Expo 2025 Opens in Osaka with Calls for Global Unity and Technological Marvels

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Emperor Naruhito highlight unity and cultural respect at the event, which features groundbreaking innovations and heightened security.

• 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.

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