Osaka launches campaign to make it new financial center in Asia

While higher taxes and language barriers are often cited as making Japan less attractive than other Asian rivals, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has promised to change that at the parliament in October.

Yeah, he's going to lower our taxes! Maybe he'll also reduce our health insurance premiums. And make the summers less humid. Something to look forward to!

This story is so funny. I am still laughing.

Suga. The only thing he is going to do, is leave office. As if he is going to shift the houses of finance from Tokyo to Osaka. And train everyone to speak Chinese. His last 'great idea' was industrial tourism and bringing Chinese tourists to Japan. That worked out well.

This announcement comes right after the Nissan catastrophe, and the Tokyo Stock Exchange servers crashing.

It's not gonna be an easy task for Japan.

Exempt taxes for foreigners.

Dispel all ridiculous laws against foreigners.

Remove any restriction on foreign ownership and acquisition of any asset in Japan.

If the Japanese do all three acts, then there is a chance for Japan to even surpass Singapore and Hong Kong alike.

I doubt it will happen because Japanese elites are living in a faltering fantasy bubble of Nihonjinron. They won't admit any reality even if a Chinese Communist official is sitting on their faces with his big-money through acquiring all lands in Osaka. The Japanese oyajis will continue saying that Japan is so great that Chinese elites are giving them free bribe money or Chinese elites are coming to Japan to re-learn "civilization" after years of Communism. The Chinese elites will pretend to acknowledge but laughing at Japanese "rich" elites on the Nihon level of idiocy. Yep, Japan still has too many old fools like Taro Aso.

Suga. The only thing he is going to do, is leave office. As if he is going to shift the houses of finance from Tokyo to Osaka. And train everyone to speak Chinese. His last 'great idea' was industrial tourism and bringing Chinese tourists to Japan. That worked out well.

That wonderful idea came from Abe, my friend.

Suga is a dismal extension of Abe.

Seriously, Osaka is too overrated. I have lived in Osaka for 7 years and to be honest, it's the least appealing and one of the dirtiest cities in Japan, IMHO. One thing is to think Kansaiben/Osakaben is funny and make fun of it, one thing is their food is said to be awesome. But both are just average, IMHO. Drunk people at any hour, noisy people. Maybe it's appealing for someone who is just a tourist or set a foot there once or twice. But I really can't understand the hype. When we go there to visit our client, I always can't await to go back.

I’d rather live in Osaka than Tokyo-the only colour there is concrete...

Having lived in both, I’d definitely stump for Kansai over Kanto. Summers in both are hot and sticky, but the Kansai winter is nicer. Commutes are a lot saner; housing is cheaper, and the people are more engaging. Pound for pound, the Osaka/Kyoto/Kobe/Nara triangle packs more variety than you’ll find in Kanto. Tokyo's architecture is perhaps more impressive. As for food, there’s not really much in it. Anyone who hasn’t been to Kansai in a while, will be in for a surprise at the number of major new shopping and dining developments.

I’d rather live in Osaka than Tokyo-the only colour there is concrete.

My impression is that Tokyo has bigger green spaces than Osaka. Yoyogi, Shinjuku Gyoen, Ueno, the Imperial Palace.... Osaka has the castle and Tsurumi Ryokuchi, but both are small and a bit out of the way.

I lived close to Osaka for 10 years and have fond memories, but I can't see it appealing to the international financial elite. Does it even appeal to the Japanese financial elite?