Osaka Expo 2025 has officially opened in Japan, offering a vision of the future amidst global tensions and wars. The six-month event has brought together over 10,000 people from more than 160 countries and organizations to showcase futuristic exhibits.
The main theme of the Expo is “Creating a future society for our lives,” which was also present at Osaka’s last Expo in 1970, attracting 64 million visitors. This year’s event aims to unite the world, despite tensions and wars, and attract 28 million visitors through mid-October, although ticket sales have been slow.
The Expo takes place on Yumeshima, a reclaimed industrial waste burial site in Osaka Bay, featuring unique architecture with about 80 pavillons. Visitors are encouraged to wear red, blue, and white clothing to get in the mood for the event.
Despite concerns over global tensions and economic downturns, organizers believe that hosting the Expo now can help address these divisions and lead to stronger international relationships and improvements.
One of the main attractions is the Grand Ring, designed by architect Sou Fujimoto, which encircles the venue and features a lattice-like structure. The ring takes up 14% of the Expo’s total spending of $1.64 billion and has triggered public criticism due to delays in construction.
The event also showcases cutting-edge technology, pop culture, and ocean sustainability. Visitors can explore exhibits featuring robots, flying cars, Hello Kitty, Gundam, and a small artificial heart made from induced pluripotent stem cells.
Exhibits from other countries, such as the U.S., China, and Ukraine, highlight their space travel initiatives, with samples from Japan’s Apollo 12 mission and soil samples from China’s lunar missions on display. A Ukrainian pavilion showcases its participation in the Expo, despite initial uncertainty due to ongoing conflicts.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/japan-osaka-expo-us-trade-05c228709f4814ff4a6e74703bf3ff16