Japan Today
national

Russia withdraws from 2025 World Expo in Japan

41 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© KYODO

©2025 GPlusMedia Inc.

41 Comments
Login to comment

Over budget and behind schedule.

it’s not surprising that countries are pulling out

-4 ( +27 / -31 )

No loss.

24 ( +37 / -13 )

So far there are three countries that withdraw Mexico, Russia and Estonia. Who else?

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/11/14/japan/osaka-expo-withdrawals/

-8 ( +10 / -18 )

Fascist Russia was even invited?

8 ( +29 / -21 )

Moscow has decided to refrain from participating in the World Expo in Osaka "amid the lack of efficient communication with the host."

"We would not assume Russia's participation in the Osaka-Kansai Expo if there will be no change in the current situation" surrounding the country's invasion of Ukraine, Hanako Jimi, the minister in charge of the expo, told reporters Friday.

Put less diplomatically.

Russia: We didn't get any calls.

Japan: Don't worry about it. You weren't invited.

11 ( +20 / -9 )

Belorussia will too

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Every taxpayer in Japan is coughing up 600 yen for this, Osaka prefectural citizens 4000 yen and, if you are an Osaka City resident taxpayer you will be shelling out a grand total of ¥19,000. So far, anyway. I am not sure you would have voted for this but, hell, you were not given the choice in Designing Future Society for Our Lives, as usual.

https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASRCG6718RCGOXIE035.html

15 ( +27 / -12 )

World Expos are about as useful as Olympic Games!

A bunch of construction companies and government types making money off of the taxpayer.

12 ( +29 / -17 )

being that their leader is an international criminal and their currency is worth less than toilet paper, might be a good idea to withdraw.

12 ( +23 / -11 )

Japan keep doing stupid thing with its real neighbors...

Big loss..

Even if anti-Russia brigade of whiners say otherwise..

-10 ( +9 / -19 )

Well, it is not like Russia is busy with anything else except maybe Russia's Afghanistan 2.0 in the Ukraine.

2 ( +8 / -6 )

I thought that was Sakamoto Ryuichi in the picture standing second from the right.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

The ongoing invasion conflicts with the event's theme of "Designing Future Society for Our Lives,"

said Hanako Jimi, the minister in charge of the expo.

The State of Israel is still on the list of exhibitors.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

Nothing says staged photoshoot like having a group of kids standing on masking tape X's .

9 ( +10 / -1 )

What a crying shame. And I was so looking forward to seeing Russia's cutting edge innovations in "reduce, reuse, recycle..." like using antique North Korean weaponry from the 1950s, and taking chips out of fridges for military equipment.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/05/11/russia-sanctions-effect-military/

6 ( +12 / -6 )

So far there are three countries that withdraw Mexico, Russia and Estonia.

And they are really wealth and loved. LOL

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

A country which has military bases here has a 10 year ongoing invasion of another country (Syria).

Not to mention all the previous countries they ruthlessly invaded and slaughtered.

This is called hypocrisy is the first grade.

-12 ( +7 / -19 )

Poor communication? From a Japanese organization? Get right outa town

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

Fair enough....and how about Israel? Designing a Society for Our Lives in Gaza?

Little bit different situations one is a land grab (Russia) while the other is a fight against a terrorist organization (Hamas) that has taken civilians as hostages.

1 ( +8 / -7 )

Good riddance!

3 ( +9 / -6 )

The osaka mascot doesn't encourage cooperation or anything besides repulsion

much less the special edition number plates that look more like blood stains coming out of the trunk

https://www.pref.mie.lg.jp/TOPICS/m0031100467.htm

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Good riddance.

BTW, that mascot is the wrongest thing I’ve ever seen!

2 ( +8 / -6 )

The question is why they were allowed to participate in the first place.

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

JJEToday 10:10 am JST

A country which has military bases here has a 10 year ongoing invasion of another country (Syria).

Not to mention all the previous countries they ruthlessly invaded and slaughtered.

This is called hypocrisy is the first grade.

Your lack of acknowledgement of Georgia and Ukraine is noted.

2 ( +9 / -7 )

zones2surf,

Why so negative? We had expo 86 in Vancouver it was a huge success over 30 million people attended. And the economic spin-off for the city and the province was massive. I wish we could hold it again.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Recently, in Thailand.

There are so many Russians that I was even spoken to in Russian!

They are big spenders and are welcomed by the Thais.

Japan is missing out…

-7 ( +10 / -17 )

kurisupisuToday  01:52 pm JST

indeed, however contrary to Thailand, many Russians are victims of groundless discrimination in Japan.

better for Russians to stay away from norrow-minded people for a while.

-13 ( +6 / -19 )

indigoToday 02:03 pm JST

kurisupisuToday  01:52 pm JST

indeed, however contrary to Thailand, many Russians are victims of groundless discrimination in Japan.

better for Russians to stay away from norrow-minded people for a while.

It's better for them to stay in Russia like the disgraced country they are.

-5 ( +5 / -10 )

Olympics and world expos are scams against the people of the nation hosting,

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Let's get things straight. The average Russian person is very decent, warm hearted, likable etc. I've spent a little time there, and I can state that for a fact. However, the average Russian has hardly ever known anything other than oppression & tyranny from above, to one degree or another. If you speak out, you risk paying the highest price. Everyone knows that.

These days the level of tyranny is getting "right up there". We're certainly not in Stalin territory yet, but it's pretty bad. Blatant murders of political opponents have been happening for many years. While Putin keeps his claws on the levers of power, Russia should NOT be invited to any international events, other than peace conferences, nuclear arms talks etc.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

@ Dr Maybe - well stated.

The Russians I have met are generally intelligent and fine people. And none of them ever wish to return while Putin and his henchmen are still ruling their nation.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

I honestly do feel sorry for the human in that mascot outfit. He/she is probably thinking "at least nobody recognizes me in this disaster! I aint adding this gig onto my resume.".

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites