Osaka gears up for the 2025 World Expo with memories of hosting a half-century ago

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Visitors to Tokyo and Kyoto might not realize it, but Osaka—one of Japan's biggest and oldest cities, known more as a business hub than a tourist destination—is gearing up to host next year's World Exposition. The city has been plastered with the Expo's red-and-blue "Myaku-Myaku" mascot for months and is abuzz with preparations. For many here, the excitement is mixed with nostalgia for the last World Expo hosted by Japan, back in 1970. There are doubters, especially outside Osaka. Construction costs are turning out to be exponentially higher than expected. Preparations have been marred by political and business infighting. And many Japanese, jaded after Tokyo's difficult experience hosting the Olympics during the COVID pandemic, question whether the idea of a World Expo is still relevant. But in Osaka, many older residents say such events are more necessary than ever. Many retain vivid memories of the 1970 Expo. They remember schoolchildren attending multiple times, particularly those from the Osaka area. There were long lines to see the moon rocks on view at the U.S. pavilion; prototypes of electric cars; displays featuring the first ethernet cables (LAN); and the introduction of Western foods like yogurt and baguettes. It was a time when traveling abroad was still a dream for most, and Expo '70 was a rare chance for ordinary Japanese to hear live performances by bands from around the world and visit a huge array of pavilions representing various nations and interests. Mostly, though, the enduring impact was the chance for personal interactions with international pavilions and visitors. "My experience as an interpreter at World Expo '70 was transformative," says Takahiro Shinyo, who went on to join the Japanese foreign service, serve as a Japanese ambassador to Germany, and is now a visiting professor at Kwansei Gakuin University, just outside Osaka. "It opened my eyes to the power of international cooperation and the potential of human ingenuity," he says. And while a lot has changed since 1970, he says World Expos remain just as relevant today. This article was provided by The Associated Press.