Video Message from Prime Minister Ishiba for “Expo 2025 Six months to Go Event in Dotonbori!”

I am Shigeru Ishiba, the Prime Minister of Japan. We are now only six months away from the opening of Expo 2025 in Osaka, Kansai. The Expo is coming once again to Osaka, Kansai, and Japan.

In 1970, I was a second-year junior high school student in Tottori City. I visited the Osaka Expo three times by diesel express train from Tottori, which I believe took about five hours. The Expo featured many fascinating exhibits, including the moon rock, mobile phones, moving walkways, human washing machines, among others. I remember it as if it were only yesterday when I felt thrilled and moved by the various “visions of the future” on display.

In just six months, on April 13 next year, the Expo will once again showcase “visions of the future.” I sincerely hope that all visitors from Japan and around the world – especially the children who will shape the future – will have a unique experience that inspires them to think about the future and step forward into tomorrow with dreams and hopes.

This Expo will be an excellent opportunity to deepen exchanges with the world and highlight Japan’s appeal to a global audience. I strongly hope that it will serve as a catalyst for visitors from around the world to discover the charm of various cities, regions, and towns in Japan, leading to regional revitalization and, ultimately, the revitalization of Japan as a whole.

I would like to express my heartfelt respect to everyone who has been involved since the bidding stage, as well as to all those working on the preparations. Let us all work together toward the opening of the Expo to ensure its success.

I sincerely hope that Expo 2025, Osaka, Kansai, Japan, will bring hope for a future society. With that, I conclude my greeting. Thank you very much.