Event to Mark 1,000 Days to the Expo 2025, Osaka, Kansai, Japan

 
On July 18, 2022, Prime Minister Kishida attended an event to mark 1,000 days to the Expo 2025, Osaka, Kansai, Japan, held in Tokyo.
 
After delivering an address, Prime Minister Kishida attended the announcement of the nickname of the official character, a special lighting ceremony, and a photo session.
 
Prime Minister Kishida said in his address,
 
“Thank you for the kind introduction. I am KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan.
 
I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation for your attendance at a countdown event to mark 1,000 days to the expo today and the cooperation from many of you.
 
We have reached a major milestone, with only 1,000 days away from the Expo 2025, Osaka, Kansai, Japan.
 
Today, after my remark, the nickname of the official character will be decided, and a lighting ceremony will be held to illuminate this Skytree in the color of the expo. I have a renewed feeling that preparations for the expo will finally go into full swing.
 
I have heard that there are more than 33,000 entries for the character’s nickname to be finalized today. I believe that it shows a growing interest in the expo and have expectations that this event today will be another opportunity to trigger further interest in it not only in Osaka and Kansai, but also in Tokyo and other parts of Japan.
 
The theme of the Osaka-Kansai Expo is “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.” Currently, we are facing COVID-19, the situation in Ukraine, and other major challenges that will leave their mark on history at home and abroad. We must overcome these challenges to carve out a new era. I think that the theme of the expo is suited to the times.
 
Now I advocate an economic model of a new form of capitalism, proposing that we transform decarbonization, digital, health and healthcare, and other social issues into engines for growth, thereby creating a sustainable society and economy. From this perspective, I earnestly hope that this Osaka-Kansai Expo will serve as an opportunity for Japan to take the lead in carving out an era and solving social challenges with cutting-edge technologies and the cooperation of people from more than 150 countries and regions around the world.
 
We would like to continue preparations on a government-wide basis toward the success of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, with the cooperation from many in local governments, economic circles, and the public. Let me conclude my remarks at today’s event by sincerely asking for your further support. Thank you very much for today.”