Looking to the Future, Listening to the Locals: The Osaka Expo Question
- 24122239
- 7月24日
- 読了時間: 3分
July 24, 2025
Saki Wada
About three trillion yen. That’s the estimated economic impact of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, according to Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. It sounds like a huge amount of money, and it seems like it will really help Japan’s economy. However, who exactly benefits from this economic effect? Big companies? The tourism industry? Or us, the people living in Japan? It's easy to get excited about big numbers and futuristic ideas. However, when we look at the Expo from the perspective of local residents, can we really say that it makes our daily lives better?
“Showcase of the Future” on the island of Yumeshima
In 2025, the Osaka-Kansai Expo is held on Yumeshima, an artificial island in Osaka. The theme is “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.” This exposition showcases cutting-edge technologies and ideas for solving global issues, serving as a model for the cities of the future. Yumeshima, Osaka Bay, was originally a landfill site and is still under development today. Until now, most people didn’t know much about this area, but it is suddenly in the spotlight as the site of a “future city.” The subway line is being extended, new roads are being built, and a variety of preparations were conducted to welcome many visitors.
Revitalization of the Local Economy
There are many positive sides to the Osaka Expo. Around 28 million people are expected to visit, including tourists, business professionals, and volunteers. The economic impact from both domestic and international visitors is expected to be huge. It will create business opportunities for industries like hotels, restaurants, retail, and transportation. It will also help promote local products. When I visited Osaka, I saw many souvenir shops and stores using the Expo mascot, Myaku-Myaku, in their displays and products. It really looked like the Expo was already helping local businesses. According to a survey by Teikoku Databank, about 43.5% of companies across Japan see the Expo as a positive event for the national economy, and in Osaka Prefecture, that number rises to 62%. The expo, which is to be held after the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, is expected to be an important opportunity to further promote Japan's economic growth.
Concerns of Local Residents
Can we really say that the benefits of the Expo are being shared fairly with the local community? The major hotel chain is constructing facilities in the city center, and major companies are building luxurious pavilions, but it is unclear to what extent small local stores and businesses actually feel the “economic impact.” According Atsuhiko Wakabayashi of the Japan Economic Research Institute, economic ripple effects and related costs are closely linked. There are factors that make it difficult to fully evaluate cost-effectiveness, such as the dismantling work after the event. Furthermore, the benefits are concentrated in the Osaka-Kansai region, and the positive impact on other regions of Japan may be limited. Environmental issues also remain, including methane gas emissions and large-scale insect infestations at the event venue in Yumeshima. Additionally, there are still unresolved issues on-site, such as the cancellation of foreign pavilions due to unpaid construction costs.
To Be an Expo that Supports the Local Community
Before the Expo actually started, there were concerns such as “the tickets are too expensive,” “the food is probably expensive too,” “isn't access difficult?” and “I'm worried about safety.” These concerns were not only heard locally but also in various other places. However, according to the media reports, the number of visitors exceeded 10 million at the end of June, much earlier than the Expo organizers expected. People on the streets are excited when they see the Expo posters, and many posts about the pavilions can be seen on social media. Now, I’m even planning to visit the Expo. We didn't expect it, but our heart is being pulled toward the future. There really is something mysterious about the power of hope for what’s to come.
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