On November 30, 2023, 500 days before the opening of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan (hereinafter referred to as “the Expo”), the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition (hereinafter referred to as “the Association”) held the “Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan 500 Days to Go Before the Opening of the Expo Event — Admission tickets finally on sale!” in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka.
At the Tokyo event, TOKURA Masakazu, Chairperson of the Association, delivered the host address, Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio gave a video message, and Mr. NISHIMURA Yasutoshi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, gave a speech as the guest of honor. In the following talk session, ISHIKAWA Masaru, Expo Site Operation Producer, reiterated the significance and appeal of holding the Expo, and the members of FANTASTICS, newly appointed Special Supporter of the Expo on that day, and guest First Summer Uika provided a better understanding of the types and prices of admission tickets that had just gone on sale, and then showed how to purchase them with a demonstration.
In addition, various events were held in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka to celebrate the start of admission ticket sales, including the special illumination of Tokyo Tower and TOKYO SKYTREE®.
▽“Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan 500 Days to Go Before the Opening of the Expo Event – Admission tickets finally on sale!”
≪Overview≫
・Date and time: 16：00－17：00, Thursday, November 30, 2023
Speakers: (no particular order, title of honor omitted)
KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister ※Video message only
NISHIMURA Yasutoshi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry
TOKURA Masakazu, Chairperson, Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition
ISHIKAWA Masaru, Expo Site Operation Producer, Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition
FANTASTICS from EXILE TRIBE, Special Supporter of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan
First Summer Uika, Guest
MASAI Maya, Moderator
KUNIYAMA Hasen, Facilitator
MYAKU-MYAKU, Official character of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan
≪Digest≫（title of honor omitted）
■ Greetings from the Association
TOKURA Masakazu, Chairperson, Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition
Today, advance sales of admission tickets have finally started. Various types of tickets are available so that many people, including children who will play a leading role in the future, can attend the event.
In fact, prior to this event, I briefed His Imperial Highness Prince Akishino, Honorary President of the Association, on the preparations for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. Today is also the birthday of the Honorary President, and on this auspicious occasion, I was able to present him with a newly completed admission ticket. I explained the importance of the world working hand in hand to make the Expo a success, and the importance of building momentum for the Expo, including today’s event.
We will make further efforts to build momentum by communicating the charm and fun of the Expo, which will be held here in Japan for the first time in 20 years, so that many people would like to visit the Expo and purchase tickets.
■ Video message: KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister
Today, November 30, is 500 days before the opening of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. Advance ticket sales have finally begun. The Expo is essentially the first post-Corona World Expo. In recent years, the Expo has shifted toward becoming a “participation, experience, and action” type of Expo. In this age when people tend to look inward, we would like to provide an opportunity for people from around the world to participate in the Expo in person, to deepen exchanges, to think about the future of the
world, and to act together to solve problems.
I am looking forward to it and will purchase an admission ticket. I definitely hope that many people from all over Japan and the world will come to the Expo.
With just 500 days left before the opening of the Expo, the government will work together with related local governments and the business community to make preparations and build momentum for the success of the Expo.
Let’s work together to create an Expo that will open the way to the future!
■ Greetings from the guest: NISHIMURA Yasutoshi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry
The theme of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan is “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” and we are determined to show the world the innovations that will usher in a new era, Japanese technology, and culture. There will also be a chance to interact with androids that look just like human beings, and new regenerative medical technologies, like my experience of actually holding in the palm of my hand cardiac muscle sheets that use IPS cells while feeling them move like a heartbeat, and even a flying car that will surely fly, despite everyone’s concerns about whether it will really fly. Other amazing experiences, such as multilingual translation technology that enables us to communicate with people from overseas countries beyond language barriers, will be announced one after another toward the opening of the Expo.
We would like to make this a wonderful Expo where children and young people, the owners of the future, and visitors young and old from all over the world can see, touch, and experience various technologies and innovations, and have a lot of fun and enjoy themselves, with bright dreams and hopes for the future. We hope that people from all over the world, not only from Japan but also from overseas, will purchase tickets and come to the Expo.
■ ISHIKAWA Masaru, Expo Site Operation Producer, Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition
The current state of Expos is changing in response to the needs of the times. In the past, Expos were strongly associated with industrial development and national prestige, but in the 21st century, Expos are becoming more theme-oriented, with a focus on “contributing to the resolution of global-scale issues.”
The world is full of challenges that cannot be solved by one country alone in order to achieve the SDGs.
I believe that the significance of holding this single event, the Expo, is to provide an opportunity for people living in this era to think together, transcending all barriers such as national borders, race, and gender, about how we perceive the current era and what kind of world is a world with the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.”
≪Comment≫（title of honor omitted）
■ FANTASTICS from EXILE TRIBE, Special Supporter of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan
We just learned that the Expo is not only a place to showcase new technologies, but is also a place to tackle social issues. I would like to visit the Expo many times and enjoy it because I can’t visit it all in one day. I would like to visit the Expo together with our friends and family.
■ First Summer Uika, Guest
As a native of Osaka, I was honored to be able to participate, and I look forward to Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan even more!
■ KUNIYAMA Hasen, Facilitator
It was a great honor for me to serve as a facilitator for this commemoration of 500 days to go before the opening of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan event. I myself studied the content in detail beforehand, and now I am also looking forward to taking my family to the Expo!
My son will be 3 years old in 2025, and I would like to feel the future of Japan and the world together at the Expo.
▼ Tokyo Tower “Special Illumination 500 Days Before the Opening of the Expo”
・Date and time: From 17:00 to 20:00, Thursday, November 30, 2023
Tokyo Tower was illuminated in special colors in conjunction with the 500th day mark before the opening of the Expo.
▼ Commemorative Photos With MYAKU-MYAKU With Tokyo Tower in the Background
・Date and time: From 18:00 to 20:00, Thursday, November 30, 2023
MYAKU-MYAKU made its first appearance at Tokyo Tower. As the official characters of Tokyo Tower, the Noppon Brothers joined. People gathered and MYAKU-MYAKU took commemorative photos with Tokyo Tower in the background, which was specially illuminated to coincide with the 500th day mark before the opening of the Expo.
▼ TOKYO SKYTREE® “Special Illumination for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan Design”
・Date and time: From 17:00 to 24:00, Thursday, November 30, 2023
TOKYO SKYTREE® was illuminated with red, blue, and white, which are the image colors of the Expo
▼ Shinagawa Station Event – “Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan Station”
・Date and time: From 12:00 to 20:00, Thursday, November 30, 2023
・Venue: Event space inside the central ticket gate of JR Shinagawa Station
Panel displays provided an overview of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan and information on admission tickets, which have started to go on sale on November 30.
※Please refrain from making inquiries to the station or station staff.
▼ Nagoya Station Event – “Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan Station”
・ Date and time: From 10:00 to 17:00, Thursday, November 30, 2023
(Event on the stage) Morning session: 10:30-10:45
Afternoon session: 12:30-12:50
・Venue: Event space at the central concourse of JR Nagoya Station
Panel displays provided an overview of past Expos and Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, as well as information on admission tickets, which have started to go on sale on November 30.
The stage event featured MYAKU-MYAKU, the official character of the Expo. Ms. YAMADA Tomiyo, the “Grandma of Expos” who lives in Seto City, Aichi Prefecture, made an appearance and talked about the charms of Expos.
▼ Osaka Station Event – “Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan Station”
・ Date and time: From 12:00 to 20:00, Thursday, November 30, 2023
・Venue: JR Osaka Station,
Osaka Station City 1F, Tabidachi-no Hiroba Plaza
Osaka Station City 1F, Atrium Plaza
Panel displays provided an overview of past Expos and Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, as well as information on admission tickets, which went on sale on November 30.
■ “Expo 2025 MYAKU-MYAKU Filter,” the Official AR Filter for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan Launched
Coinciding with the 500th day mark before the Expo, we started offering an EXPO 2025 MYAKU-MYAKU Filter, the official AR filter for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, which allows you to take photos and videos with MYAKU-MYAKU on your Instagram Reels and Stories.
■ Various events and initiatives on the occasion of the 500th day mark before the opening of the Expo
The schedule of various events, activities, and participation programs to be held across the country in conjunction with the 500th day mark before the opening of the Expo has been announced on the Association’s official website.
・Introduction of events to be held concurrently with the 500th day mark before the opening of the Expo
https://www.expo2025.or.jp/news/news-20231113-02/ (Japanese only)
Public Relations Department, Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition
E-mail: media@expo2025.or.jp