Universal has scrapped plans to open a theme park on the Okinawa Prefecture, with the company instead opting to focus investment in its existing Osaka attraction.

USJ Co – the operating company of Universal Studios Japan – said in March last year that it was planning to build a second park in Nago – Okinawa’s second-largest city. Later that year in August, USJ opted to drop the Universal branding from the plans, instead favouring the name “Nangoku Resort”.

Japan’s chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga responded to the move, saying that the USJ decision was "extremely regrettable" but that the government cannot interfere with a private firm's business affairs.

The Japanese government was very much behind the project, which it saw as playing a key part in selling Okinawa as an Asian tourist destination. Leisure developments on the island have been previously hampered by a large US military presence, with half of US forces in the region sited on Okinawa.

Investment in Universal Japan has been ramped up since Comcast’s US$1.5bn (€1.3bn, £1bn) majority purchase of the park last year, with a US$83.4m (€74.2m, £54.9m) click here
Jurassic Park-themed flying coaster opening in March and a US$350m (€319.5m, £247m) immersive Mario-themed land planned for 2020.