News On Japan

Methane Gas Detected Again at Osaka-Kansai Expo Site

OSAKA, Apr 08 (News On Japan) - Methane gas was detected at levels exceeding safety standards in the western area of the Osaka-Kansai Expo site around 4 p.m. on April 6th, raising concerns due to the potential risk of explosion. Ventilation measures have since been implemented, bringing gas concentrations back below the threshold.

Jun Takashina, Deputy Secretary-General of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, commented on the incident, saying: "This has been a serious lesson for us. We want to make sure we implement thorough additional safety measures so we can safely welcome the start of the Expo."

This is the same area where, in March 2024, a fire ignited by sparks from welding work during a construction project triggered a powerful methane gas explosion. The incident occurred near a site undergoing redevelopment, where underground utility lines and aging sewer infrastructure were being modified. According to the Osaka Fire Department, methane had accumulated beneath the surface due to inadequate ventilation in old piping and nearby landfill deposits, creating a volatile environment.

Witnesses at the time reported hearing a loud blast followed by a column of smoke rising several meters into the air. The explosion damaged nearby residential buildings and shattered windows in a 200-meter radius. No fatalities were reported, but seven workers suffered injuries ranging from burns to concussions, and more than 50 residents were temporarily evacuated.

An investigation conducted by city officials and the construction company revealed that standard gas detection procedures had been skipped that day due to time constraints, and safety inspections had not flagged the risk of methane buildup. As a result, Osaka authorities introduced stricter monitoring regulations for gas levels at excavation sites and mandated real-time methane sensors for future construction projects in high-risk zones.

In response to the recent incident, the association plans to increase the frequency of gas measurements to three times per day and install fences around the areas where gas is likely to accumulate.

Source: Television OSAKA NEWS

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

U.S. President Donald Trump arrived at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on the afternoon of October 27 aboard Air Force One, marking his first visit to Japan in roughly six years and his first since the start of his second administration.

McDonald's Japan announced it will phase out the use of paper straws and introduce new lids that allow customers to drink directly from the cup without a straw starting on November 19th.

The Nikkei Stock Average surpassed the 50,000-yen mark for the first time ever as trading began on Monday in Tokyo, marking a historic milestone for Japan’s equity market. The breakthrough occurred just three minutes after the opening bell at 9 a.m., with traders at some securities firms preparing to celebrate with a traditional kagami-biraki sake ceremony.

Japan’s H3 Rocket No. 7, carrying a newly developed unmanned cargo spacecraft, successfully launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture at 9 a.m. on October 26th, marking another milestone for the nation’s space program.

A Tokyo District Court has ruled that addressing a colleague using the 'chan' suffix constitutes sexual harassment, ordering a male employee to pay 220,000 yen in damages.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Society NEWS

A 38-year-old man was arrested near the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo’s Minato Ward on October 24th after attacking a riot police officer with a knife, injuring the officer’s right leg.

A group in Sapporo achieved a Guinness World Record on October 25th for creating the world’s largest sentence made entirely from plastic bottle caps. The artwork, composed of around 80,000 caps, was officially recognized under the category “Largest Sentence Made from Bottle Caps.”

A Tokyo District Court has ruled that addressing a colleague using the 'chan' suffix constitutes sexual harassment, ordering a male employee to pay 220,000 yen in damages.

A 47-year-old man accused of possessing cannabis in Nagoya has been acquitted after the Nagoya High Court ruled that the procedures used to seize the evidence were illegal. The decision, handed down on October 9th, became final after prosecutors decided not to appeal.

A 38-year-old man was killed on October 24th in the village of Higashinaruse, Akita Prefecture, after attempting to rescue a couple in their seventies who were being attacked by a bear.

A memorial service marking 80 years since the end of World War II was held in Shari, a town in Hokkaido’s Shiretoko region, on October 22nd to honor those who perished in the Northern Territories and other areas.

Police in Osaka arrested a 48-year-old man on October 22nd after a tense 14-hour standoff in which he allegedly held a woman at knifepoint inside an apartment. A special tactical unit forced entry into the residence late at night, ending the standoff without injuries.

The Emperor, Empress, and their daughter Princess Aiko visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Memorial Hall in Sumida Ward on Thursday afternoon, marking their first visit to the site as Japan observes the 80th year since the end of World War II. They were greeted upon arrival by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and other officials.