EXPO 2025 OSAKA

Ever since Expo 67 Montreal and EXPO 86 Vancouver, I have been fascinated by world fairs. In subsequent years, I have been fortunate to attend several others around the world including EXPO 1998 in Lisbon, EXPO 2010 in Shanghai, a more modest EXPO in Yeosu Korea in 2012, and Expo 2020 Dubai, which due to COVID was delayed until October 2021.

In Dubai, I learned the 2025 Expo would take place in Osaka. (they are held every five years) and I resolved to attend, if possible. 

Now, three years later I am here. Thanks to Harold Munro at the Vancouver Sun, I was able to arrange media accreditation. I learned from past expositions that this is extremely valuable since it allows one to avoid oftentimes lengthy lineups at pavilions and be able to arrange guided tours of some pavilions.

I enjoy attending world fairs since you can experience countries without the time and expense of traveling to them. But more importantly, they give you a glimpse of the future. This was particularly true in Shanghai and Dubai and is very much so here. 

I have now been in Osaka for more than a week and seen so much that after a while it becomes a blur. However, I am preparing some articles which will hopefully find their way onto the website, and I will continue to write some daily blogs.

As some of you will recall Osaka hosted a world EXPO in 1970. It attracted over 64 million visitors. By comparison, EXPO 86 attracted 22 million visitors. This EXPO is expected to attract about 28 million visitors, of which 90% are expected to be Japanese.

World expositions generally have a theme, and sub-themes, and this one is no exception. The primary theme is "Designing Future Society for Our Lives". 

There are three sub-themes: "Saving Lives," "Empowering Lives," and "Connecting Lives". These sub-themes are intended to address aspects of human well-being, social inclusion, and global interconnectedness. 

The exposition occupies a 155-hectare (383 acre) portion of a new, man-made island.  An extension of an existing subway line connects directly to the site. Like the Dubai EXPO, the site is organized around the various sub-themes: connecting lives, saving lives and empowering lives. 

The most striking feature of the site is a magnificent, multi-storey ‘Grand Ring’, approximately 2 km in circumference, constructed with mass-timber. All the national pavilions are located within the ring, to symbolise the need for international cooperation, while corporate and other pavilions are located on the outside. 

158 countries and regions, plus 7 international organizations are participating at this EXPO. One notable absentee is Russia.

There are two types of national pavilions: custom designed structures, and smaller displays located within large communal buildings.  All the Expo 2025 pavilions will be dismantled after the fair. While many pavilions are designed for disassembly and reuse, some pavilions will be dismantled and the materials recycled, while others may be rebuilt in their home countries. 

After the fair, the site will be redeveloped as a major new community.

Japan has always been regarded as one of the most technologically advance countries in the world and the sophistication of many of the displays is quite outstanding. 

Expo 2025 continues until October 13th. Based on my experience, it is well worth attending. Air Canada has a direct flight to Osaka although you can also connect through Tokyo. Just don’t connect through to the Osaka/Kobe airport like I did. I’ll have more information on getting to the fair and where to stay in future blogposts.

ps. At every world EXPO there is a mascot. The official mascot for the 2025 Expo in Osaka, Kansai, Japan is Myaku-Myaku. It's a quirky, googly-eyed creature designed by Kouhei Yamashita. Myaku-Myaku is depicted as a "mysterious creature born from the unification of cells and water".