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Osaka Gov. Hashimoto plans to attract Paramount Pictures theme park+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) OSAKA, Dec. 1_(Kyodo) _ Osaka Gov. Toru Hashimoto said Monday that he plans to urge Paramount Pictures Corp., a major U.S. film studio, to build a theme park at the site in Suita city of Expoland amusement park, which filed for bankruptcy in October. "I really hope that they will come," said the governor of Osaka, which also hosts Universal Studios Japan, a theme park of another U.S. film studio. The prefecture could expect some synergies in attracting visitors if a second theme park of a major U.S. film studio is built, but it remains to be seen if Hashimoto's plan will come to fruition as Gamba Osaka, a pro soccer team, is considering building a new stadium at the same site. Hashimoto said he hopes the central government will make the right decision in helping Osaka to attract the U.S. studio. Touching on the possible disbanding of a state affiliate that owns the site of Expoland, Hashimoto said, "I wonder if (the state) could make a political decision from a wider perspective." Paramount Pictures had planned to build a theme park in Fukuoka Prefecture but has faced difficulty raising money. The Expoland site is owned by the Commemorative Organization for the Japan World Exposition '70. Copyright ? 2008 Kyodo News International, Inc. |