Osaka gears up for 2025 World Expo with memories of hosting a half-century ago

No direct public transport from major hubs like Osaka Station or Shin Osaka Station?

Who actually gives a flying fart about these expos.

No idea.

Concerned Citizen

No direct public transport from major hubs like Osaka Station or Shin Osaka Station?

Right? It's absolutely nuts. Maybe they'll be doing shuttle buses from the Cosmosquare Station on the Osaka Metro Chuo Line or Sakurajima or USJ stations on the JR Yumesaki Line. But, direct rail is the right way to go, like the Osaka Monorail was for Expo 70. (And still is for LaLaPort ExpoCity and the old Expo Park.)

“The value of direct interpersonal contact that World Expos facilitate cannot be replicated online,” he says. “The face-to-face interactions, the exchange of ideas, and the shared experiences that take place at these events contribute to a deeper understanding and appreciation of our global community.”

But now that Japanese can travel abroad easily it is not like 1970 and there are enough people coming to Japan for some to complain, all this international exchange is easily achieved. Maybe the problem is that Japan is psychically stuck in 1970.

Kansai resident here. I don't know one local who's looking forward to this. People just shake their head at the suggestion of going.

I think it's a really dated concept from a time when overseas travel was difficult for most. Now it's so cheap and easy to go to the places that are on show at these expos. It's just way more interesting to travel to those countries.

For the 1970 Expo:

There were long lines to see the moon rocks on view at the U.S. pavilion; prototypes of electric cars; displays featuring the first ethernet cables (LAN); and the introduction of Western foods like yogurt and baguettes.

The 2025 Expo:

There will be ambitious space endeavors such as images from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, on view at the U.S. pavilion; prototypes of flying cars; displays featuring AI fechnology; and Western foods like yogurt and baguettes.

Very little difference! I think 1970 would have been worrying it. I'll be giving this one a miss.

1970 would have been worth it. Stupid auto correct.

just a taxpayer subsidy to construction companies, contractors and a jobs program.

memories of 1970? sure, i remember the year well, but i’m an old geezer.

This local far-rights' self-satisfaction event is also wasting taxes unlimitedly as same as Tokyo 2020, Its preparation using huge materials, resources or workers has even delayed reconstruction of Noto peninsula where quake hit 8 months before.

Organizer prioritize to benefit related corporations than safety, remarkable "wooden ring" has risk of lightning strike, the venue built above final waste disposal site has risk of methane gus explosion, its soft ground has risk of liquefaction when quake hit. But, evacuation plan is unreal as same as domestic nuclear plants.

Besides, many heavy rocks are hanged above the rest area, architect in charge insist it "sun shade". in this connection, its constructor is its architect's father's company.

Public expectation is low, Ticket sale reveal unpopular, Countries where want to participate are decreasing, it will be most un-welcome Expo in history.

The article makes a very compelling argument that the concept of an Expo belongs to the 1970s. The world was opening up 50 years ago with international travel still a novelty for most of the population. Anything connected with space travel was simply wondrous, and even the monorail taking you to the Expo was so 21st century. Now we can see everything that happens everywhere in the world without needing more than a few clicks on a phone. There are no mysteries to be revealed by an Expo nor any need for international connections to be made. The passage of time causes some concepts to be outdated. The Expo should have been left to be remembered as its glorious 70s original, not resurrected as another opportunity for milking the taxpayer.

This will be the biggest international event for 2025. Most people I know have already booked the advance tickets which are much cheaper.

@Japantime: This will be the biggest international event for 2025. 

Get a grip. No, it won't. It doesn't give me any pleasure to see Japan waste precious public funds, but here we are...

@Moonraker: But now that Japanese can travel abroad easily it is not like 1970 and there are enough people coming to Japan for some to complain, all this international exchange is easily achieved.

Exactly!

Maybe the problem is that Japan is psychically stuck in 1970.

The old farts that are allowed to run the place are anyway. The apathy of younger people towards voting, and the absence of credible younger voices, perpetuates this kind of nonsense.

They have already started on the infrastructure for the Integrated Resort (aka Casino) to be built afterwards. This is a great subsidy for the casino operators and local government.

This event will have nowhere near the influence that the 1970 expo had. We're too connected for much to be a real surprise. This will be a monumental flop and absolute waste of taxpayer money.

No direct public transport from major hubs like Osaka Station or Shin Osaka Station?

Nope.

ExpoCity is a short monorail ride from Itami Airport, in Osaka

ExpoCity is a short monorail ride from Itami Airport, in Osaka

.

Its about 20 minutes but who really starts their journey from Itami airport?

No mention of the Integrated Resort Casino in the AP article.

There is a big controversy over construction noise from the casino. The casino construction will not pause during the Expo.

US MGM Resorts and Orix are the major investors. They will profit from the enormous amount of taxpayer money spent to develop the island.

This is American style taxpayer subsidy of rich corporations.

AP is of course American media.

American media always pretends to promote progressive ideas like international cooperation. In the background is cynical greed.

The Myaku-Myaku character is so strange. I can't be the only one that thinks that mascot bares a striking resemblance to the Marlboro monster from the final fantasy series.