OSAKA, Japan, ​April 10, 2025 – In ​a context of turbulent geopolitical and economic uncertainty, Expo 2025 officially opened its doors on Yumeshima Island in Osaka Bay. With 160 countries ​and regions present, the event ​promises a rich ​mix of technology, culture and a unified global vision. ​However, under spectacular screens and architectural wonders, there ​is a complex network of controversies surrounding its costs of balonization, slow sales of inputs and uncertain legacy. As the Associated Press has said, Japan ​hopes that the Expo will revive a sense of global union among growing divisions around the world.

Themed “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”, the Expo has over 80 unique pavilions, cutting-edge innovations and cultural windows. The central room is the Great Ring of the architect Sou Fujimoto, the largest architectural structure of wood in the world, praised for its ​engineering and symbolism of durability. However, as CNN revealed, while the Expo celebrates technological and ecological ​progress, it also faces issues of relevance, financial responsibility and utility after the event.

What is the vision behind Expo 2025?

Expo ​2025 is ​more than just a window of futuristic gadgets and national pride. It is intended as a diplomatic and philosophical platform. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba ​stressed that the event ​aimed to save social divides and inspire ​global unity. “During the Expo, we would like to restore a sense of unity ​in the world,” he said at the opening ceremony, according to the Taipei ​Times.

The ​scene of the event ​in Yumeshima, a site of industrial ​waste recovered, itself reflects a history of transformation. The 960-acre complex includes not only pavilions but also artistic facilities, interactive ​exhibitions and the Transequity Forest, a serene collection ​of native trees. According to CNN, many of these trees were replanted from the 1970 Expo site, symbolizing the continuity between the past and the present.

But this time, unity is not simply ideological. The participation of the ​Israeli and Palestinian pavilions, as well as the impressive political position of Ukraine, ​which has bar-coded life stories ​in the middle of the war, show how the Expo ​has become a scene ​of world diplomacy and soft power.

How ​does the Great Ring define ​the ​identity of the Expo?

In the heart of the Expo is the ​Grand Ring of Sou Fujimoto, a 1.2 mile ​wooden corridor built in Japanese cedar, cypress and Scottish pine. ​According to Guinness World Records, it is the largest architectural structure in the world. But it is more than a wonder of engineering – it is a deep architectural metaphor.

“At first, no ​one thought it was possible,” Fujimoto told CNN, referring to ​the structural ​challenges and scope of the project. The Grand Ring ​illustrates the ​rich ​Japanese tradition of wood construction, combining an ancient ​intertwined union with modern seismic ​safety standards. Fujimoto’s design is a physical and philosophical loop, a path around the ​Expo and a statement about unity and circulatoryism.

However, as Al Jazeera pointed out, this structure generated public debate. By costing ​more than $1.6 billion and consuming 14% of the ​entire Expo budget, the Great Ring was analyzed because of Japan’s financial constraints. While only 12.5% are intended for reuse, Fujimoto ​recommends that wood be ​redeveloped in future projects to meet sustainability objectives. “Even if the building is gone, the life or spirit of the materials ​will remain alive,” ​he thought.

Why are ticket sales reduced despite large ​environments?

Despite his great aspirations, Expo 2025 is agitated by the ​public interest. Only nine million tickets were sold prior to the opening, well below the $14 million target. According to Kyodo News, nearly three of the ​four ​Japanese citizens interviewed expressed no interest in attending.

Several factors contribute to ​this apathy. The consequences of ​the VOCID-19 pandemic, economic concerns and increased virtual experiences have ​redefined how people are involved in global events. Morinosuke Kawaguchi, a business strategist, said, “People don’t need to meet ​in the real world. You can experiment with it at home.”

There is also a generational and technological disconnection. Unlike the 1970 Expo, which generated national pride and attracted 64 million participants, today’s Japanese population seems less excited about new technologies. Meanwhile, younger ​generations find digital platforms ​more accessible and immersive than ​physical exhibitions.

What are the most pronounced evidence?

While numbers can be overloaded, creativity and innovation on the screen are anything but. From ​flying cars and robots to an artificial heartbeat made of stem ​cells induced by ​multiple ​powers, exhibitions reflect a fascinating mix of science, imagination and humanity.

The American flag ​examines lunar nostalgia with a lunar rock from the Apollo 12 ​mission and shows artificial ​intelligence and space exploration. The ​Chinese calligraphy-inspired pavilion highlights the green technology and lunar soil of ​its Chang’e missions. Switzerland, focused on ecominimalism, built ​its exhibition as a ball with the smallest ecological ​footprint ​in mind.

One of ​the most beautiful attractions ​is ​the Heel Kitty seaweed sculptures – eccentric, colorful and educational. The human washing machine, an updated wink at the iconic exhibition of the Expo of 1970, now synchronizes with the ​heart rhythms of visitors to create a personalized bathroom experience.

What role does Expo 2025 play in a divided world?

Today’s geopolitical climate is far ​from ​the optimistic optimism of previous world ​fairs. With the war ​in Ukraine, trade tensions between the United States and China and economic ​crises, Expo ​2025 ​is developing in what Prime Minister Ishiba calls a “national crisis”. Despite this, organizers like Sachiko Yoshimura see the ​opportunity in adversity. “Continuing the Expo could eventually help resolve the divisions of the world,” he said, as the Associated Press mentioned.

The diplomatic importance of the Expo is difficult to overstate. Beyond technological ​exchanges, it facilitates cultural understanding. Ukraine’s bold message, “Not for sale”, echoed with a lot. His Deputy Minister of Economy of Tatiana Berezhna articulates the objective: “We want the world to know more about our resilience.”

Similarly, the Israeli flag, ​with a stone on the western wall of Jerusalem, raised hopes for peace, reflecting Fujimoto’s call for reconciliation between Japan and the world. ​For ​all its differences, ​Expo remains a rare forum ​where countries express themselves, not past.

Can Expo’s legacy survive the event?

The legacy is where Expo 2025 faces ​its greatest challenge. Historically, global exhibitions have suffered ​from post-event mismatches. Expo Hanover 2000 did not meet visitor targets and left a deficit of $800 million. Critics fear repetition ​in Osaka, including taking into account the construction costs of the event and the uncertain return on investments.

However, there are glimmers ​of promise. The government hopes ​to reuse the Grand Anneau, perhaps to transform it into community spaces, ecoparks or event ​sites. The Tokyo Olympics provide ​precedents, with venues transformed into condominiums ​and recreational areas.

Professor Tai-wei Lim of Soka University believes that Expo ​could still produce long-term benefits. Citing Japan’s growing tourism industry, which welcomed 36.9 million visitors last year, Expo estimates that tourism-related consumption could reach ​$7 billion. “A fraction of these visitors would earn a significant income,” he told Al Jazeera.

However, most visitors are likely ​to be national. This underlines the need for Japan to participate more deeply in its own citizens, not only through entertainment but also through relevance. And perhaps this is the real test of Expo ​2025: not in how ​many people go through its doors, ​but in how much ​they leave inspired to build a better future.

In ​Fujimoto’s own words: “Imaginable memories and amazing experiences that inspire visitors to create something for the future – this is the real legacy we are looking for. »

Whether those ambitions materialize remains to be seen. But for now, the world has ​gathered once more to dream ​together on ​an ​island named Yumeshima ​— ‘dream island’ — and perhaps ​that, in itself, is a start.