The 1970 Osaka Expo attracted global attention, but after it ended, the transformed "Expo Land" amusement park experienced a shocking roller coaster derailment accident that resulted in the immediate death of a 19-year-old female visitor. The incident occurred in 2007 when the roller coaster's axle broke near the end of the ride, causing multiple injuries among the passengers. Investigations revealed that the facility had not been maintained according to regulations, and the amusement park eventually closed in 2009, with the location rebuilt into a commercial entertainment area called "lalaport EXPOCITY." This event has become a painful memory for the people of Osaka, and with the upcoming 2025 expo, related discussions have sparked renewed attention.
The 1970 Osaka Expo attracted global attention; however, after the exhibition ended, a transformation into an amusement park venue led to a shocking roller coaster accident in Japan resulting in a fatality.
The 2025 Osaka Expo is set to take place on April 13 this year. Looking back at the 1970 event from 55 years ago, the Osaka Expo was not only a significant moment in Japanese history but also provided opportunities for economic and infrastructure development in the Kansai region.
However, the venue transformed into "Osaka Expo Land" experienced a roller coaster derailment in 2007, resulting in the on-site death of a 19-year-old female visitor, which drew national attention and severely damaged the amusement park's reputation, ultimately leading to its closure in 2009.
The roller coaster’s wheels detached during high-speed operation, causing the train to lose control, tragically resulting in the death of a 19-year-old female visitor: This incident occurred on May 5, 2007, coinciding with the end of Japan's Golden Week holiday, when many visitors chose to go to the Expo Memorial Park amusement park in Suita, Osaka. At 1 PM that afternoon, the roller coaster "Fujin Raijin II" was operating at high speed when the axle suddenly broke, causing the wheels to detach. The second car derailed and flipped over, pinning a 19-year-old female visitor, Yoshino Ogawara, leading to her instant death. In addition to Ogawara’s death, 21 others were injured, including 4 males and 17 females.
Witnesses described that as the roller coaster approached the finish line, the car suddenly shook violently, followed by a loud noise, and the roller coaster collided with the guardrail, causing bystanders to scream in shock.
According to the amusement park's introduction, this roller coaster, named "Fūrai No. 2," is an upright climbing type, equipped with 24 seats, where passengers must assume a standing position. Its total length is 1,050 meters, with a height of about 40 meters, reaching a maximum speed of 75 kilometers per hour.
A kind act of giving up a seat resulted in a fatal accident, a tragic play of fate: According to the accident investigation report, the safety device of this roller coaster was designed only to secure the upper body. At the time of the accident, 3 passengers were ejected from the ride, with Yoshino being fatally injured after hitting the guardrail, while other passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries. Subsequent investigations revealed that the facility had not conducted proper maintenance as required before the incident, leading to the axle breakage and wheel detachment, ultimately resulting in the maintenance management unit being identified as the primary responsible party for the accident.
This roller coaster derailment that resulted in the death of a female passenger shocked Japan. The Expo Land closed for several months following the incident. Although there were attempts to reopen, the number of visitors significantly declined, and ultimately, in February 2009, it applied for bankruptcy due to accumulated deficits, ending its 37 years of operation.
Today, the original amusement park site has been re-planned and acquired by Mitsui Fudosan, transformed into a commercial and entertainment complex called "lalaport EXPOCITY," aimed at becoming "the largest comprehensive facility in Western Japan," which reopened for operations in 2015.
The Expo Land was an amusement park built after the 1970 Osaka World Expo and was a place filled with memories for many people in Osaka. However, this tragic accident has left scars in the hearts of many, and with the upcoming 2025 Osaka World Expo, future usage plans have sparked discussions once again.
