Osaka Tournament Invites Breaking Down with Unconventional Crowd-Pulling Strategy for Expo

Yoshimura Governor Appears on Asakura Mikuru’s YouTube

On July 28, fighter Asakura Mikuru (32) announced his retirement after losing to Hiramoto Ren (26) at the martial arts event “Super RIZIN.3.” He faced an unpleasant conclusion regarding Hiramoto’s “doping allegations.” However, on September 4, an astonishing figure appeared on Asakura’s official YouTube channel.

In a video titled “It Seems the Breaking Down Osaka Tournament is About to Be Decided,” Osaka Prefecture Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura (49) made a surprise appearance. The filming took place at a gym in Osaka where Governor Yoshimura receives personal training once a week. He reportedly watches Asakura’s videos and highlighted that his son is a fan of Asakura. They engaged in a lively discussion about training, during which Governor Yoshimura made a surprising suggestion, saying, “Isn’t it good to have Breaking Down and various activities in Osaka?”

“Breaking Down (hereafter referred to as Bredan) is a martial arts event that determines the ‘strongest in one minute,’ with Asakura serving as CEO. The event gained popularity after participants engaged in brawls during auditions, going viral on the internet, and has now become a widely popular content. However, it is also an event that has attracted attention for various reasons, including participants with criminal records and multiple arrests among competitors,” said a martial arts writer.

In the aforementioned video, Governor Yoshimura enthusiastically promoted the upcoming “Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025,” which is scheduled to be held for six months starting in April next year. He stated, “It will attract 160 countries, so let’s build a pavilion. When you go there, the world will be condensed.” He continued, “During the Expo, think about where we can hold it. Let’s do something like the Osaka Expo tournament. Is it good to say that Breaking Down in Osaka is confirmed?” Governor Yoshimura pressed forward eagerly. Asakura responded positively, saying, “Then it’s decided! Let’s go to the Expo!” indicating his enthusiasm for holding the Osaka tournament.

“The current situation is that while there are regular martial arts fans among the audience of Bredan, there are also many ‘yankara’ (semi-organized crime members). Since dignitaries from various countries will likely attend the Expo, people of all ages and genders from both overseas and across the nation will visit. If Bredan is held there, the area around the venue is sure to become chaotic with inbound tourists, VIPs, and semi-organized crime members gathering. It’s highly unlikely that the event will take place inside the Expo venue or nearby,” said the source.

Osaka-Kansai Expo faces continued challenges.

As of the morning of the 18th, this video recorded 760,000 views. With a subscriber count of 3.42 million and each uploaded video frequently exceeding 1 million views, Asakura’s channel does not stand out with these numbers. However, the reason Governor Yoshimura sought out Asakura, who holds tremendous influence in both the martial arts and online communities, lies in the challenging circumstances surrounding him.

“There have been ongoing issues with significant delays in the construction of the overseas pavilions and rising construction costs. The additional budget for measures against a methane gas explosion incident that occurred at the planned venue exceeds 3 billion yen. There are also reports of fire ants appearing and hydrogen sulfide being detected underground. Moreover, it has been pointed out that the venue’s symbol, the ‘Large Roof Ring,’ lacks lightning rods, revealing a series of shortcomings. The approval ratings for the political party ‘Japan Innovation Party,’ which Governor Yoshimura co-leads, and ‘Osaka Innovation Party,’ which he heads, have been on a downward trajectory.

To overcome the unprecedented crisis facing the Innovation Party, it is essential to attract visitors to the Expo and achieve success. However, it seems they have unexpectedly tapped into Asakura as a catalyst for restoring popularity. While Asakura stated in the video that he has no intention of transitioning into politics, it seems he may be skillfully used for the successful hosting of the Bredan tournament in Osaka with the governor’s endorsement,” said a political reporter based in Osaka.

Former Yoshimoto Kogyo Chairman and Co-Chair of the Expo Event Planning Committee, Hiroshi Osaki (71), attended the “6th Event Planning Committee” held in Osaka on September 3. While he did not reveal any names, he announced that a major artist is confirmed to participate.

It seems that the Expo organizers have resorted to a reckless “crowd-pulling strategy.” Amid a mountain of issues and only critical voices being heard, interest in the main attractions and exhibits within the venue is likely to diminish even further.

 

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