Osaka Kansai Expo Begins

Osaka Kansai World Expo began on April 13th for 184 days of exhibition, upholding a theme of “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.” It is the second time for Osaka to hold a world expo following 1970. While the expo was initiated with political motivation for economic development in Osaka-Kansai region, low expectation of the people appears on slow progress in ticket sales. The promoters are still not confident of success of the event.

The effective founder of Japan Innovation Party (Nippin Ishi-no Kai), Toru Hashimoto, and former head of Ishin, Ichiro Matsui, promoted Expo 2025. Hearing the idea of invitation from former Minister for Economic Planning Agency, Taichi Sakaiya, Hashimoto and Matsui proposed an expo in Oksaka to then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga in 2015.

 

Ishin has political basis in Kansai region including Osaka. Hashimoto and Matsui wanted support from national government on the project for stimulating local economy. Abe and Suga were interested in support from conservative Ishin for their agenda including constitutional amendment. Their political cooperation won the ticket of 2025 Osaka expo in 2018.

 

It was estimated that total cost for building the site would be 125 billion yen at the time Osaka won the ticket. It has swollen to 235 billion yen with price hike of building materials and labor. The cost is supposed to be covered by three sectors; the national government, local governments of Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City, and private businesses. Each sector pays for 78.3 billion yen. Total cost including construction of infrastructure such as landfill or subway is 311.5 billion yen.

 

In addition to construction cost, operation cost for the event is estimated as 116 billion yen. Eighty percent of all the operation cost should be earned through ticket sales. Presales of advance ticket have been staying at 9 million, well below the expectation of 14 million. To compensate whole operation, the promotors need to sell 18 million tickets, which means that they need to seek additional 9 million buyers to avoid deficit. It is not clear who will pay for the possible deficit.

 

What is the main exhibition, anyway? It is reported that popular display would be myocardial sheet made from induced pluripotent stem (IPS) cell and a stone of the Mars. “It has a significance for us to get together, share the theme of “life” and experience cutting-edge technology and diverse concepts and cultures in the time of post-COVID world still facing crisis of division,” said Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in the opening ceremony on April 12th.

 

Osaka Kansai Expo was promoted by political and business leaders in Osaka-Kansai area, just after Tokyo won the ticket of Olympic Games for 2020. However, Tokyo Olympic 2020 (actually held in 2021 due to COVID infection) resulted in large scale money scandal over sponsoring. It is difficult for host country of major international event to achieve expected economic result these years.

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