Universal Studios Japan opens new attraction Today

OSAKA — Universal Studios Japan theme park on Friday opened its newest attraction, “Space Fantasy: The Ride.” The ride features a train of two space shuttles that hold four passengers each, following a storyline of astronauts heading to save a weakening sun.

The 585-meter course takes riders through twists and turns with a top speed of 40 km per hour. The attraction uses the same building as the “ET Adventure” ride that was closed last May.

Popular idol group AKB48 was on hand Thursday to give the ride a go. Singer Atsuko Maeda, 18, was excited even after the ride, saying, “It was fast and there were turns; it was a lot more thrilling than I had expected.”