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Group photo of the Official Participant Representatives (taken on 15 January)
The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition (hereinafter referred to as “the Association”) held the two-day “International Participants Meeting/IPM 2025” (hereinafter referred to as “IPM”) on Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 January, 2025 at Arcrea HIMEJI (Himeji Culture and Convention Centre).
The conference was attended by around 600 Expo directors from approximately 160 countries, regions and international organisations (Official Participants). As the focus of Expo preparations shifts from construction to event planning, management, publicity, and momentum-building, the conference provided a unique opportunity for official participants to share their progress with each other and receive information face-to-face.
In addition, a “Pavilion Showcase Forum” was held with 16 Official Participants and three Signature Pavilions sharing the attractions of their exhibits.
The Association will continue to provide maximum support to ensure that preparations are complete for the opening of the Expo in April, while working to further build momentum in Japan and around the world.
1. Meeting Name:
IPM 2025 (International Participants Meeting)
2. Dates
Wednesday, 15 and Thursday, 16 January 2025
3. Venue
Arcrea HIMEJI (Himeji Culture and Convention Centre, Hyogo Prefecture)
4. Participants
Expo directors from countries, regions, and international organisations that have announced their participation in the Expo
5. Number of Participants
Approx. 600 people from about 160 countries, regions, and international organisations (Official Participants).
6. Meeting Details
■ Opening Address
Opening Remarks by Chairperson TOKURA
TOKURA Masakazu, Chairperson, Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition
“Registration for advance booking lotteries for pavilions and events has begun. Next Sunday, we will celebrate the opening of the Yumeshima Station on Osaka Metro’s subway line, a gateway to the Expo venue. With all these developments, we feel more strongly that the Expo is finally coming, and the excitement is building up rapidly as we enter this new year… Today and tomorrow at the IPM, let us work on these pending issues, explore ways to solve them from various angles, and take further steps towards our shared goal.!”
ITO Yoshitaka, Minister for the World Expo 2025 (Read by HANEDA Koji, Commissioner General of the 2025 World Exposition in Japan)
“We are now working hard to build momentum for the opening of the Expo. In cooperation with everyone, we hope to attract as many people as possible to the Expo, to discover each other’s attractions, and create an opportunity for deep inspiration. We will also use this opportunity to encourage exchange between people from all over the world not only within the Expo site, but also in the various attractive regions of Japan.”
Opening Remarks by HANEDA Koji, Commissioner General of the 2025 World Exposition in Japan
HANEDA Koji, Commissioner General of the 2025 World Exposition in Japan
“With less than three months to go before the opening of the Expo, significant progress has been made in the construction of pavilions and preparations for exhibits by each participant, and many pavilions are now starting to take shape. Major remaining tasks will be the final preparation of content and operation arrangement. The Japanese government and the Expo Association, together with the local governments and the business community, will work closely with all participants and make every effort to ensure the success of the Expo… Let us all work together to make the Expo a wonderful and successful six-month event.”
Opening Remarks by HANEDA Koji, Commissioner General of the 2025 World Exposition in Japan
Dimitri KERKENTZES, Secretary General of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE)
“We are now in the final stages of preparations, having worked on this grand project for years. It falls upon all of us in the weeks ahead to ensure that we deliver on our collective promise to the world… Let’s keep up our momentum and work together to ensure Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai leaves a lasting impact, one that helps shape a better future for generations to come.”
■ Plenary Session on Expo Participation
Over two days, concrete and practical information was provided and opinions exchanged on areas requiring more detailed explanation to the Official Participants. Topics covered included preparation plans for the various events, operations and logistics for the venue as a whole and for each pavilion, public relations, ICT, detailed plans for National Days and Special Days, test runs before the Expo, and the dismantling and reuse of materials from the pavilions after the Expo.
In addition, breakout sessions were held for developing countries and for each type of exhibit. The Association provided comprehensive information about the operation of its support programme, as well as on exhibit interior design and pavilion operation.
■ Active Dissemination of Information by Official Participants
On the second day of IPM, an event titled the “Pavilion Showcase Forum” was held at the venue with presentations from 16 Official Participants and three Signature Pavilions. The presentations were attended not only by IPM participants but also by approximately 220 students from Himeji City, thanks to the cooperation of Himeji City. In addition to introducing the concept of their pavilions, each speaker gave a presentation focusing on the events, experiences, food, and other attractions that can be enjoyed at their pavilions, and international exchange took place as students asked questions about the exhibitions and technology. In the foyer, a poster display of Official Participant pavilion mascots and a meet-and-greet between MYAKU-MYAKU and the Singapore Pavilion character Marley livened up the meeting.
In addition, 11 Official Participants conducted individual press conferences at the venue.
Pavilion Showcase Forum
■ PR by Related Organisations
At the venue, local governments, business communities, and other related organisations from Osaka and the Kansai region, set up booths to introduce culture and tourism and provide business support during the Expo period. A corner was also set up to introduce GREENxEXPO 2027 (International Horticultural Expo 2027, Yokohama, Japan) and the Specialised Expo 2027 in Belgrade, Serbia and to appeal to those responsible for international expositions in various countries and organisations to hold expositions following Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.
PR Booths
■ Press Conference
A joint press conference was held at the conclusion of the IPM.
Joint Press Conference
ISHIGE Hiroyuki, Secretary-General, Japan Association for the 2025 International Exposition, Japan
With less than 90 days to go before the opening of the Expo, the last IPM ahead of the Expo was held in Himeji and attended by more than 600 colleagues from some 160 countries, regions, and international organisations.
Looking at the overall state of preparations, the Yumeshima Expo site has changed significantly in the six months since the previous IPM in June last year. In a word, it has evolved significantly from imagination to reality. The focus of Expo preparations has also shifted dramatically from construction to attractions, events, operations, and promotion.
(Attractions: Events)
The first point is the progress of attractions, i.e. event preparations. Since the announcement of the calendar of events in September last year, we have announced a number of attractive events, such as the special live performance by the singer Ado on the opening day and the “10,000 Freude: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 Performed by a Choir of 10,000 at EXPO 2025”. From now on, the Official Participants will also be announcing their events. At this meeting, we received many positive suggestions from Official Participants, such as “Can we organise something like this?” We hope that the events to be announced by the Official Participants, mainly on National Days and Special Days, will make the Expo even more exciting.
(Operations: Preparation for Operations)
The second point is operations and preparation for operations. There has also been significant progress in this aspect. At the time of the last IPM, a one-stop shop was opened. In a period of six months, the total number of consultations exceeded 3,500, and Official Participants are steadily resolving operational issues such as commercial activities and staff immigration, step by step. At this meeting, too, the one-stop shop received a large number of consultations, and on the 17th, the day after the IPM, a temporary venue was also set up at ATC for the Official Participants who will come to the Osaka Prefectural Government Sakishima Building to discuss their issues. We, the organisers, will continue to provide maximum support in cooperation with the relevant organisations.
In addition, a test run is planned for 4-6 April to finalise operational issues and discover areas for improvement before the opening of the Expo. The test run will be closed to the media, but we are making preparations for a press day on 9 April, inviting domestic and foreign media representatives to cover the appeal of the Expo just before the opening.
(Promotion: Publicity and Momentum Building)
The third point is the progress in promotion and momentum building in Japan and abroad. At this IPM, the “Pavilion Showcase Forum” provided a platform for 16 Official Participants and three Signature Pavilions to communicate. It was also a good opportunity for promotion of the lottery applications for the Pavilion and Event, which opened on the 13th this week. In addition, about 220 students from Himeji city attended the forum and enjoyed international exchange with the participants, thanks to the cooperation of Himeji City. Marley, the mascot of the Singapore Pavilion, also made an appearance.
Meanwhile, coverage of the Expo abroad is also increasing. In 2024, we more than doubled our coverage of the Expo compared to the previous year, and Osaka City was selected as one of the 52 Places to Go in 2025 by the New York Times on 7 January, which also introduced the Expo. We will continue to work together with Official Participants to build momentum domestically and abroad.
(Conclusion)
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Mr KERKENTZES, Secretary General of the BIE, for the valuable advice he gives us on a daily basis based on his extensive Expo experience. It is no exaggeration to say that cooperation with Official Participants is of paramount importance for the success of the Expo. Based on the progress made at this IPM, we will be fully prepared for the opening of the Expo in April.