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The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition (hereinafter referred to as “the Association”) held “Expo 2025 Visit Date and Time Booking Kick-off Event – Six months to go!” at Toranomon Hills Forum (Minato-ku, Tokyo) on Sunday, 13 October 2024, 6 months before the opening of the Expo.
The event was hosted by KAWATA Hiromi and featured special supporters AOKI Munetaka, YUCHAMI, YUICHAMI, HARUNA Ai, HELLO KITTY, and Kumamon as well as Olympic medallist judokas ABE Hifumi and ABE Uta and other guests active in various fields. They promoted the attractions of and latest information about Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan (hereinafter referred to as “the Expo”), as well as the Visit Date and Time Bookings, which started on Sunday, 13 October 2024.
The event was lively, with guests sharing their hopes for the Expo and their thoughts on which day they are planning to visit the Expo.
● Time and Date: 14:00 – 15:15, Sunday, 13 October 2024
● Speakers (in no particular order):
Prime Minister: ISHIBA Shigeru (Video Message)
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry: MUTO Yoji
Minister for the World Expo 2025: ITO Yoshitaka
Chairperson of The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition: TOKURA Masakazu
EXPO Events Producer: KOHASHI Kenji
Representative for the Singapore Exhibition Area at Expo 2025, Ambassador of the Republic of Singapore to Japan: ONG Eng Chuan
Deputy Head of Economic and Scientific Department, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany: Anna WALLBRECHT
Special Supporters of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan: AOKI Munetaka
YUCHAMI
YUICHAMI
HARUNA Ai
HELLO KITTY
KUMAMON
Special Guests: ABE Hifumi and ABE Uta
Official mascot characters of the 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan: Morizo & Kiccoro
Official character of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan: MYAKU-MYAKU
Facilitator: KAWATA Hiromi
● Greetings from the Organiser and Guests of Honour
At the beginning of the event, TOKURA Masakazu, the Chairperson of the Association delivered a speech on behalf of the organisers. The guests of honour Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry MUTO Yuji, and Minister for the World Expo 2025 ITO Yoshitaka, delivered their own messages, with the Prime Minister delivering his via video message.
・「6Months to Go Special Presentation!」
Facilitator KAWATA Hiromi and Special Supporter AOKI Munetaka shared the latest information about the Expo, using a panel showing a view of the entire venue. Next, the Commissioner General of Singapore at Expo 2025 and Ambassador of the Republic of Singapore to Japan, ONG Eng Chuan unveiled the interior of the Singapore Pavilion. The Deputy Head of Economic and Scientific Department at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Anna WALLBRECHT introduced the German Pavilion, which was designed to represent the future of a recycling-oriented society. Afterward, EXPO Events Producer KOHASHI Kenji gave a presentation on the concept of the event “One World, One Planet.” and the other events planned for the duration of the Expo. Finally, KAWATA Hiromi explained about the booking system for visit dates and times, which started on that day.
● Performance from Special Supporters
Sisters YUCHAMI and YUICHAMI, who have been appointed as Special Supporters of Expo 2025, acted as joint MCs for the event. Morizo & Kiccoro, the official mascots of the 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan, presented a baton made of timber sourced from forest thinning with a prayer for sustainability to MYAKU-MYAKU to celebrate six months to go. After this, special guests Judokas the ABE siblings (ABE Hifumi and ABE Uta), and special supporters HELLO KITTY and KUMAMON joined YUCHAMI and YUICHAMI on stage. YUICHAMI and ABE Uta had an Expo tongue twister competition with the key phrase “visit time and date bookings”. ABE Uta read the phrase flawlessly and won a splendid victory worthy of an Olympic medallist. The winning siblings, ABE Hifumi and ABE Uta were rewarded with hugs from KUMAMON and HELLO KITTY.
● Only six months to go! Candid Conversation
Facilitated by KAWATA Hiromi, three participants of the TEAM EXPO2025 programme took to the stage along with Special Supporters HARUNA Ai, YUCHAMI and YUICHAMI, and Special Guests ABE Hifumi and ABE Uta to hold an open discussion about the Expo. In response to questions from the three members of the TEAM EXPO 2025 programme, such as “What kind of experiences can we have at the Expo?” and “Is there any future technology that will change our values?”, HARUNA Ai replied, “It’s wonderful that we can have experiences that will change our values at the Expo. I would like children to attend the Expo and see the future.” KAWATA Hiromi concluded the discussion by encouraging the entire audience to “Please check out how to book your visit date and time right after today!”
＜Message from Prime Minister, ISHIBA Shigeru＞
●Prime Minister, ISHIBA Shigeru
I am ISHIBA Shigeru, the Prime Minister. Only six months remain until the opening of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. The Expo is coming to Osaka, Kansai and Japan once again.
In 1970, as a second-year junior high school student in Tottori City, I visited the Japan World Exposition Osaka 1970 three times. I travelled on the diesel express train from Tottori, which took about five hours. There were moon rocks, mobile phones, moving walkways, human washing machines, and many other things. I remember as if it were only yesterday. I was so impressed by the various “visions of the future” on display at the venue.
Six months from now, the “future” will appear again at the Expo venue on 13 April. I sincerely hope that the Expo will be a unique experience for all visitors from Japan and around the world, especially the children who will carry the future of Japan and the world, to think about the future and step forward into tomorrow with dreams and hopes.
The Expo is an excellent opportunity to deepen exchanges with the rest of the world and to showcase Japan’s attractions. I strongly hope that the Expo will provide an opportunity for people from all over the world to discover the attraction of Japan’s various cities, regions and towns, leading to the revitalisation of local regions and even the revitalisation of Japan.
I would like to express my sincere respect for the efforts of all those who have been involved in the bid to host the Expo from the very beginning, as well as all those involved in the preparations, and I hope that we will all work together to ensure the success of the opening and entirety of the Expo.
I would like to conclude my speech by expressing my heartfelt wishes that Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan will bring hope for the future society. Thank you very much.
▽ Six months to go events in Osaka
■ Expo 2025 Six months to Go Event in Dotonbori!
・Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan Official Website:
“Expo 2025 Six months to Go Event in Dotonbori!” held on 13 October! Promotional Video for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan to be Shown on Dotonbori Glico Sign Until 26 October
https://www.expo2025.or.jp/en/news/news-20241013-03/
■ “Ame-Mura EXPO – 6 Months to go to Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan!”
・Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan Official Website:
“Ame-Mura EXPO – 6 Months to go to Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan!” Held Saturday, 12 October to Monday, 14 October, 2024
https://www.expo2025.or.jp/en/news/news-20241013-02/
■ “Where fun exceeds your imagination! 6 Months to go!” Special Drone Show
・Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan Official Website:
“Where fun exceeds your imagination! 6 Months to go!” Special Drone Show Held on 12 an13 October!
https://www.expo2025.or.jp/en/news/news-20241013-01/
▽ Events and initiatives for Six Months to Go to the Opening of the Expo
Information on Events, etc. for Six Months to Go to the Opening of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan
https://www.expo2025.or.jp/en/news/news-20241001-10/