Latest news with #pavilions
Japan Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Japan Times
Japan's 2025 Osaka Expo draws 5 million visitors in first six weeks
The 2025 Osaka Expo has welcomed 5 million visitors in its first six weeks, organizers say, despite lukewarm enthusiasm for the event ahead of its opening. A Mars meteorite and a beating artificial heart grown from stem cells are among the displays at the expo, in which more than 160 countries, regions and organizations are participating. The event opened on April 13 and runs until mid-October, with most of the pavilions encircled by the latticed "Grand Ring," the world's largest wooden architectural structure. On Monday, the 5 millionth visitor entered the vast waterfront site, organizers said in a statement. "The number of visitors to the Expo ... increased from 4 million to 5 million in seven days," they said, adding that more visitors were coming "with each passing day." So far 12.4 million tickets have been sold to the event. Organizers have set a total target of 23 million. Also known as a World's Fair, the expo phenomenon, which brought the Eiffel Tower to Paris, began with London's 1851 Crystal Palace exhibition. It is now held every five years in different locations around the globe. Osaka last hosted the expo in 1970, when Japan was booming and its technology the envy of the world. It attracted 64 million people, a record until Shanghai in 2010. Opinion polls before Expo 2025 opened showed low levels of public enthusiasm, with analysts saying inflation and high accommodation costs due to a record influx of foreign tourists to Japan could put people off buying tickets.
SoraNews24
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
The Osaka-Kansai World Expo has lots of food and souvenirs, if you dare enter where they're sold
They are not for the faint of heart or wallet. In my previous reviews of the 2025 Osaka-Kansai World Expo, I came to the basic conclusion that it's a pretty good time as long as you don't focus on more than one of the major pavilions and explore the more open areas with an equally open mind. I also found it to be busy but not overly congested, save for one exception: the souvenir stores. There are a few gift shops around the venue and each one is operated by a different company. Near the West Entrance, you'll find one run by Kintetsu Railway and another right next to it by JR West. Meanwhile, by the East Entrance, there's one managed by bookstore chain Maruzen Junkudo and another by Daimaru department stores. ▼ Inside the Daimaru Expo store They all have a slightly different array of goods, with almost everything bearing the likeness of Expo mascot Myaku-Myaku, but one thing they have in common is that they're insanely busy and crammed with people. ▼ This Myaku-Myaku doll display is very symbolic of the overall situation. The whole experience and all the elbows to the ribcage involved in it took me right back to the many mosh pits I found myself in during the '90s. Here's a look at some of the goods available, and I apologize for the photos which are not up to my usual standards as I was getting shoved around and could barely get glimpses of the shelves in the scant moments people weren't picking them clean. Often in articles like these, we like to ask the staff what the most popular items are. However, at the Kintetsu store the staff were insanely busy and it didn't matter anyway because I could see swarms of people buying stuff in real time to tell you what the hot items were. When I was there, people were going after the plush toys featuring Sanrio characters like Hello Kitty, dressed up as Myaku-Myaku. Despite being steeply priced at 13,200 yen (US$92) for the large ones and 6,930 yen for the small ones, the staff were literally struggling to keep the shelves stocked with them. The plush key chains provided a much cheaper alternative, with the elongated Nobi Myaku-Myaku ones only 880 yen each. Students seemed to be going for these ones mostly due to their price and ability to accentuate a school bag. Some were dressed up as comedians or Osaka obachan. I admit I scoffed at these when I first wrote about them, but the Myaku-Myaku piggy banks for 8,800 yen were getting very low on stock when I was there. Perhaps it's how they marketed it? The JR West store was also a madhouse, but slightly less so and I was able to quickly ask a clerk what the biggest seller was. She told me it was the Myaku-Myaku Assorted Sweets for 2,499 yen. For the most part, food items were more sanely priced. However, the stores seemed to know when they had something interesting and priced accordingly. Case in point was the Myakumen instant ramen for 2,116 yen. JR West also had some Myaku-Myaku crossovers with dolls of the ICOCA card platypus mascot dressed as the Expo mascot. There were also some Myaku-Myaku-Minion items, showing that Universal Studios Japan and the Osaka-Kansai Expo were partners rather than rivals. Over on the other side of the venue, the Maruzen store had a diverse range of Myaku-Myaku items, such as different-colored dolls, super balls, and omamori lucky charms. Items that didn't have Myaku-Myaku were few and far between but some interesting ones here were wall hangings and displays featuring artwork from Dragon Ball or Ranma 1/2 . Prior to coming here, I had planned to try my hand at the Myaku-Myaku capsule machine in the Daimaru shop. It sold Myaku-Myaku figurines with a rare chance to get a silver or gold one. However, it had already sold out by the time I got there. There were also some Myaku-Myaku Tamagotchi at one point but those had sold out by the time I got there too. Considering it was only a couple weeks into this six-month event and stuff was already selling out, hopefully they'll either get some more stock prepared or are planning the next wave of different items. ▼ Myaku-Myaku Hi-Chews were also pretty popular but luckily they were well stocked with those. It's hard to recommend browsing one of these shops unless there's something you really want to get or you're into full-contact sports. Luckily, for more casual purchases there were smaller satellite souvenir stalls set up elsewhere in the venue. The selection is more limited but there also weren't as many people. Thankfully, getting something to eat isn't as much of a physical ordeal for the most part. There are some major chains like Sushiro and Kurazushi there, but they're about as popular as the major pavilions there. Because it's possible to book a table at Kurazushi using their app, I gave it a shot two weeks in advance, but still couldn't get a seat. ▼ Sushiro to the Future: Expo Edition ▼ Maneki ekisoba restaurant But aside from those, there are several food-court-style places to eat, and they never seemed too busy that I couldn't get a seat, even around lunch and dinner time. However, as I mentioned in a previous article, the pricing is rather severe. I opted for this food court in the northeast part of the venue because it had a gorgeous Aomori-style paper lantern float by the entrance. Even the different food vendors there had lantern-style signs up. I decided to get some Takoyaki from the stall run by Kukuru, a popular octopus-ball shop in Dotonbori. It seemed like an appropriate thing to get at the Osaka-Kansai Expo and they had a cool robot that slathered on the Takoyaki sauce and mayo. This paper cup of beer and tray of takoyaki set me back 1,900 yen, a price that I believe would get you arrested for trying to charge in Osaka proper. It was good though, and the cuts of octopus inside were much larger than your typical takoyaki at least. For more budget-conscious nourishment, the three big convenience store chains, Family Mart, 7-Eleven, and Lawson also have locations inside the venue. The bottom line is that you should probably go into the Expo expecting to drop a fair bit of money, much like you would at any theme park. Another thing to note is that most places don't take cash here, which shouldn't bother visitors from overseas but is still a little strange for Japan. There is a limited range of lower priced items so you can still walk away with something though, even when on a budget. I tried to make a game of it by finding something cheap without Myaku-Myaku and came up with this box of T.M. Revolution cakes for just 1,404 yen. It still had Myaku-Myaku but it was the best I could do. I hadn't been sure if Myaku-Myaku was all that popular until actually going to the Expo and seeing people gobble up items with its likeness. It kind of makes me wonder if that gooey creature will still be around in Japan once the event has finished. Photos © SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
The Sun
24-04-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Call for global promotion of Southeast Asian literature
PETALING JAYA: As Malaysia assumes the Asean Chairmanship this year, the country is positioning itself not only as an administrative leader but also as a cultural and intellectual powerhouse in the region, said Education Director-General Datuk Azman Adnan. Speaking at the pre-launch of the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (KLIBF) 2025 at Menara Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Azman emphasised the crucial role of the local publishing industry in shaping a unified regional narrative through collaboration, translation and the global promotion of Southeast Asian literature. 'This is not just a diplomatic mandate, it's an opportunity for us to lead through knowledge and culture,' he said. He added that Malaysia's leadership in Asean should embody Madani values such as sustainability, mutual respect and compassion. Azman also highlighted the power of books to unite Asean communities and amplify the region's voice on the global stage. 'Southeast Asia's voice must stand tall and not be drowned in the currents of globalisation. Publishers and writers must craft stories that reflect the region's rich heritage while resonating with global audiences.' He called for greater investment in translation, co-publishing ventures and content that showcases Southeast Asia's intellectual and cultural identity. 'Malaysia can become a global leader in empowering cultural identity, language and thought. 'A strong reading culture is essential not just for personal development but for national and regional progress,' he added. Azman also commended the Madani Book Voucher 2024 initiative introduced at the previous KLIBF edition, which has benefitted over 3.5 million students. He expressed hope that the government would continue and expand the voucher programme, which has provided equal access to quality reading material for students, and extend it to teachers as well this year. In line with these aspirations, KLIBF 2025 is set to be the most ambitious edition yet. Organising committee chairman Mohd Khair Ngadiron said the fair is targeting a record-breaking 1.9 million visitors, marking a new era of growth and transformation. 'The response from industry players has been overwhelmingly positive. 'Due to strong demand, we've introduced a new hall dedicated to other industry stakeholders, offering them greater visibility,' he said. Returning as a hybrid event, KLIBF 2025 will combine both physical and digital experiences to reach a wider audience. 'Platforms like TikTok and Shopee will help us broaden access, ensuring that everyone, regardless of location, can be part of this celebration of books,' Khair added. The fair will feature four specially curated pavilions, each highlighting different aspects of national identity and knowledge. These comprise Pavilion Al-Falah, developed in collaboration with 14 religious agencies, as well as pavilions by the Education Ministry, Higher Education Ministry and National Unity Ministry. A major highlight will be the debut of the 'Galeri Khas Teroka', a space dedicated to tracing Malaysia's publishing journey, from its early days to international recognition. The event will also mark the return of the Asian Rights Fair, a key regional platform for the exchange of publishing rights and intellectual property. It will highlight Southeast Asia's creative output and reinforce Malaysia's commitment to fostering cross-border collaboration in the publishing industry. KLIBF 2025 will take place at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur from May 23 to June 1, running daily from 10am to 10pm. This year's theme, Buku: Membaca, Memimpin, underscores the fair's mission to foster leadership through literacy and cultivate a lifelong love for reading.
Sharjah 24
21-02-2025
- Business
- Sharjah 24
Mohammed bin Rashid tours the 31st Dubai International Boat Show
Strengthening Dubai's position as a global maritime hub During his visit, Sheikh Mohammed reaffirmed the event's role in bolstering Dubai's status as a global hub for yachting and maritime tourism. The show features over 1,000 brands from 60+ countries, with more than 200 yachts and watercraft on display. A tour of exhibits and new launches Accompanied by Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed, Sheikh Mohammed toured various exhibitor stands, including Gulf Craft, where new luxury yachts were unveiled. He also visited pavilions from global yacht manufacturers like Azimut, Ferretti, and Sunseeker. New features at the 2025 Dubai International Boat Show The 31st edition introduces new elements, such as the Brokerage Section for pre-owned yachts and the Innovation Hub supporting maritime startups. The event continues to serve as a major platform for maritime innovation, investment, and collaboration.
Al-Ahram Weekly
17-02-2025
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
President El-Sisi inaugurates 8th EGYPES in Cairo - Energy
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi inaugurated the eighth edition of the Egypt Energy Show (EGYPES 2025) conference and exhibition on Monday at the Al-Manara International Conference Centre in New Cairo. EGYPES 2025, taking place from 17 to 19 February in Cairo, explores how Egypt, positioned at the crossroads of Africa and the Mediterranean, is leading the way in sustainable energy transformation. The conference, held in cooperation with the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, is themed "Building a Secure and Sustainable Energy Future." Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides is attending the event. Over 47,000 attendees, 2,500 conference delegates, 500 exhibiting companies, 300 global speakers, and 10 country pavilions are participating in the conference. *More to follow ... Short link:
