With Japan recently passing the "Vice-Capital" related legislation, multiple local governments have thrown their hats into the ring to vie for the crown of the country's second capital. From my perspective, this race for the vice-capital is a heavily lopsided contest. If you were to ask your friends which Japanese city has the highest chance of becoming Japan's second capital, nine times out of ten, the answer would be Osaka.

Earlier, FMI Japan held its very first corporate training session in Osaka. We brought together all our subsidiary companies—including FMI, COH (Chief of Homes), and PIKA PIKA—totaling over 40 employees. From our vacation rental management executives down to our receptionists, not a single person was left out. Why did we organize this training? Back in June, while on our Eastern European incentive trip with over a dozen executives from Osaka, Singapore, and Hong Kong, I noticed that our COH colleagues worked with immense dedication and responsibility, yet lacked a bit of experience. That sparked a sudden idea: why not host a company-wide event in Osaka? First, to let our COH colleagues know just how vital they are to the company; second, to boost team belonging; and third, to help colleagues identify their strengths and weaknesses so they can maximize their value at work, creating a win-win for both the company and the individual.

During a recent trip to Osaka, I visited two manufacturing facilities. The first was a steel plant—one of only six of its kind in all of Japan. Its scale is astonishingly massive; all machinery and equipment are fully automated, and the entire production process is exceptionally orderly and systematic. The finished products are produced with absolute precision and staggering output. Standing on the factory floor felt like stepping into an Iron Man movie. Why did I visit a steel plant? Because this facility is an official partner of FMI. All our developments utilize steel produced right here. Being able to collaborate with such a high-caliber manufacturer gives us immense peace of mind and pride, and I look forward to building even more premium properties together in the future.

In many regions across Europe and North America, the education industry is strong enough to drive the broader economy, and Asia has been trending in this direction in recent years. Last week, an educational ranking agency released its "Best Student Cities in the World" rankings. The top three positions went to Seoul, Tokyo, and London; Singapore ranked 11th globally, Taipei 14th, and Hong Kong 17th. Why has Hong Kong fallen behind neighboring cities? The primary issues are exorbitant land prices, a severe shortage of student housing, and a high cost of living, which deter many international students. Recognizing this bottleneck, the Hong Kong government has been actively promoting student accommodation projects, and property developers, spotting the immense potential, have begun converting their assets accordingly.

I’ve been flying constantly over the last few months, and this weekend I’m off to Singapore again to host another seminar. Last week, a reporter from a Singaporean media outlet asked me: Why are Singaporeans so enthusiastic about investing in Japanese property? Taking FMI as an example, we currently launch 12 projects a year in Singapore. What used to be an exhibition every two months has now ramped up to twice a month.

The Japan National Tax Agency recently released its annual land price report, revealing a 2.9% average increase across the country. Breaking it down by prefecture, the top three growth leaders were Tokyo (+9.4%), Okinawa (+6.6%), and Osaka (+5.1%). While Osaka’s 5.1% rise is impressive in itself, a closer look at commercial land—the very segment FMI works hardest to secure—shows an 8.5% growth rate. Most staggering of all, the core southern Osaka districts spanning from Shinsaibashi to Namba have seen land values surge by an astounding 25%.