On April 13, 2025, Japan officially launched Expo 2025 in Osaka under the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.” Held on Yumeshima, a reclaimed island in Osaka Bay, the international event gathers around 180 countries, regions, and organizations. The expo seeks to promote dialogue and harmony at a time of global unrest and division. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba emphasized the importance of unity, stating that the event arrives during a period of global fragmentation following the pandemic. The venue’s centerpiece, a colossal wooden structure called the “Grand Ring,” stands 20 meters tall with a 2-kilometer circumference. It symbolizes unity and encircles the main exhibition area.

The event showcases pioneering technologies and cultural exhibits in over 80 architecturally distinctive pavilions. Despite its ambitious scope, Expo 2025 has faced multiple challenges. Rising material costs, attributed to the weakened yen, inflated the total expenditure to 235 billion yen, almost twice the initial estimate. Approximately 14% of this budget was used to construct the Grand Ring, leading to domestic criticisms regarding government spending. Additionally, construction delays affected several international pavilions. Ticket sales remain underwhelming, with only 9 million of the projected 14 million advance tickets sold. Organizers remain optimistic, aiming for 28 million visitors before the event concludes on October 13. Emperor Naruhito expressed hope that Expo 2025 would inspire younger generations to explore sustainable innovations and deepen intercultural understanding through immersive, futuristic experiences.