Expo 2025 Osaka officially closed on October 13 after six months of operations, drawing more than 28 million visitors to the Japanese city. The international exposition, themed “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” showcased innovations and cultural collaborations from around the world under the sub-themes “Saving Lives,” “Empowering Lives,” and “Connecting Lives.”
The event, hosted on the artificial island of Yumeshima in Osaka Bay, was organized by the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition and supervised by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE). The closing marked the end of Japan’s third World Expo and highlighted the country’s ambition to position itself as a global leader in sustainable development and human-centered design.
Six Months of Innovation and International Collaboration
According to the BIE, Expo 2025 Osaka brought together 161 participating countries and regions along with nine international organizations. Exhibitors presented solutions focused on health, environmental sustainability, and the digital transformation of society. The Grand Ring, a wooden circular structure designed by Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto, served as the Expo’s central symbol of unity and creativity.
Over the six-month period, visitors explored pavilions dedicated to climate action, medical innovation, food security, and future mobility. Many of these displays combined traditional cultural elements with emerging technologies, aligning with Japan’s message of harmonizing progress and humanity. Organizers described the Expo as a “living laboratory” for future societies, emphasizing collaboration between public institutions, corporations, and citizens.
The Bureau International des Expositions described the event as a success, noting the diversity of participants and the strong international engagement. “Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai demonstrated how innovation and inclusivity can shape better futures for all,” said Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, Secretary General of the BIE.
Global Attendance and Economic Impact
Despite initial slow attendance in its early months, the Expo ultimately surpassed expectations with more than 28 million visitors, according to official reports. The attendance figures place Expo 2025 Osaka among the most visited World Expositions in recent history. Domestic visitors represented the majority of attendees, supported by strong tourism recovery across Japan following years of pandemic-related restrictions.
Local media reported that the event significantly boosted Osaka’s hospitality and transport sectors, with increased hotel occupancy rates and extended rail and ferry services to the Yumeshima site. The Japan Tourism Agency estimated the economic ripple effect from the Expo to reach several trillion yen, including infrastructure investments and private sector partnerships established during the event.
Organizers also faced early challenges, including construction delays and rising costs due to supply shortages. However, these were resolved before the opening in April, allowing all pavilions to operate as scheduled. The Expo’s six-month run featured national days for each participating country, live cultural performances, and business forums focused on technology and climate resilience.
Türkiye’s Pavilion Highlights Cultural Heritage and Shared Values
Türkiye promoted its products and culture within a 900-square-meter pavilion designed under the Expo’s main theme of “Connecting Lives.” The pavilion, themed “The Golden Age of Civilizations,” reflected Türkiye’s vision of bridging the past and future through design, symbolism, and technology. Tokyo Chief Trade Counselor and Deputy Expo Commissioner Sedat Yıldız said the concept was inspired by the cycle of day and night, symbolized by the moon and star on the Turkish flag and the sun on the Japanese flag.
“The unit of time encompassing daylight and darkness. We are depicting this cycle through the image of the moon and star on the Turkish flag and the sun on the Japanese flag,” said Yıldız. “These symbols represent the shared values of the two countries.” He added that the star, sun, and moon were placed at the center of the pavilion to convey a sense of balance uniting day and night, past and future, and tradition and innovation. “The pavilion’s architectural design was inspired by Türkiye’s geographical and cultural richness,” Yıldız said, explaining that the facades were shaped with wave-like vertical pipe profiles representing the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
The boron-coated tree figure at the pavilion’s entrance symbolized Türkiye’s vast boron reserves, while the interior showcased motifs from Cappadocia and Göbeklitepe, representing the country’s deep cultural memory. Among the most visited exhibits was the “Ertuğrul Frigate” installation, which commemorated the 19th-century maritime disaster that laid the foundation for Turkish-Japanese friendship. “Among the sections that draw the most attention from visitors, the ‘Ertuğrul Frigate’ installation stands out,” said Yıldız.
Yıldız said that the pavilion had surpassed 1.2 million visitors, attracting about 8,000 people daily. “These figures demonstrate that the pavilion is one of the most popular areas at Expo,” he noted, emphasizing that gastronomic offerings also contributed to visitor interest. He added that Expo 2025 Osaka provided an opportunity to present the goals of the Turkish Century to the world and foster new avenues for economic collaboration. “Our goal is to introduce Türkiye to the world in a holistic way,” said Yıldız. “The pavilion positions Türkiye as a bridge of civilizations, a unifying force between East and West, and a bearer of a vision of sustainability, harmony, and peace.”
Closing Ceremony and Future Use of the Site
The closing ceremony, attended by international delegates and Japanese officials, emphasized unity and cooperation as the central themes of the exposition. Performances highlighted the diversity of participating nations and Japan’s commitment to continued global engagement. “This Expo has brought the world together around shared hopes for the future,” said Ichiro Matsui, Governor of Osaka Prefecture, during the ceremony.
The Grand Ring—constructed from locally sourced timber—became one of the event’s most recognizable landmarks. Designed to symbolize the connection between people and nature, it encircled the central plaza that hosted public events and nightly light shows. According to the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, discussions are underway about how the structure and surrounding infrastructure will be repurposed after the Expo’s closure.
In a statement published by the BIE, the organization praised Expo 2025 Osaka for fostering “unity in diversity” and for positioning Japan as a leader in sustainable design. “The legacy of this Expo will be measured not only by its visitors but by the continued cooperation it inspires,” said Kerkentzes.
Following the conclusion of Expo 2025 Osaka, attention is turning to future expositions. The next registered World Expo is scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2030 under the theme “The Era of Change: Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow.”
AloJapan.com