Expo 2025 Opens in Osaka with Futuristic Vision but Faces Tepid Public Interest

The international event, showcasing advanced AI and robotics, grapples with low ticket sales, logistical hurdles, and lingering infrastructure concerns.

• The Expo Universelle 2025 officially opened on April 13, 2025, in Osaka, Japan, featuring participation from 160 countries under the theme 'society of the future.'
• The event highlights cutting-edge innovations in artificial intelligence, robotics, and space technology, with immersive exhibits including biometric scanning and android demonstrations.
• Infrastructural challenges persist due to the Expo's location on the artificial Yumeshima Island, constructed from remediated landfill, which previously experienced a methane-triggered explosion during construction.
• Public enthusiasm has been muted, with only 8.7 million advance tickets sold, far below the target of 14 million, reflecting widespread disinterest among Japanese citizens.
• The opening ceremony featured Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Emperor Naruhito, emphasizing unity and global collaboration in a fractured world.

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