Latest news with #HiroyukiIshige
8 hours ago
- Business
Osaka Expo Organizer Aims to Prevent Recurrence of Train Issue
News from Japan Society Aug 20, 2025 17:25 (JST) Osaka, Aug. 20 (Jiji Press)--The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition is tackling transportation challenges after a service suspension on Osaka Metro Co.'s Chuo Line stranded visitors at the site last week. On Monday, the association admitted that information sharing about the incident was insufficient, vowing to improve its handling of such cases. The incident occurred at a time when ticket sales for the Expo, which runs through mid-October, are growing. Some 18.66 million tickets had been sold by Friday, with the association aiming to achieve its final goal of selling 23 million tickets. The Expo venue of the artificial island of Yumeshima is expected to become even busier. "We will quickly improve what we should by learning lessons from the latest case," Hiroyuki Ishige, secretary-general of the association, said at a press conference on Monday, referring to the train suspension. He said the association will review its emergency information-sharing and food and beverage distribution operations. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
Asahi Shimbun
a day ago
- Business
- Asahi Shimbun
Osaka Expo ticket sales pass breakeven point, may turn profit
Visitors at the Osaka Kansai Expo flock to the Grand Ring to see a special fireworks show on July 23 in Osaka. (Hiyori Uchiumi) The organizers of the Osaka Kansai Expo on Aug. 18 announced that ticket sales have crossed the 96.9 billion yen ($656 million) threshold required to cover the event's operational costs. According to the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, 18.66 million admission tickets had been sold as of Aug. 15. In the operating budget, the association estimated that both revenues and expenses would be 116 billion yen each. Of that, it expected ticket sales would bring in 96.9 billion yen, translating into needing to sell about 18 million tickets to hit this mark. The association has not disclosed if the balance is in the black or red. At a news conference on Aug. 18, Hiroyuki Ishige, secretary-general of the association, remained cautious, saying, 'I cannot say at this point that we are in the black,' citing that unexpected costs are always possible. However, several association officials said the books will be in the black if no unforeseen expenses, such as disaster-related ones, arise. An official confidently said, 'There might be a surplus of around 10 billion yen.' This apparent turnaround counters the expo's shaky prospects ahead of its opening. Delays in pavilion construction and announcing exhibition details affected sales and advance tickets reached only about 70 percent of the target amount. Concerns also persisted over who would assume fiscal responsibility if the world's fair ended in a deficit. However, the expo's reputation improved through word-of-mouth after opening. The Grand Ring—the symbol of the expo—and the pavilions gradually received positive reviews, leading to increased ticket sales and more visitors. Myaku-Myaku's breakout popularity as the event's official mascot has likewise boosted revenues with earnings from souvenir shops and merchandise licensing fees exceeding budget projections. Although the number of people using the park-and-ride system is lower than anticipated and may result in a loss, it is anticipated that overall profits will cover this deficit. The expectation of a solid profit has also spread to Osaka prefectural and city governments as well as the business community. Looking ahead, the main focus will be on how the profits will be used if there is a surplus. The 1970 Osaka Expo ended with a large surplus, which was used to create a fund dedicated to cultural exchange and global projects. This time, the prefectural and city governments are considering whether part of the profits can be used to preserve the Grand Ring after the expo ends its six-month run on Oct. 13.
Straits Times
16-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Crowds, heat pose challenges as Osaka Expo reaches midway point
It is estimated that 18 million tickets need to be sold in order for the Expo to break even. As of July 12, over 15 million tickets have been sold. OSAKA - July 13 marked three months since the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo opened, and ticket sales have remained strong with more than 10 million visitors. With the possibility of making a profit in sight, the event, which is now halfway through its run, is now facing the challenges of crowds and heat. 'We are, in general, making good progress,' said Mr Hiroyuki Ishige, secretary general of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, at a press conference on July 14. 'The summer holiday season is the key to success, and we'd like to increase the number of visitors.' Before the Expo opened April 13, advanced tickets were not selling well, and since the details of what the pavilions would display was not disclosed, many pointed out that they were not sure what the main attractions were. However, public interest has since grown as the actual experiences of visitors started spreading on social media. Since then, about 2 million admission tickets have been sold per month, bringing the total to 15.98 million as of July 12. The association plans to use the revenue from admission ticket sales to cover 83 per cent, or 96.9 billion yen (S$840 million), of the 116 billion yen it costs to run the Expo. It is estimated that 18 million tickets need to be sold in order for the Expo to break even, and the actual sales are close to 90 per cent of that figure. At this pace, the Expo could turn a profit as early as within August. By July 12, more than 10 million people visited the Expo, bringing the cumulative total to 10.11 million. The daily average for the number of visitors was 110,000. But earlier in July, when it was starting to really get hot, there were less than 100,000 visitors on some days. The association is aiming for an average of 130,000 visitors per day in the second half of the Expo run to stabilise revenues. The key to achieving this goal will be to reduce congestion. The association introduced an online reservation system to visit pavilions at certain times and dates and has touted the event as a 'line-free Expo'. However, in reality, many of the pavilions for other countries do not use the reservation system, so visitors to the more popular of these pavilions, such as the Italy Pavilion and the USA Pavilion, sometimes have to wait several hours. In addition, as the Expo does not have a lot of shaded areas, visitors have to wait in the sun. As of July 20, 20 people were reported to have suffered heatstroke or suspected to have suffered heatstroke in July, when the daily high temperatures for Osaka City, where the Expo is located, have been about 35 deg C. The association has installed fans with a misting spray and other devices at various locations, and parasols are available for rent in front of the entrance gate. To ease daytime crowds, the association plans to encourage visitors to come later in the evening, when it is slightly cooler, through such means as holding fireworks shows — previously only held once or twice a month — every day from July 12 through the end of August and setting up a beer garden. At previous expos, the number of visitors tended to increase in the second half of their run, and there is a concern that the crowds will become more intense. 'We'd like to encourage visitors to come before the late stage of the (Expo's duration) to try and disperse the crowds,' said an association official. It is also necessary to increase the number of visitors who do not live near the Expo. According to the association, 67.5 per cent of domestic visitors have come from the Kinki region, 15.5 per cent from the Kanto region, 2.4 per cent from Kyushu and 0.8 per cent from the Tohoku region. Visitors from overseas account for 9 per cent of the total. As people tend to travel more during the summer, the association sees it as an opportunity to increase the number of visitors from distant regions and intends to strengthen its communication through social media and other means. THE JAPAN NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Yomiuri Shimbun
15-07-2025
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
2025 Expo Osaka: Crowds, Heat Pose Challenges as Event Reaches Midway Point; Expo Might Turn a Profit, but Summer Holiday Season is Key
OSAKA — Sunday marked three months since the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo opened, and ticket sales have remained strong with more than 10 million visitors. With the possibility of making a profit in sight, the event, which is now halfway through its run, is now facing the challenges of crowds and heat. 'We are, in general, making good progress,' said Hiroyuki Ishige, secretary general of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, at a press conference on Monday. 'The summer holiday season is the key to success, and we'd like to increase the number of visitors.' Before the Expo opened April 13, advanced tickets were not selling well, and since the details of what the pavilions would display was not disclosed, many pointed out that they were not sure what the main attractions were. However, public interest has since grown as the actual experiences of visitors started spreading on social media. Since then, about 2 million admission tickets have been sold per month, bringing the total to 15.98 million as of Friday. The association plans to use the revenue from admission ticket sales to cover 83%, or ¥96.9 billion, of the ¥116 billion it costs to run the Expo. It is estimated that 18 million tickets need to be sold in order for the Expo to break even, and the actual sales are close to 90% of that figure. At this pace, the Expo could turn a profit as early as within August. By Saturday, more than 10 million people visited the Expo, bringing the cumulative total to 10.11 million. The daily average for the number of visitors was 110,000. But earlier this month, when it was starting to really get hot, there were less than 100,000 visitors on some days. The association is aiming for an average of 130,000 visitors per day in the second half of the Expo run to stabilize revenues. The key to achieving this goal will be to reduce congestion. The association introduced an online reservation system to visit pavilions at certain times and dates and has touted the event as a 'line-free Expo.' However, in reality, many of the pavilions for other countries do not use the reservation system, so visitors to the more popular of these pavilions, such as the Italy Pavilion and the USA Pavilion, sometimes have to wait several hours. In addition, as the Expo does not have a lot of shaded areas, visitors have to wait in the sun. As of Sunday, 20 people were reported to have suffered heatstroke or suspected to have suffered heatstroke this month, when the daily high temperatures for Osaka City, where the Expo is located, have been about 35 C. The association has installed fans with a misting spray and other devices at various locations, and parasols are available for rent in front of the entrance gate. To ease daytime crowds, the association plans to encourage visitors to come later in the evening, when it is slightly cooler, through such means as holding fireworks shows — previously only held once or twice a month — every day from Saturday through the end of August and setting up a beer garden. At previous expos, the number of visitors tended to increase in the second half of their run, and there is a concern that the crowds will become more intense. 'We'd like to encourage visitors to come before the late stage of the [Expo's duration] to try and disperse the crowds,' said an association official. It is also necessary to increase the number of visitors who do not live near the Expo. According to the association, 67.5% of domestic visitors have come from the Kinki region, 15.5% from the Kanto region, 2.4% from Kyushu and 0.8% from the Tohoku region. Visitors from overseas account for 9% of the total. As people tend to travel more during the summer, the association sees it as an opportunity to increase the number of visitors from distant regions and intends to strengthen its communication through social media and other means.
South China Morning Post
14-07-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Is Japan's Osaka Expo failing? Visitor numbers disappoint at halfway mark
Halfway through its six-month run on an artificial island built atop a former landfill off the coast of Japan 's second city, the Osaka World Expo is falling short of organisers' expectations. More than 10 million people have visited the expo since its April opening – a symbolic milestone, but short of the pace required to reach the break-even threshold. Organisers estimate that 22 million visitors will be needed by the time the event closes in October for the expo to cover its costs. While the latest figures were touted as a sign of 'stable operations' by the top official overseeing the event, it's a far cry from the 28 million visitors that were projected in the lead-up to the opening. 'Every day recently we have welcomed more than 100,000 people to the expo,' Hiroyuki Ishige, secretary general of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, told reporters on Monday. Mascots and expo staff pose for a photo in front of the Japan Pavilion at the World Expo in Osaka on July 3. Photo: Kyodo Despite acknowledging the shortfall, Ishige was still upbeat, highlighting the 'attractive contents' of the expo's pavilions, which represent 158 countries and regions, as well as exhibitions from seven international organisations.
