Blooloop first reported that Universal Studios Japan had issued a statement after Osaka City announced plans for the future use of city-owned land in Sakurajima 2-chome, Konohana-ku. USJ says it is already in preliminary discussions with the city about a possible long-term lease of the site.
For Bedford readers, the immediate significance is limited: this is a separate Universal Japan matter, and no confirmed link to the planned Universal United Kingdom Resort near Bedford has been announced. On the statements published so far, the Osaka talks stand on their own.
What Osaka has put on the table
Osaka City says the plot measures 31,320.14 square metres and sits in Sakurajima 2-chome. It says the land is currently under a long-running arrangement with Nippon Steel, which began in March 1999, and that the site is due to be handed back to the city in June 2027. The city says it wants the land to strengthen the bay area's appeal, attract more visitors and support Osaka's wider growth.
USJ's own statement is cautious. The company says it supports the city's tourism and economic-development goals, has entered preliminary discussions about the potential long-term lease, and respects Osaka City's process. It adds that, beyond its desire to explore leasing the land, no other details have been finalised.
Why this matters
The location matters because the site is being discussed specifically as expansion land for Universal Studios Japan, rather than as a general property transaction. Osaka's outline says it is aiming towards a contract with USJ around April 2028, after the current lease arrangement ends and the land returns to city control in 2027.
For now, this remains a discussion rather than a signed deal. The city says it will continue the related procedures and talks, while USJ has not disclosed any project details beyond its interest in leasing the land. That leaves the scale, timing and final use of the site unconfirmed.
