Latest sightseeing spot “Tokyo Sky Tree” invited 5.81 million people in a month after opening in 2012. However, the number was exceeded by 1.6 million by Grand Front Osaka opened this April. This new landmark in Japan recorded a total of 7.61 million visitors in the first month.

Located in a vast area of 7 hectares in the heart of Osaka, Grand Front Osaka has been developed by 12 companies including ORIX, Japan’s leading financial conglomerate. The most popular facility in Grand Front Osaka is Knowledge Capital, an area with business related facilities such as rental office and multipurpose theater. It also has an area for both kids and adults to learn and experience Japan's state-of-the-art science and technology, as well as a communication space to support the interaction between companies and consumers.

For example, Fisheries Laboratory of Kinki University opened a booth serving tuna dishes. Striving to overcome the catch limits of tuna and in the pursuit of food safety, the institution has studied the cultivation of the fish over a period of time. The booth shows its achievements by providing tuna in a reasonable price. Other than these kinds of eateries, there are showrooms with varieties of hands-on experiences.

On the other hand, Knowledge Capital provides opportunities to create new business models. Here, anyone, including researchers, creators, and businessmen, will have a chance to collaborate towards creating new values by sharing and integrating their perception and techniques, and eventually showcase innovative industries to the world.

Grand Front Osaka also contributes to the promotion of Japan's business and international exchange. Lately, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Knowledge Capital hosted an inspection, inviting Asian and European diplomats stationed in Consulate General in Osaka.

Manopchai Vongphakdi from The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Osaka remarked "I was intrigued by the facility. I think it's a great idea to have a place where people from various fields can share their thoughts and ideas.

There is already a close relationship between Thailand and Japan, but I hope Knowledge Capital will enhance collaboration of the two countries with imaginative ideas and Japan's strong technologies.

Takuya Nomura, General Producer of Knowledge Capital, claimed, "In a world of uncertainty, revolutionary ideas will not be generated from a group of members within the same field. Our aim is to bring in innovations by providing a space to facilitate interactions and relationships among people with different backgrounds."

Knowledge Capital will surely brighten up our society by encouraging the generation of new products and services, conveying new values to the world, and realising new business models.-VNA