Clouds gather over Osaka World Expo

So, they will invite the Russians and Ukrainians

No Russians. They're quarantined and not wanted anywhere in the world other than Russia.

Putin done screwed up you see.

dbsaiya, as much as I loathe the LDP, this is as much on Ishin and the Osaka governor and mayor who have been pushing this. I agree, I am so tired of these money wasting events that do nothing but increase the debt and make money for corrupt politicians and the construction industry. Invariably there are cost overruns and it never comes close to what they first projected more than 10 years ago when they bid to have this event.

“Expo 2025 will unite the world”

Who makes up these dumb statements?

I know several people in the Kansai area and it seems they had no say in this fiasco. Probably all determined in the back rooms of executives and government officials whose real agenda is the IR, gambling resort. And now they are going to draw from the national coffers to help fund this. Anyone tired of the LDP?

The big question: Is it worth the cost of travel, accommodations, food, and event tickets?

Nothing wrong with the concept of a World Expo in Osaka - Japan's 2nd city needs to be functioning like a 2nd city, open for business and seeking to attract global investment, etc.

It's the way it's done which is the problem and again, it's not just Japan, these kind of events are magnets for greedy politicians, consultants, lobbyists, their networks, families and friends. Like the Olympics, the public that mostly fund these events are drained and their taxes re-directed to the very affluent and the business hustlers that want to be in on the pork barrel. Events, expos, international sporting events, etc are functioning more as wealth transfers upwards.

The money spent on giving more taxes to an architect to design a flimsy structure that won't last and adds nothing to the architectural heritage of Osaka itself, is the big red flag. Osaka needs a revival especially as Japan's original business city but this aint the way.

Good on Russia for snubbing it

Hilarious.

How can you "snub" an event you are not invited nor welcome to?

"Of course there are so many crises around the world, but we want everybody to actually get together and think about the future and sustainability," Yoshimura said.

Then in the same article.

The "Grand Roof" and other structures are temporary, with no clear plan for them other than organizers saying they will be reused or recycled.

Thinking about the future and sustainability by building a giant structure that has no future on an artificial island that is slowly sinking.

It's all basically laying the groundwork for the casino they plan to build out there. They didn't spend all that bribery money for nothing.

You really need a kot of competence at the top to run stuff like this well.

I hope all that wood came from those cedars that dose Tokyo in pollen every year, and not a more benign carbon-capturing forest somewhere, that now has a heck of a lot fewer things for birds to sit in. I suppose it is a good advert for what you can do with wood, but we may need more trees to remain intact rather than be logged in future. But not the cedars. Get rid of the cedars.

The mascot (oh dear) could be recycled by protest groups concerned about GM food, genetic engineering and nuclear waste.

To be fair, the organisers couldn't foresee Covid, a collapsing economy, antagonism to the Olympics, rampant inflation and war when they were bidding for this.

On reflection, creating a permanent, accessible woodland to site the event in, with big dollops of Ghibli and a pro-nature theme would have been a better idea. But these things are easier with hindsight.

The 70 Expo made sense because of Japan's momentum at the time, and the resulting park still is a very enjoyable place in Osaka.

I attended Mie's expo in 2004. It was a big meh, nothing remarkable was exhibited. Japan's pavilion talking robots were a huge bluff.

There's no way they can cover the cost of 2025 expo, even counting the money tourists will leave in the city. As mentioned before it's just part of the plan for the incoming casino business, in which many politicians have a stake in.

Whenever I have gone to a large public event in Japan, it's always crowds, crowds, crowds. Then there are the long lineups and lack of seating and tables. I doubt I would go to this event even if someone paid me.

If they are seeking to promote “technological and environmental aspirations” why is it being built without any clear future use or further purpose? The ultimate in disposable culture as far as I can see with a thin coating of greenwash. An architects ego project at the tax payers expense.

Not at all sure how a temporary wooden shed is promoting either technology or the environment.

Then they will pour yet more ugly and environmentally unsustainable concrete for a tacky casino.

A tremendous waste of money and forest timber. We certainly won't be going.

The "Grand Roof" and other structures are temporary, with no clear plan for them other than organizers saying they will be reused or recycled.

The site on an artificial island in Osaka Bay will be cleared after the Expo, with plans to build a resort there containing Japan's first casino.

these two pieces of information are sufficient to predict the lukewarm public opinion and make a mockery of the "sustainability" theme.

I enjoyed the Aichi-banpaku in 2005. I would go to this, and if any of my trips to Japan overlaps, I likely will.

*35 billion yen*

Think about that.

An anachronistic pork barrel event. Costs way outstrip the benefits

We were worried about expo 86 in Vancouver. But over 40 million people attended the fair. So stop worrying.

Wonderful wood structure which the Japanese are excellent at.

Just be done with these pointless money wasting glory stunts.

What a waste of time and money.....……

……and wood.

All good and nice for all it seems but i guess it will not be a surprise when after the event takes place this journal will sell nice front pages with the cases of corrupt officials and suppliers being in trouble with the law. just guessing...

So, they will invite the Russians and Ukrainians, the Palestinians and Israelis, the Houthis and Saudis, the US Republicans and Democrats and so on.

Terrorists like Russians and Houthis are expressly banned.

What a waste of time and money......

I enjoyed the Aichi-banpaku in 2005. I would go to this, and if any of my trips to Japan overlaps, I likely will.

That doesn't say much, you enjoy the park near Ueno station..

I'll likely go out of curiosity, but that mascot is a perfect summary of everything to do with the event. No need to say any more, really.

hopes that Expo 2025 will unite the world

So, they will invite the Russians and Ukrainians, the Palestinians and Israelis, the Houthis and Saudis, the US Republicans and Democrats and so on.

Sounds like Woodstock.

Hard pass.

A Japanese "Tower of Babel" waiting for an earthquake?

A multi-month event taking place on an artificial island in Osaka Bay where the only entrance/exit to this venue is a single train line in a country that’s rife with earthquakes?. What could possibly go wrong?

"Of course there are so many crises around the world, but we want everybody to actually get together and think about the future and sustainability," Yoshimura said.

yes, everyone ignore reality and come and waste your time and money in fantasy expo

Kosuke Ito, a 36-year-old doctor, said it would "strengthen the economy".

after completely obliterating it.

The construction budget has ballooned 27 percent from 2020 estimates to 235 billion yen due to inflation and Japan's chronic worker shortage.

well, great planning, guys

hopes that Expo 2025 will unite the world....

Russia will not be among the participants at Expo 2025

Fantastic hypocrisy based on a false interpretation of the situation in the world....

One sixth of the world! (Maybe one seventh). Far from being the last economy in the world. The economy that, after a million sanctions imposed by the “free” world, began to develop by leaps and bounds. And you decided to ignore her :)))) I'm afraid that you are making a mistake to please "big brother". Kuril Islands, you say????

Good luck to you in uniting the world

The first world fair to celebrate culture and industrial progress was held in London in 1851, with the Eiffel Tower built for the 1889 Paris World Fair.

By now most of industry can reach other on the internet and they have their own annual event, so no need to pay for world expo and send staffs to be standby on the expo.

The construction budget has ballooned 27 percent from 2020 estimates to 235 billion yen due to inflation and Japan's chronic worker shortage.

Operational expense also increased 40%, now it's becoming 116 billion.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/02/413a978d014d-2025-osaka-expo-operating-expenses-up-14-fold-on-rising-labor-costs.html

.

So how much tax payer need to pay in total?

More than 1.2 million tickets have already been sold and organizers hope to attract 28.2 million visitors, including 3.5 million from abroad.

They already sold pre-order ticket, 4.7 Million out of 28.2 Million, that's only 16%.

too optimistic Expo 2025 project is ballooning cost endlessly, besides it has deprived many resource that should be used for reconstruction of Noto peninsula where quake hit new year's day, it's very disliked socially.

who cling to hold Expo are only some far-right parties and economy groups who want to profiteer immense budget from taxpayers money.

The capacity of the Japanese government/construction/yakuza cabal to plunder the public purse for these unwanted, unnecessary and staggeringly wasteful boondoggles is probably the only way in which Japan remains global #1.

The cabal is extremely lucky to reign over a docile population.

How many thousands of trees were hacked down to create this flash in the pan?

And will the accounts ever be released to scrutiny?

If there are any huge but unwanted events coming up you can rely on the attention seeking Japanese government to host them.

Surprised they haven't asked to host the Commonwealth Games despite having no historical connection with the UK.

This Expo sounds great! The wooden construction looks awesome. I'd also go given a chance. It will be enormously popular - and help boost tourism in Japan - both internal and external.

A definite win-win for the city of Osaka.

Good on Russia for snubbing it. In line with the wishes of most people and companies not connected to infrastructure or in bed with the LDP. I wonder if Israel will also boycott it?

/s

Why would I go to an event where the ideas are stymied by this

But the vehicles -- subject to reams of regulations -- will be a "kind of experiment", Yoshimura said.

Japan is great for production and export, less so when it comes to introducing change in its own society.

The government is in place to ‘take’ not give and innovation is more likely to be seen in Africa than Japan these days