OSAKA - The total number of visitors to Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai surpassed one million on April 23rd, just 11 days after the event began. Despite being a weekday, the venue remained crowded, with long lines forming at popular pavilions such as the one from the United States.
The Expo Association confirmed that the milestone included both general visitors and those involved with operations. To mark the occasion, a family from Osaka was presented with commemorative souvenirs, including a plush toy of the Expo mascot Myaku-Myaku.
As the Expo continues to gain momentum, one unusual partnership has started to draw attention. Tottori Prefecture, featured in the Kansai Pavilion, recreated its local sand dunes using real sand. Meanwhile, the Jordan Pavilion displayed red desert sand brought in from a filming location of Star Wars. The visual similarities between the two exhibitions led to the announcement of a “Sand Alliance” between Tottori and Jordan. Tottori Governor Hirai said the similarity of concepts had sparked some online discussion, but he welcomed the opportunity to connect through the shared theme, joking that they were “linked by sand.”
While interest in the event is growing, not all developments have been smooth. On April 22nd, it came to light that construction of the Nepal Pavilion had been halted. Nepal, one of the countries building its pavilion independently, reportedly failed to pay part of the construction costs, resulting in work being suspended since January. Although the exterior is nearly 90% complete, the interior remains unfinished, with construction materials left inside. A pavilion representative stated that repeated assurances of payment from the Nepalese side had not been fulfilled.
The situation has prompted concerns over how to manage risks in international contracts. Shingo Fujimoto of Tokyo Shoko Research noted that even when dealing with foreign governments, it is essential to assess risks carefully. He emphasized the importance of safeguards such as advance payments or insurance, suggesting that such measures might have prevented the current disruption.
Source: YOMIURI
