoto officially announced his resignation as mayor and said he will run again in a mayoral election to gain support for his main policy goal -- the merger of Osaka prefectural and municipal governments.

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Osaka Mayor Hashimoto

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto (R), who is also co-head of the opposition Japan Restoration Party, speaks at a press conference in Osaka on Feb. 3, 2014. Hashimoto officially announced his resignation as mayor and said he will run again in a mayoral election to gain support for his main policy goal -- the merger of Osaka prefectural and municipal governments. At left is Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui, who is also secretary general of the JRP.

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Osaka Mayor Hashimoto

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, who is also co-head of the opposition Japan Restoration Party, attends a press conference in Osaka on Feb. 3, 2014. Hashimoto officially announced his resignation as mayor and said he will run again in a mayoral election to gain support for his main policy goal -- the merger of Osaka prefectural and municipal governments.

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Osaka Mayor Hashimoto to quit

TOKYO, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, who doubles as co-head of the Japan Restoration Party, speaks at the party convention in Tokyo on Feb. 1, 2014. Hashimoto expressed later that day his intention to quit as mayor and run for reelection to gain public support for his goal of creating an Osaka metropolitan government through the merger of the prefectural and municipal governments.

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Osaka touts 2025 World Expo candidacy

NEW YORK, United States, July 17 Kyodo - Osaka Mayor Hirofumi Yoshimura (2nd from L) alongside the popular game character Pikachu attends an event at the United Nations in New York on July 16, 2018, to press the western Japan city's campaign to host the World Exposition in 2025.

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Osaka Mayor Hashimoto to temporarily quit as party co-leader

TOKYO, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto (R) and Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui attend an executives' meeting of the Japan Innovation Party at a Tokyo hotel on Dec. 23, 2014. The opposition party accepted the resignations of Hashimoto, a party co-leader, and secretary general Matsui, albeit that their resignations might be effective only until spring.

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Japan Innovation Party's Hashimoto on lower house election

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, one of the co-heads of the opposition Japan Innovation Party, holds a press conference at an Osaka hotel on the results of the lower house election on the night of Dec. 14, 2014. Hashimoto said his party "failed to win public confidence."

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Osaka Mayor Hashimoto may run in next lower house election

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, who also acts as the co-leader of the opposition Japan Innovation Party, makes a speech in the western Japan city of Osaka on Nov. 15, 2014. He indicated he may run in the next lower house election that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to call soon.

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Osaka Mayor Hashimoto may run in next lower house election

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, who also acts as the co-leader of the opposition Japan Innovation Party, makes a speech in the western Japan city of Osaka on Nov. 15, 2014. He indicated he may run in the next lower house election that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to call soon.

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Deputy mayor speaks at tsunami symposium in west Japan

OSAKA, Japan - Tadamitsu Wakasaki, deputy mayor of Kamaishi in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, speaks about the city's experience in the 2011 killer earthquake and tsunami at a disaster management symposium in Awaji, Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, on Nov. 12, 2014.

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Osaka mayor meets with anti-Korean group leader

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto (C) leaves after cutting short a meeting with Makoto Sakurai, leader of Zaitokukai, a civic group known for its hate speech against Korean residents of Japan, at the Osaka municipal offices on Oct. 20, 2014.

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Osaka mayor meets with anti-Korean group leader

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto (2nd from L) and Makoto Sakurai (far R), leader of Zaitokukai, a civic group known for its hate speech against Korean residents of Japan, stand up and exchange harsh words during their meeting at the Osaka municipal offices on Oct. 20, 2014.

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Osaka mayor meets with anti-Korean group leader

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto (L) holds a meeting with Makoto Sakurai, leader of Zaitokukai, a civic group known for its hate speech against Korean residents of Japan, at the Osaka municipal offices on Oct. 20, 2014.

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Osaka mayor meets with anti-Korean group leader

OSAKA, Japan - Combination photo shows Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto (L) and Makoto Sakurai, leader of Zaitokukai, a civic group known for its hate speech against Korean residents of Japan, during their meeting at the Osaka municipal offices on Oct. 20, 2014.

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Ex-comedian designs bicycle basket cover to fend off purse snatchers

OSAKA, Japan - Artist and former comedian Jimmy Onishi (L) poses with Yao Mayor Seita Tanaka in promoting a bicycle basket cover that Onishi designed to thwart purse snatchers, at the Yao city hall in Osaka Prefecture on Oct. 7, 2014.

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Celebrities attend event marking 400th anniv. of Osaka siege

OSAKA, Japan - Celebrities in traditional armor suits pose in front of Osaka Castle in western Japan during an event on Oct. 1, 2014, to mark the 400th anniversary of the "Winter Siege of Osaka" in feudal Japan. From R: Osaka Governor Ichiro Matsui, kabuki actor Ainosuke Kataoka, singer Akiko Wada, Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto and event executive committee head Shinya Hashizume.

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Celebrities start event for 400th anniv. of Osaka siege

OSAKA, Japan - Celebrities in traditional armor suits cut the ribbon to open an event commemorating the 400th anniversary of the "Winter Siege of Osaka" in feudal Japan. From L: Kabuki actor Ainosuke Kataoka, singer Akiko Wada, Osaka Governor Ichiro Matsui, Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto and event executive committee head Shinya Hashizume.

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2 opposition parties merge into Japan's 3rd-largest party

TOKYO, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto (L) and Kenji Eda, a House of Representatives lawmaker, shake hands during a press conference at a hotel in Tokyo on Sept. 21, 2014, after becoming co-leaders of the Japan Innovation Party. Hashimoto's Japan Restoration Party and Eda's Yuinotoh party merged to create the Japan Innovation Party, Japan's third-largest party and second in the opposition bloc.

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Machikane croc fossil to become registered monument

OSAKA, Japan - Toyonaka Mayor Keiichiro Asari and Machikane-kun, the western Japanese city's mascot character, show their delight at Toyonaka city hall in Osaka Prefecture on June 20, 2014, as Osaka University's fossil of Machikane Crocodylidae is expected to become a registered monument of Japan.

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Conductor Nishimoto named 'Osaka Cultural ambassador'

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto (L) presents conductor Tomomi Nishimoto with a certificate at the city hall in Osaka on June 9, 2014, as Nishimoto was commissioned as "the Osaka International Cultural Ambassador."

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Kamaishi women named disaster panel members in Settsu

KAMAISHI, Japan - Akiko Iwasaki (C) and Kazue Konta (R ), both residents of Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture, stand with Yoshitaka Ono, deputy mayor of Settsu in Osaka Prefecture, on May 21, 2014, in Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture, after they were named as members of a disaster prevention committee set up by the Settsu city government.

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Cherry pit-spitting contest held in Osaka

OSAKA, Japan - Comedian Kenji Tamura (2nd from L) and other people compete in a cherry pit-spitting contest in Osaka, western Japan, on May 10, 2014. On the extreme right is Mayor Hiroki Sato of Sagae, a Yamagata Prefecture, northeastern Japan, city known for rich cherry output.

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Re-elected Osaka mayor

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto holds a press conference at Osaka city hall in Osaka, western Japan, on March 24, 2014, a day after his re-election.

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Re-elected Osaka mayor

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto holds a press conference at Osaka city hall in Osaka, western Japan, on March 24, 2014, a day after his re-election.

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Re-elected Osaka mayor

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto holds a press conference at Osaka city hall in Osaka, western Japan, on March 24, 2014, a day after his re-election.

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Osaka Mayor Hashimoto

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto arrives at the Osaka city hall on March 24, 2014, the day after he won reelection.