Osaka World Expo six months countdown ticket sales are cold to deal with

Expo 2025 Osaka will open on April 13 and run until October 13. The countdown event was held at Tokyo's Tiger Gate on Sunday (October 13), but received a lukewarm response across the country, with organizers and the government facing a publicity and participation crisis.

Kyodo News reported that at the memorial ceremony, the Federation of Economic organizations (Keidanren) chairman Masakwa Tokura said: "The construction of major pavilions is progressing smoothly, and the content of activities is gradually being clarified." We will launch an aggressive campaign to get ready for the grand opening."

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said in a video message that the expo was "a great opportunity to show the world Japan's charm."

However, according to data released by the Japan Public Opinion Survey, only 23% of respondents have expressed interest in visiting the Expo.

Faced with the challenge of low public interest, the organizers have launched posters and television advertisements, and plan to further strengthen the publicity in the metropolitan area and across the country. However, it remains unclear whether these measures can reverse the current gloomy atmosphere.

Organizers have set a target of pre-selling 14 million tickets before the opening to achieve a target of 28.2 million visitors. However, only seven million tickets have been sold so far, mostly by corporate groups. In order to avoid losses, the organizers adjusted the initial policy of not issuing paper tickets and introduced paper tickets instead.

The Expo will be held from April 13 to October 13, 2025 on the artificial island of Dreamu in Osaka city, with plans to launch nearly 100 pavilions at home and abroad. However, the construction of the overseas pavilions, known as the "flower of the Expo", is progressing slowly, and some may not be completed by the opening time.