讀後心得

The 1970 Osaka Expo attracted global attention, but the subsequent renovation into a theme park named "Expo Land" saw a shocking roller coaster accident that resulted in the death of a 19-year-old woman, shocking the entire nation. The incident occurred in May 2007, when the roller coaster "Fujin Raijin II" derailed due to an axle break while operating at high speed, injuring 21 people. This event damaged the theme park's reputation, and it ultimately ceased operations in 2009, now transformed into the "lalaport EXPOCITY" commercial and entertainment area.

The Osaka Expo in 1970 attracted the attention of the world, but after the exhibition ended, the converted amusement park experienced a shocking roller coaster accident that stunned all of Japan. The 2025 Osaka Expo will open on April 13 this year. Looking back at 1970, 55 years ago, the Osaka Expo was not only an important page in Japanese history but also provided significant opportunities for the economic and infrastructure development of the Kansai region. However, the venue that was transformed into the "Osaka Expo Land" saw a serious roller coaster derailment, resulting in the death of a 19-year-old woman on the spot. This incident shocked the nation, tarnished the amusement park's reputation, and ultimately led to its quiet closure in 2009.

The accident occurred on May 5, 2007, a day when Japan's Golden Week holiday was coming to an end, and many citizens visited the "Expo Memorial Park Amusement Park" located in Suita City, Osaka. At around 1 PM that afternoon, the roller coaster "Fūjin Raijin II" in the park broke down at high speed, as the axle suddenly snapped, causing the wheels to fall off. The second carriage derailed and tipped over, trapping a 19-year-old female guest and resulting in her death. Additionally, the accident injured 21 others, including 4 males and 17 females. Witnesses reported that the roller coaster was approaching the end when it began to shake violently and then tilted toward the guardrail with a loud crash, leading to screams from guests at the scene.

According to information from the amusement park, the roller coaster "Fūjin Raijin II" is a standing-up vertical climbing roller coaster, measuring 1,050 meters in length, approximately 40 meters high, and capable of reaching a maximum speed of 75 kilometers per hour.

According to the accident investigation report, the safety device of the roller coaster only secured the upper body of the passengers. At the time of the incident, 3 passengers were thrown out of the car, one named Kobayashi was severely injured after crashing into the guardrail and later died, while other passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries. Reports indicate that Kobayashi had visited the amusement park that day with 5 colleagues. Initially, she was lined up with her colleagues to ride in the front car, but to allow a father and daughter to ride together, she gave up her seat at the front and moved to the second car at the back, ultimately leading to her misfortune. After the incident, Expo Land immediately ceased operations for investigation. The police and the amusement park operators discovered that the facility had not undergone proper maintenance before the incident, which led to the axle breaking and the wheels falling off. Eventually, the maintenance management unit of "Fūjin Raijin II" was accused of neglecting maintenance and held significant responsibility for the accident.

This incident shocked Japan. After months of closure, Expo Land attempted to reopen, but the number of visitors significantly decreased. By February 2009, unable to bear the deficit losses, Expo Land declared bankruptcy, ending its 37 years of operations. Today, the original site has been replanned, purchased by Mitsui Real Estate, and transformed into a commercial and entertainment complex called "lalaport EXPOCITY," aiming to be "the largest composite facility in Western Japan," which reopened to the public on November 19, 2015.

Expo Land was originally built after the 1970 Osaka World Expo and is a place full of memories for many people in Osaka. However, this tragedy still leaves painful memories in the hearts of many, and with the upcoming 2025 World Expo in Osaka, discussions about the future use of the related areas have reignited.