logo
Osaka expo welcomes 10 millionth visitor at halfway stage

Osaka expo welcomes 10 millionth visitor at halfway stage

Straits Times13-07-2025
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
A general view shows the "Myaku-Myaku", the mascot of the 2025 Osaka Expo as the Gundam pavilion is seen behind on the first day of the six-month event on April 13.
OSAKA - The number of visitors to the World Exposition in Osaka has topped 10 million, reaching the milestone at the halfway point of the six-month event, the Japanese expo association said on July 13.
The expo had welcomed 10.08 million visitors as of July 12, three months since its April 13 opening, the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition said.
The number of daily visitors started picking up four weeks after the opening, which was marred by news of unfinished pavilions, with a record 184,990 entering the venue on June 28.
However, ticket sales slowed from late June as the rainy season drew to a close in the region and intense heat arrived, causing concerns for organisers who need 22 million visitors to reach the event's break-even point. KYODO NEWS
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Singer Charli XCX weds The 1975 drummer George Daniel in intimate ceremony
Singer Charli XCX weds The 1975 drummer George Daniel in intimate ceremony

Straits Times

time3 hours ago

  • Straits Times

Singer Charli XCX weds The 1975 drummer George Daniel in intimate ceremony

Find out what's new on ST website and app. British pop star Charli XCX and The 1975's drummer George Daniel tied the knot in an intimate ceremony at London's Hackney Town Hall on July 19. The couple's close friends and family members were in attendance, including the British rock band's other members except lead singer Matty Healy. Charli XCX, 32, whose real name is Charlotte Emma Aitchison, wore a white off-shoulder Vivienne Westwood gown with a corseted bodice. Daniel, a 35-year-old British record producer, was in a double-breasted suit jacket and a boutonniere which matched the bridal bouquet. According to reports, the newlyweds shared a kiss on the front steps of the town hall, before the she put on her signature black sunglasses and exited the venue. The couple first met in 2019 at the GQ Men of the Year Awards, and started dating in 2022. They have collaborated a few times, with the first being on Filipino recording artiste No Rome's song Spinning (2021), which saw Daniel as co-producer. In November 2023, Charli XCX announced on Instagram that they were engaged. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung Singapore HSA extends hotline hours, launches new platform to report vaping offences Singapore 2-in-1 airport police robot on trial can patrol and serve as PMD with ride-hailing feature Asia Tearful relatives await news of victims in Vietnam boat capsize Singapore ComfortDelDro to discipline driver who flung relative's wheelchair out of taxi Multimedia How to make the most out of small homes in Singapore Asia Over 380,000 people affected by autogate glitch at JB checkpoint over 2 days Singapore Minor Issues: Why I didn't send my daughters to my brand-name primary school She has been on her Brat Tour since late 2024, and will be wrapping up her final show in South Korea in August. In February, the singer-songwriter picked up three Grammys (including Best Dance/Electronic Album for 2024's Brat) before winning five trophies at the Brit Awards, including British Artist of the Year, Best Dance Act, British Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year. Apart from his contribution to The 1975, Daniel's production credits includes British indie pop musician The Japanese House's albums Good At Falling (2019) and In The End It Always Does (2023).

K-pop megastars BTS surpass 30 million Weverse subscribers ahead of comeback
K-pop megastars BTS surpass 30 million Weverse subscribers ahead of comeback

Straits Times

time7 hours ago

  • Straits Times

K-pop megastars BTS surpass 30 million Weverse subscribers ahead of comeback

Find out what's new on ST website and app. BTS are currently preparing to release a new album in 2026. K-pop phenomenon BTS have become the first artistes to surpass 30 million subscribers on Weverse, setting a new benchmark for global fan engagement ahead of their highly anticipated comeback in 2026 . South Korean entertainment company Hybe announced on July 19 that more than 30 million fans have now joined the boy band's community on Weverse, a platform designed to facilitate direct interaction between artistes and their followers. Through the service, fans can watch live broadcasts, chat with BTS members in real time and purchase concert tickets and official merchandise. Available in 245 countries, Weverse recorded 10 million monthly active users in the first quarter of 2025 . Since its launch in June 2019, no artiste other than BTS has reached this scale of following. The platform hosts not only Hybe-affiliated acts but also artists from other K-pop agencies, along with actors, musical theatre performers and international pop stars including Ariana Grande and Dua Lipa. To mark the milestone, BTS member Jin left a brief message on the platform, writing, 'I was told to post something brag-worthy, so here it is.' BTS are currently preparing to release a new album in 2026, following the recent completion of mandatory military service by all members. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung Singapore HSA extends hotline hours, launches new platform to report vaping offences Singapore No unified guidelines? Animal shelters chart their own paths on welfare standards Asia Tearful relatives await news of Vietnam boat capsize rescue as death toll rises to 38 Multimedia How to make the most out of small homes in Singapore Singapore Minor Issues: Why I didn't send my daughters to my brand-name primary school Opinion I thought I was a 'chill' parent. Then came P1 registration World Diplomats dismissed: Inside the overhaul reshaping Trump's foreign policy BTS also released their first live album, Permission To Dance On Stage – Live, on July 18 , which captures the band's concert series from 2021 to 2022 , held in Seoul, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

Singapore's Chiral Comics partners Archie Comics for exclusive SG60 book cover
Singapore's Chiral Comics partners Archie Comics for exclusive SG60 book cover

Straits Times

time7 hours ago

  • Straits Times

Singapore's Chiral Comics partners Archie Comics for exclusive SG60 book cover

Find out what's new on ST website and app. The SG60 exclusive variant cover will be limited to 300 copies worldwide. SINGAPORE – Home-grown outfit Chiral Comics has teamed up with American comic book publisher Archie Comics to launch a Singapore-themed variant cover for the first issue of Betty & Veronica: Summer Fun In The Sun. The exclusive book cover – where main character Archie dons an 'I Love SG' shirt while his best friend Jughead munches on durian – features the characters from the popular franchise (1942 to present) exploring the country's iconic Gardens by the Bay. It is limited to 300 copies worldwide. Priced at $25.55 each, pre-orders started on July 19 at . Select Singapore comics retailers like Kalibak Komiks and 1to3 Comics will also carry it. This SG60 book cover collaboration involves local comic artist Kang Jing, who was the penciler and inker, and Italy-based freelance comic colourist Daniele Caramanico, who did the colouring. Kang established Chiral Comics, a Singapore-based art studio which specialises in comic book publishing and visual storytelling, in 2021, and reportedly started working on the Archies project in April 2025. The 31-year-old, who has been sketching anime characters since he was six, began his comics career in 2019. His debut series The World My Arena (2021 to 2022) has since been adapted into an animated video, and other notable works include bilingual webcomic series Save Me From Chloe (2021) and Zhao (2023), an original wuxia comic series. Kang has also worked on seven Star Wars-themed projects with Topps, an American trading card manufacturer. And in 2024, he illustrated a Singapore-themed variant cover featuring the Singapore skyline for the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #122 comic. All 525 copies released at comic convention Singapore Comic Con 2024 were sold out.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store