Expo 2025 Opens in Osaka Showcasing Global Innovation and Sustainability

The seven-month event, inaugurated by Emperor Naruhito, features over 160 pavilions and cutting-edge exhibits, but faces local criticism over costs and safety concerns.

The Expo 2025 officially opened on April 13 in Osaka, with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako presiding over the high-profile inauguration ceremony.
The event, themed 'Designing Future Society for Our Lives,' features participation from over 160 countries and organizations presenting innovations in sustainability, technology, and culture.
The centerpiece of the Expo is the 'Grand Ring,' a massive wooden structure symbolizing diversity and unity, surrounded by futuristic national pavilions.
Notable exhibits include a Mars meteorite, a beating mini-heart grown from stem cells, and the world's longest sushi conveyor belt, alongside politically resonant displays like Ukraine's pavilion.
Despite international acclaim, local interest remains tepid, with critiques targeting the event's rising costs, vague theme, and safety risks tied to its artificial island venue on Yumeshima.