News On Japan

New Osaka Shopping Complex Offers AI-Powered Crowd Predictions

OSAKA, Mar 20 (News On Japan) - A new commercial complex in Osaka’s Umekita district, located north of JR Osaka Station, held a preview event on March 19th.

Umekita Green Place, which opened to the public on March 19th, is a three-story shopping facility directly connected to JR Osaka Station. It houses 20 shops, primarily restaurants.

On the first floor, visitors can find sweet shops offering takeout options to enjoy in the adjacent lawn area. The second-floor food court features Japan’s first AI-powered congestion prediction service, allowing visitors to check crowd levels on their smartphones.

Naoya Ashida from JR West Japan Osaka Development said: "This is a place where people can feel close to nature, with many restaurants and dining options facing the greenery. We hope people working in Umeda will also come and relax here."

Additionally, a newly established bus terminal at the complex will operate around ten round-trip shuttle services daily to and from the Expo venue.

Umekita Green Place is set to officially open on March 21st.

Source: YOMIURI

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Scholars affiliated with the Science Council of Japan formed a symbolic human chain in front of the National Diet building on May 8th, calling for revisions to the government’s proposed reform bill targeting the council’s structure, as deliberations enter their final phase in the Diet.

Across Japan, road collapses have been occurring with increasing frequency, often blamed on aging infrastructure. In one recent incident in Ashioshi, Saitama Prefecture, a truck was swallowed by a gaping sinkhole.

Two men who were arrested for forcibly entering an elementary school in Tachikawa City, Tokyo, and assaulting staff members have been identified as friends of a student's mother. One of the suspects denies the charges, claiming he was only brushing people off after being restrained.

Cherry blossoms have begun to bloom in Wakkanai and Kushiro, marking the near completion of Japan's cherry blossom front for 2025.

As many in Japan returned to work or school on May 7th following the Golden Week holiday, a growing number are reporting post-holiday fatigue and sleep deprivation—conditions that experts warn may point to deeper sleep-related issues.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Web3 NEWS

A humanoid robot malfunctioned during a live demo in China, violently swinging at engineers and causing chaos, sparking viral reactions and comparisons to sci-fi movies.

Japan has always supported innovation, and this is even more true in the digitalized age.

Japan’s top AI influencer, Takumi Ushii, appeared on the business interview program "1on1" to explain how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing music creation.

If you’ve ever walked the streets of Bangkok or any Thai town early in the morning, you’ve probably seen them: vendors balancing rows of colorful lottery tickets, fanning them out for curious customers.

Meme coins have become a hot topic in the crypto landscape, with their charm lying in their imagery as well as their inherent narrative.

Japan’s sports scene is undergoing a quiet revolution. A new wave of analysts, data enthusiasts, and online communities are changing how people watch and understand their favorite games.

The development of autonomous driving technology is entering a new phase, driven by advances in generative AI. A white vehicle seen driving through central Tokyo without a driver was recently unveiled as Japan's first public demonstration by Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet.

An AI analysis channel has drawn attention to an unusual case of workplace misconduct in Hiroshima, where a city employee was suspended for ordering his superior to buy ice cream and skipping work to visit pachinko parlors.