The Forgotten Failures of Universal Studios Japan

Universal Studios Japan is one of the world’s most popular theme parks, visited by over 14 million guests a year. But the 20-year history of the park has been anything but smooth sailing.
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[@melasnexperience]

I'd only heard of Universal Studios Japan because of the Sailor Moon Crystal show they had; I didn't realize it was such a mess, with so many health hazards. Glad that they could turn everything around.

[@Emike-nc9ew]

The most important thing is to learn from your mistakes.

[@SirBlackReeds]

"I don't blame people for their mistakes. But I do ask that they pay for them." - John Hammond

[@lightningwu]

One of my fav theme parks anywhere and since I work for Orlando’s, we can get in there for free, especially once this pandemic ends and we can travel there again freely!

[@Emplordxiii]

Same here for this Hollywood TM.

[@YoMommaHouse.]

They actually pay enough to travel? Shocker

[@lightningwu]

@@Emplordxiii Nice!

[@lightningwu]

@@YoMommaHouse. Into the park. Not the traveling :)

[@YoMommaHouse.]

@@lightningwu oh I know. I was talking about the pay for working for them doesn’t leave much left over to travel anywhere

[@Rvger1]

I really like how you do videos on more obscure topics like this, keep it up!

[@brycevo]

Universal Studios Japan is such an amazing park now. It's so good

[@jauipop]

I went there during a company trip in 2016 and it was quite fun. The line at Harry Potter was crazy, but managed to do the ride twice because I nabbed a fast pass from a colleague. I guess the only downside is that the rides are in Japanese with no English option, but it was still fun. Managed to also revisit the Backdraft experience, which was nostalgic because I remember going to the one in LA as a kid 20 years ago and even buying the t-shirt at the time.

[@masanorininomiya720]

Who knows, after Tokyo Disney resort & Universal Studios in Osaka (Japan), in next video about more theme park in Japan: Sanrio Puroland (Tokyo) & Harmonyland (Oita Prefecture), soon!?

[@MizuBite]

I thought usj was a relatively new park but it's already 20 years old! I think I only started to hear about it recently, with universal cool Japan

[@Emplordxiii]

Huh, so eventually NBCUniversal Comcast outright own the park(No wonder my complimentary park tickets from the Hollywood park can also be used in Japan).

[@yellobird5682]

関西に住んでてユニバが出来た時から知ってるけど、ユニバが復活した理由は幼児向けのアトラクションを作った点と年間パスポートを作った事、そしてハローキティやバイオハザードなど日本の人気コンテンツを組み入れた事だと思うけど一切ここには出て来てない…不思議

[@Sukinakoto777]

年パスは言っていませんが、幼児向けのアトラクションは言ってませんか？ 11:45

[@jakekuhl1]

What do you think the common theme is with parks that opened in this era, it seems like every "new" Park in this time period had MAJOR issues

[@nihilisticprophet6985]

I think every park that has ever opened had major issues

[@lol-to7ip]

I really didn’t know that usj have failed before xD

[@xNintenJenx]

I didn't know all of this, thank you for all the information about my local park!

[@tantohalim]

I seriously think universal studio japan has better rides than disney sea (and free halloween horror night is a very nice plus). but theming at disneysea is very top notch. if I can only visit one, I might still choose disney sea though. maybe super mario world might change my mind, or if they brought wizarding world expansion to the park (like adding diagon alley or hagrid motorcycle adventure). I don't really care with frozen / tangled expansion for disneysea

[@654jimbob654]

Super Mario World at USJ is good but it feels VERY cramped. The theming is excellent but you don't feel like you can really stop to take it in because there's so many people around. The Yoshi ride is cute but not worth a long wait and the Mario Kart ride is really fun but feels like it needs lots of re-rides to be fully appreciated... which just isn't possible when the line averages at more than 2 hours long.

[@idk-zt8rx]

​@@654jimbob654that is the exact problem I had when I visited. It's just insanely crowded and I don't really find it worth the extra admission fee for what we get. It feels like a small dlc. I also feel the same towards the wizarding world. I enjoyed the disney resort more because there was much more breathing room and they don't charge you a separate fee to enter an area in the parks

[@brendangardiner8792]

Great video, I really liked the attendance figures graph was interesting to see a huge opening year then flat for a decade. Once Harry Potter land opens then attendance starts growing again very interesting stats so thanks for including :-)

[@Jake76667]

i remember when i started planning my trip to japan & universal japan in 2015 when, at the time, the only version of the back to the future ride still existed & when i found out when it was still open in japan, i was so excited to experience again. but unfortunately, i couldn’t go on it cause it finally closed in 2016 & i went in 2018

[@FinnFL]

This park is definitely on my must do list!

[@theendofel]

I live near USJ and have been 4 times. Best Universal due to Japanese service. Halloween has got better since 2012 and the addition of Harry Potter in 2014 really boosted it up. The reeboornnn parade and campaign in 2016 was awesome too

[@michaeltaylor1603]

I would lovvvve to GO! Certainly on my "bucket list" Universal Picture as well as themed parks have a long & rich heritage. The foreign "counterparks" of both Disney & Universal rival those of the originals in America. The philosophy is as Walt Disney put it. Plussed the attraction. They know the "formula" over there and aren't to shy on spending $$$ to make it better. Also being more densely populated Japan will kick our butts in attendance & probably in merch. as well. They sure like some popcorn over there & in France.

[@jesusdachrist9192]

I wish they opened a Shonen Jump land based on like Naruto and One Piece

[@MizuBite]

Sad that they closed J World in Ikebukuro...

[@wee-senchoo7025]

Yes. USJ it's extremely crowded pre pandemic and their merchandise regularly matches Tokyo Disney.

[@nihilisticprophet6985]

Damn I’d like to see. USS in other countries have shit merchandises

[@subzippo]

I thought my wife and I would have done our once-in-a-lifetime trip to Japan by now, with a day at this park. Instead we've had to put our life and our dreams on hold for so long...

[@reyjusuf]

You can come now :)

[@wahanui6098]

ザ・ワイルドワイルドワイルドウエストスタントショー大好きだったなあ

[@nathanielburbery4890]

Please do an in depth summary of Nintendo world!

[@SirBlackReeds]

I'm surprised that atrocious tie-in game for Gamecube wasn't mentioned.

[@thedrewster0408]

Apparently there was also another tie-in game for Universal Studios Japan on the PS2, but it was only released in Japan. However from looking at the gameplay footage of the hub world of that game, you can actually move the camera around to see what you’re looking for instead of always being at a fixed angle.

[@Roger-xb7gg]

Any chance you could share the background music?:)

[@krisfrederick5001]

Jurassic Park went off without a hitch compared to this...🦕🦖👀

[@Yukendoit]

I like a this a theme park.

[@feedthesnake3394]

i was there in 2002, absolute blast and it was 37$ to get in.

[@user-is1rf1mz6p]

The first time i went there 2010. it was so quiet. Then there harry porter arrive

[@dylanpierce9990]

👍

[@AziaXtremeNFinity]

I'd love to see Universal parks in Tokyo and Kyoto. What do you think?

[@xNintenJenx]

Kyoto is close to osaka, literally same train line, so too close to this park. Tokyo is only 2 hours by bullet train and they have Disney close so would also cut visitors to the Osaka park a lot so confident it won't happen.

[@thedrewster0408]

@@xNintenJenx There’s even supposed to be a Maglev train line called the Chuo Shinkansen that will run from Shinagawa (Tokyo) to Nagoya in just 40 minutes and an extension to Osaka in just 67 minutes. Although it’s unknown on when it’s going to be completed because of environmental concerns from the Shizuoka prefectural government and there was a recent report that the targeted 2027 completion date was now impossible and the Tokyo to Nagoya route won’t be completed until at least 2034.

[@lol-to7ip]

uh h

[@disneyboy3030]

So what did you think of the stuff I sent.

[@TheRealKirbo]

Nintendo

[@gemma4871]

jazz too loud

[@jonsmith6496]

👍