The sky-high construction costs and Japan’s internal willingness to participate are also low
At the World Expo (Expo) in Osaka and Kansai, Japan, which is scheduled to be held in 2025, there is a sudden rise in “giving up”. It is reported that the construction of the venue, which was promoted with high expectations, is being disrupted by rising material prices and labor costs.
According to local Japanese media reports such as NHS broadcasting on the 30th (local time) of last month, online sales of Osaka and Kansai Expo tickets began on this day. The price of reservation tickets is 7,500 yen for adults, and the sales of reservation tickets will be used as operating expenses for future events. The Osaka Expo will be held for half a year from April 13, 2025.
The problem is the cost of preparing for the expo. Initially, the Japanese government estimated the cost of building the expo at 125 billion yen. However, after hosting the expo, the cost of construction increased to 185 billion yen.
After COVID-19, the cost soared as labor and material costs soared due to the supply chain crisis. Currently, the project is estimated to cost 235 billion yen.
He is also not willing to participate in the expo in Japan. In a survey conducted by Sankei Shimbun on the 15th and 20th of last month, only 31.2% of the respondents said they wanted to go to the Expo.
For this reason, it is reported that there is even a theory of abandonment of the Expo. It is argued that if you give up at this stage, you only have to compensate about 3.5 million yen (about 30.76 million won) to the participating countries, so it is much cheaper than the operating cost of the expo, including construction costs.
However, according to the media, the Japanese government is saying, “There is no giving up.” Experts also point out that if the event is actually abandoned, astronomical penalties will be incurred due to the cancellation of construction that has already begun, and national credibility can be severely damaged.
Meanwhile, the Japan Expo will be held at the ‘Expo Hall’ currently under construction. The Expo Hall was designed to remind you of the “Tower of the Sun,” a symbol of the Osaka Expo held in 1970, and music and theater performances will be held with about 2,000 seats in the hall.
SOPHIA KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
