Carla Chahrour

As the Arab region’s first ever World Expo draws to a close, Japan intends to continue the legacy of Expo 2020 Dubai and build on the knowledge and insights that the UAE obtained from the event, in preparing to host a successful Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai. 

A delegation representing World Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai held a press conference at the media center at Expo 2020 Dubai on Wednesday where they discussed the key lessons from the event’s success, its own participation, and the expectations for Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai.

The conference was attended by several dignitaries including the governor of Osaka YOSHIMURA Hirofumi, Japan’s Minister for the World Expo 2025 WAKAMIYA Kenji, Mayor of Osaka MATSUI Ichiro and the Deputy Secretary General of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition ICHINOKI Manatsu. 

Osaka, which hosted the 1970 and 1990 World Expo, won the bid to host Expo 2025 at Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) in Paris in 2018, where it will be the third time for Japan to host the event. Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai will take place under the theme of “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”, looking at areas such as extending healthy life spans as well as education and employment in the age of robotics and artificial intelligence.

“Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai has the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives” which boasts a high level of bioscience, technology and innovation, which is one of our strengths, in addition to research institutes,” Yoshimura said.

We have taken up the concept of our lives as our theme as the pandemic has taught us about the importance of human lives. We will share the same challenges and issues but we want to pursue our happiness and consider what kind of lives are fulfilled. At Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai, the individual values and many innovations will be integrated to show the future structure of society,” Yoshimura added.

In elaborating on the theme of Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai, Yoshimura made it clear that the focus will not only be on showcasing technological advancements but also on creating technologies that support the well being of each individual to enable them to realize their full and diverse potential.  

“This will be our second Expo in Osaka. In 1970, we hosted the Expo and had an Abu Dhabi pavilion. It has been 52 years since then and the Expo 2020 Dubai has been one one of the biggest expos in history and we want to learn a lot from your success and it is our pleasure to host the next Expo,” Matsui said.

Centering around the value of our lives, we boast many aspects in the Expo, such as science and technology, but the biggest aspect is our people, who will welcome visitors from around the world. We are hoping to receive many visitors in Osaka and help them experience and enjoy their time during Expo 2025. We will welcome many visitors to Osaka, while learning how to solve any issues we face.” Matsui added.

Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai will run from April 13, 2025, until October 13, with a projected number of 28 million visits.

In response to a question from Arab News Japan regarding whether Osaka will be looking at expanding the number of slots available for international airlines at Kansai Airport for Expo 2025, Wakamiya said that “We plan on having around 28 million visitors, which is pretty close to Dubai, which had an expectation of around 25 million. So in preparation for the event we will be expanding airports and renovating them, which will enable more airlines and allow airports to accommodate that number of people.”

“We have started expansions projects on Kansai Airport and the renovation of Terminal 1 will be complete by the time of the Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai,” Yoshimura added.