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Expo 2025 Opens in Osaka, Showcasing Unity and Futuristic Innovations

The six-month event, hosted on Yumeshima Island, features exhibits from 160 countries but faces challenges with budget overruns and slow ticket sales.

Participants sing Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" on the opening day of Osaka Expo 2025 in Osaka, western Japan, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Officials participate in the opening of Germany's pavilion on the opening day of the Expo 2025 in Osaka, central Japan, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
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Flag bearers enter the venue during the opening ceremony of Osaka Expo 2025 in Osaka, western Japan, Saturday, April 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

Overview

  • The Expo officially opened on April 13, 2025, with 160 countries and organizations presenting cultural and technological exhibits under the theme 'Creating a Future Society for Our Lives.'
  • The centerpiece of the event is the 'Grand Ring,' the world’s largest wooden architectural structure, designed as a symbol of global unity but criticized for its high cost and limited reusability.
  • Highlights include a Mars meteorite, a beating artificial heart grown from stem cells, advanced robotics, and the popular mascot Myaku-Myaku, representing the fusion of life and water.
  • The event is overshadowed by geopolitical tensions, including the absence of Russia and exhibits like Ukraine's 'Not for Sale' booth emphasizing resilience in the face of conflict.
  • Organizers face public skepticism due to a nearly doubled budget of 235 billion yen and slow ticket sales, with only 9 million tickets sold compared to a target of 14 million.