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Yomiuri Shimbun
19-05-2025
- Yomiuri Shimbun
2025 Expo Osaka: Expo Fails to Achieve Pledge of Line-Free Event; Smartphone Data Shows Particular Crowding at East Gate
The Yomiuri Shimbun Visitors wait in long lines in front of the French pavilion, left, and the U.S. pavilion, center, at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo in Konohana Ward, Osaka, on May 13. OSAKA — One month after the opening of the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, lines at the entrance gate and within the venue are contradicting the organizers' pledge of a 'line-free' event. Many visitors enter through the East Gate, which is connected to the Osaka Metro Yumeshima Station. Inside the Expo, long lines can be seen in front of some pavilions. The Yomiuri Shimbun analyzed the flow of people in and around the Expo based on location data from smartphones collected by research company X-Locations Inc. The Expo's opening day on April 13 recorded 124,339 visitors. Analysis showed that the number of people gathered at the venue's East Gate began increasing at around 6 a.m. and was estimated to exceed 10,000 between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. Even after the Expo opened at 9 a.m., the number of people at the East Gate continued to increase. It tripled between noon and 1 p.m. from the level when the gate opened. The congestion at the East Gate was seen as problematic just after the Expo started but it has since eased, mainly thanks to the experience staff members acquired in addressing the issue. However, the daily flow of people at the East Gate is more than double that at the West Gate, where shuttle bus stops are located. Visitors' tendency to crowd around the East Gate when the venue opens and closes every day has not changed. The movement of people has also been concentrated in specific places within the venue. Analysis on data from May 4 showed that visitors were concentrated at the three pavilions of the United States, France and Italy just after the venue opened. Visitors can enter these pavilions without prior reservations, so it seems many visitors go straight there once the Expo opens. At 7 p.m., many visitors were gathered in the Water Plaza in the south of the venue to see a show on the water. During this period of time, the number of people around the pavilions tends to be smaller. If visitors want to enter specific pavilions, it may be good to do so during that time frame. Aichi Pref. provides third-most visitors The Yomiuri also analyzed where visitors are from, focusing on people who passed through both the East and West gates from the opening day through the end of April. Nearly half the visitors, at 45.4%, were believed to be from Osaka Prefecture and 14.1% from Hyogo Prefecture. Unexpectedly, people deemed to be from Aichi Prefecture were the third-largest group at 6.5%, followed by 5.6% from Tokyo and 4.9% from Kyoto Prefecture. 'As our prefecture was the venue of the 2025 Aichi Expo, many people may have positive feelings about world expositions,' an official of the Aichi prefectural government's tourism promotion division said. The location data were statistically processed by X-Locations after being collected from smartphone apps, to ascertain people's movements and the number of visitors in each area of the Expo. The location information was collected with the app users' consent and the data was made anonymous to prevent people from being identified. Places of residence were inferred from locations where people usually were located. The location information does not include that of children who do not possess their own smartphones.
Yomiuri Shimbun
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
1 Month after Expo's Opening: Good Start Should Translate to Successful Event
It is good news that the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo's ticket sales, which had been a point of concern, are progressing well. But there are still many issues needing to be addressed about the Expo's operation going forward. Efforts to enhance visitor satisfaction should continue to be made to ensure success is brought to the international event. The Expo on Tuesday marked one month since its opening. To date, 2.41 million people have visited the Expo, surpassing the 2005 Aichi Expo by 550,000 during the same period. Ticket sales surged following the opening. The sales so far total more than 13 million, including anticipated sales from package tours and other programs. If the current pace is maintained, it will be possible for ticket sales to reach the 18 million needed to realize a profit. Initially, details of exhibitions were not well publicized, and sales of advance tickets had been poor. However, since the opening, the appeal of the Expo, which allows visitors to experience diverse cultures, cutting-edge technologies and events all in one place, has gradually spread through word of mouth by visitors and other means, seemingly improving its reputation. According to visitor questionnaires, the symbolic Grand Ring has been well received, and overseas pavilions are also proving popular because visitors can experience 'virtual world tours.' However, many tickets remain unused, and daily visitor numbers are still only 60% of the target. There is a risk of overcrowding during the second half of the Expo, which includes the summer vacation period. One of the Expo's goals is to realize an 'expo where visitors do not have to line up,' and a reservation system was introduced for such things as admission. Despite this, long lines formed at the beginning of the expo. Although the situation has been alleviated by streamlining baggage inspections, the challenge now is how to prevent crowded situations when even more visitors come. The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, which is in charge of running the Expo, should come up with measures such as offering discounts on admission fees for visitors during the first half of the Expo and on weekdays. Shortening waiting times will certainly help prevent heatstroke in the summer. Shortly after the opening, a subway train providing transport to the Expo venue broke down, stranding about 4,000 people, including those visiting the Expo. Operations of the 'flying car,' one of the highlights of the Expo, remains suspended after part of the body of one of the aircraft was damaged during a demonstration flight. Unexpected situations can occur at any time and at any place. The Expo association must work closely with related organizations and exhibitors to ensure thorough crisis management. Tottori Prefecture, which is participating in the Kansai Pavilion, has signed cooperation agreements with the Jordan Pavilion and the Saudi Arabia Pavilion due to their sand dune and desert connection. The central government is also making every effort to engage in 'expo diplomacy' with dignitaries from around the world visiting the event. Within and around the venue, where 158 countries and regions are gathering, various connections are forming. By ensuring safe and secure operations and fulfilling the expectations of visitors, it is hoped the Expo will be successful. (From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 13, 2025)
Japan Times
13-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
One month on, Osaka Expo urged to boost heat and crowd control measures
As the 2025 World Exposition in the city of Osaka marks one month Tuesday since its April 13 opening, the event continues to draw crowds, though daily attendance remains below government expectations. Experts say the real test will come in August when higher turnout is expected, prompting calls for enhanced heat and crowd control measures. There is also growing anticipation surrounding high-level diplomatic opportunities and the event's economic ripple effects. The Japanese government has projected 28.2 million visitors over the course of the Osaka Expo, which runs through Oct. 13 — an average of 150,000 attendees daily. So far, that benchmark has yet to be met on any single day, but past expos have typically seen a sharp increase in turnout during the latter half of their runs. However, daily visitor numbers peaked at around 120,000 during Japan's Golden Week holiday period through May 5 — falling short of the 149,000 recorded during the same period at the 2005 Aichi Expo. One key logistical issue that may be contributing to slow attendance is the Expo's entrance reservation system, which is designed to eliminate waiting by requiring visitors to book time slots in advance. During the Golden Week period, morning slots were quickly filled. Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura argued that the system has deterred spontaneous visits as people had to give up bookings. In response, organizers have added more morning slots on weekends and shifted entry for night ticket holders to 4 p.m. from 5 p.m. Transportation issues have also hampered access. A park-and-ride system, which charges over ¥5,000 ($33) for shuttle service from private cars, has seen limited use — only about 10% of weekday visitors opt for it — prompting calls to lower fees. The Osaka Metro Chuo Line serves as the sole rail link to the venue, but a train car malfunction last month left around 4,000 people stranded. Although coordination between Expo organizers and Osaka Metro has improved, officials admit that backup transportation options remain insufficient. Shinya Hashizume, a professor at Osaka Metropolitan University who was involved in the Expo bid, said that these logistical challenges have arisen due to limited time for trial operations before the opening. 'There wasn't enough time during the preparation phase to test things with actual visitors, so the staff on the ground are having to respond on a case-by-case basis each day,' Hashizume said. 'From a safety standpoint, it's essential to start preparing now for the possibility of 150,000 to 200,000 people showing up daily when the heat intensifies in August.' The parking lot for Osaka Expo's park-and-ride services has many vacant spots as people opt out of using the services. | Jiji The Osaka Expo features a record 158 participating countries and regions — the most ever for a world expo held in Japan. Many countries are expected to send their leaders during their designated 'National Day' events, offering Japan a rare chance to showcase diplomatic leadership. Given the worsening state of global affairs, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine, 'Japan, as a host nation, should create spaces where countries can connect with each other,' said Mayuko Sano, a professor at Kyoto University who studies the history of world expos. 'This should be an opportunity to enhance Japan's international presence.' One of the Osaka Expo's signature features is the use of multilingual automatic translation apps, which allow visitors to converse casually with pavilion staff from various countries. Sano emphasized that such tools encourage dialogue rather than passive viewing. 'Instead of just looking at exhibits, these conversations can help people realize that different cultures are both diverse and equal,' she said. According to the Asia Pacific Institute of Research, a private think tank based in the city of Osaka, the total economic impact of the Expo is projected at ¥2.75 trillion. Akira Shimoyama, a professor at Osaka University of Economics who contributed to the estimate, said the event has already delivered noticeable improvements in business sentiment with robust tourism across the Kansai region. 'Things are going smoothly at this stage,' Shimoyama said. However, he cautioned that long wait times may be discouraging potential visitors. 'It's important to improve the flow of people within the venue and make it easier to book pavilion reservations,' he added. Translated by The Japan Times
12-05-2025
- Business
Osaka Expo Still Struggling to Draw Visitors despite Reaching 2 M.
Osaka, May 13 (Jiji Press)--The 2025 World Exposition in the western Japan city of Osaka, which began a month ago, is still struggling to draw visitors, although it has attracted two million visitors faster than the 2005 Expo in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan. The number of visitors to the Osaka Expo reached two million on Tuesday, 24 days after it opened on April 13. This was six days faster than the Aichi Expo, which attracted a total of 22 million visitors during its half-year period. As of Sunday, the total number of visitors was some 2.5 million. A senior official at the Japan Association for the Osaka Expo said the results can be viewed positively. Meanwhile, the daily number of visitors in the week through May 5, during Japan's Golden Week holiday period, peaked at about 120,000, falling short of 149,000 at the 2005 Expo. One of the reasons for the stagnation is said to be the entrance reservation system, which was introduced to realize an Expo without waiting lines for visitors. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
Yomiuri Shimbun
08-05-2025
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Princess Aiko Arrives in Osaka to Observe Expo; Will Visit Japan Pavilion, International Red Cross Pavilion
Jiji Press Princess Aiko arrives at Osaka Itami Airport in Toyonaka, Osaka Prefecture, on Thursday. OSAKA — Princess Aiko, the only daughter of the Emperor and the Empress, flew to Osaka Prefecture on a commercial flight on Thursday morning to observe the Osaka-Kansai Expo. The princess will stay in Osaka until Friday. On Thursday, the princess was to visit Yumeshima, the artificial island that is the Expo site, and observe the Grand Ring. She was also set to visit pavilion such as the Japan Pavilion and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement Pavilion, operated by her employer, the Japanese Red Cross Society. On Friday, the princess will visit the Singaporean Pavilion, the Earth Mart signature pavilion themed on food and exhibitions by countries such as Kenya, Ghana and Yemen. The Expo opening ceremony in April was jointly attended by the Emperor, the Empress, Crown Prince Akishino, who is the honorary president of the Expo, and Crown Princess Kiko. The 2005 Aichi Expo received frequent visits by members of the Imperial family, who visited all 92 pavilions.
