We Are Tomodachi Autumn 2017

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21point is the idea that Osaka is the ideal location for an Expo that focuses on how to create a society that helps people live healthier lives, and for disseminating this to the world.”Kansai is a base for world-leading life sciences research facilities. For example, Kyoto has institutions conducting research on iPS stem cells used in regenerative medicine. And in 2018, a new Osaka Heavy Ion Therapy Center, with facilities that can eliminate cancer cells without surgery, is scheduled to be opened in cooperation with the International Cancer Center.Kansai also has the power to turn research results into real-life applications. The area is home to many companies in pharmaceutical and other scientific industries, and it is such a stronghold for corporations with advanced technical abilities that the locals say, “There is nothing that can’t be made in Osaka.” As Prime Minister Abe conveys in his video message, the Osaka tradition of innovative spirit that drives its companies is exemplified by the saying “Well, get to it then!” This spirit has spawned many innovations and dispatched them to the world. The Osaka, Kansai region are the perfect stage for the Expo, as they are deeply rooted in the ethos of encouraging people to take on new challenges.The proposed venue for the World Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai is Yumeshima (“Dream Island”), a vast 390-hectare (964-acre) man-made island in Osaka Bay.“Just like the meaning of its name, we want this to be a place that makes the dreams of visitors come true,” Governor Matsui enthusiastically explains. “The strengths of Kansai lie not only in the venue, but also in its rich heritage of history, culture, and the arts, and its many attractions for visitors to enjoy. Most of all, the people of Osaka love to welcome guests. Steeped in the tradition of omotenashi, their hospitality is their expertise. In addition, Osaka is located nearby the magnificent cities of Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe which feature many of Japan’s most famous sightseeing spots. We hope that by hosting the World Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, we can help as many people as possible to experience the wonders of Kansai.Osaka is also a cultural entertainment capital of Japan. Since days of old, it has been a base for bunraku, a form of traditional Japanese puppet theater (also known as Ningyo Joruri). Today, comedy culture thrives as well: Osaka is a popular place to catch rakugo and manzai shows, which are Japanese traditional forms of comedic storytelling. Pictured in the photo is the Namba Grand Kagetsu theater, where rakugo, manzai, and Yoshimoto New Comedy acts appear on stage 365 days a year.Kansai is home to many research institutes, including Kyoto University’s Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) directed by Dr. Shinya Yamanaka, winner of the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. With the goal of “contributing to achievements in regenerative medicine,” the facility primarily conducts wide-ranging research on induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells), studying everything from the fundamentals all the way to real applications in the field.Ichiro MatsuiBorn in 1964. Governor of Osaka Prefecture. A politician serving as Secretary-General of Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party) and Osaka Ishin no Kai. After being elected for three terms to the Osaka Prefectural Assembly, he is currently serving his second term as elected Governor of Osaka Prefecture.