Overview

• Expo 2025 officially opened in Osaka with a ceremony blending cutting-edge technology and traditional performances, including AI-powered hosts and kabuki dancing.
• Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba emphasized the need for unity in a divided world, while Emperor Naruhito called for global respect for diverse lives and cultures.
• The event will host over 160 countries, showcasing innovations like a Mars meteorite, a stem cell-grown beating heart, and the symbolic 'Grand Ring' structure representing unity.
• A minor security incident occurred before the opening, with a suspicious package at a Kyoto train station later found to contain sweets, prompting increased vigilance.
• Despite record tourism in Osaka, public enthusiasm for the Expo remains subdued, with advance ticket sales falling short of the 14 million target.