Arab News Japan

TOKYO: ISHIGE Hiroyuki, Secretary General of the Japan Association for the 2025 Osaka World Exposition, says he hopes 2030 host Saudi Arabia will take something positive from Osaka’s Expo.

“The next host of the Expo in 2030 is Saudi Arabia and they are extremely serious and passionate,” Ishige told Arab News Japan. “Their design is based on the image of the traditional market, the souk.”

“It would be very gratifying if Saudi Arabia can take something away from the Osaka Expo so there will be a connection between our expos.”

So far, 158 countries and regions and nine international organizations have announced their participation in the Osaka Expo, which opens on April 13 and runs for six months. 

Ishige also commented on the Jordanian pavilion, which will exhibit salt from the Dead Sea. They will also bring in 20 to 30 tons of sand from the Wadi Rum desert of Jordan, Ishige said. 

The Expo is an opportunity for countries to display their good points, to mingle with other countries and even make diplomatic connections. A few prominent visitors are expected.

“VIPs come to the Expo mainly by targeting their respective nationalities and to engage in economic diplomacy,” Ishige said. “And talking about diplomacy, our official mascot character, Mieko Maku, is a true full diplomat. Many other countries have also created their own mascot characters, perhaps inspired by Mieko Maku.”

Most of the countries represented will have a special national day, although not necessarily on the country’s actual national day. Japan’s national day will be July 3, China’s on July 11 and the United States on July 19. There will be 150 national days.

“You could say that the Expo allows visitors to enjoy a round-the-world trip without a passport,” Ishige quipped. 

Ishige says the construction of the venue is progressing steadily after some early concerns, with the massive ring that encompasses the Expo site largely finished.

“It’s the symbol of the Expo and one of the world’s largest wooden constructions,” he said. “The circumference is around 2 kilometers. As for the construction of the pavilions, which were once feared to be delayed, they are now making steady progress.”

The themes of the Expo are learning about the world today; thinking about the future of life; and a laboratory for future society.

“As you can see, the global community has high expectations for this Expo,” Ishige said. “I trust that the countries who voted for Japan with the feeling that they could trust Japan will make the Expo successful. Japan, as the host, must fully keep our promise with the global community who granted us the precious right and opportunity to host the Expo.”