Fumiyasu Akegawa, Chair & CEO DEVNET International/Japan
The Expo will be held in Osaka for 183 days from April 13 to October 13, 2025. The theme is “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.” This theme is intended to promote the co-creation of a sustainable society by the international community, enabling each individual to think about their own way of life and realize their full potential.
Japan has struggled in recent years to assert itself on the world stage. The Expo is an excellent opportunity for Japan to showcase its culture and values to a global audience. The Expo has great potential to revitalize the Japanese economy, promote Japanese innovation, enhance Japan’s international image, and foster cooperation on global issues.
The Expo is expected to draw more than 28 million visitors from around the world. This influx of visitors is expected to have a significant economic impact on Japan. The Expo is expected to create more than 100,000 jobs and generate more than 2 trillion yen (US$13.5 billion) in economic benefits. The Expo will also contribute to the promotion of tourism in Japan. The Expo will attract many tourists from countries where Japan has not traditionally been a major tourist destination. This could diversify Japan’s tourism industry and create new opportunities for businesses and workers.
The Japan Association for the 2025 Expositions has stated that one of the objectives of the Expo is to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Expo should serve as a platform to discuss and formulate solutions to the many challenges facing the world today, including climate change, poverty, and inequality.
Another objective is to realize Japan’s national strategy, Society 5.0, a vision for a more sustainable and inclusive society through technology. The Expo will showcase the latest innovations in artificial intelligence, robotics, renewable energy, and other fields. The Expo will help promote innovation in Japan and attract investment in these areas.
However, there is growing skepticism in Japan about hosting the Expo. The construction of the pavilion has been slow due to the sluggish economy and labor shortage, and finally, following Mexico and Estonia, even Russia has decided to pull out of the project. Yumeshima, the site of the Expo, is a reclaimed land left over from Osaka’s post-bubble period, with poor geological formations, and the cost of constructing the pavilion would be enormous. These financial burdens are too much to bear.
In addition, Osaka City’s decision to build an integrated resort (IR), including a casino, on Yumeshima after the Expo is over has not received public approval, causing the Expo to lack momentum. With less than 500 days to go before the opening of the Expo, there is growing criticism that the event should be canceled or postponed if it is not ready in time. Prime Minister Kishida, who has already stated, “As prime minister, I am determined to lead the government toward success,” should now play his part.
The Japanese government must take responsibility for the success of the Osaka Expo in 2025. The government should provide financial support to the Expo organizers and make efforts to promote the Expo to the world. The government should urgently address the challenges it faces, such as delays in pavilion construction. The success of Expo 2025 Osaka is very important for Japan and for Japan’s contribution to the world. The Japanese government must do everything in its power to ensure the success of the Expo.