logo
Osaka expo welcomes 10 millionth visitor at halfway stage

Osaka expo welcomes 10 millionth visitor at halfway stage

Kyodo News15 hours ago
OSAKA - The number of visitors to the World Exposition in Osaka has topped 10 million, reaching the milestone at the halfway point of the six-month event, the Japanese expo association said Sunday.
The expo had welcomed 10.08 million visitors as of Saturday, three months since its April 13 opening, the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition said.
The number of daily visitors started picking up four weeks after the opening, which was marred by news of unfinished pavilions, with a record 184,990 entering the venue on June 28.
However, ticket sales slowed from late June as the rainy season drew to a close in the region and intense heat arrived, causing concerns for organizers who need 22 million visitors to reach the event's break-even point.
There have been 60 portable air conditioners installed outside the east and west gates to cool people waiting in queues, and organizers have urged people to take precautions against heat exhaustion.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Japan Heritage Marks 10 Years; What Has It Achieved So Far, What Challenges Lie Ahead?
Japan Heritage Marks 10 Years; What Has It Achieved So Far, What Challenges Lie Ahead?

Yomiuri Shimbun

time3 hours ago

  • Yomiuri Shimbun

Japan Heritage Marks 10 Years; What Has It Achieved So Far, What Challenges Lie Ahead?

It has been 10 years since the Cultural Affairs Agency established the Japan Heritage system, under which the agency designates 'stories' that convey Japanese culture and traditions through the historical charm and characteristics of regions. The number of designated stories has exceeded 100, though a story has been removed from the list due to changes in the program. What has it achieved so far and what challenges lie ahead?'Japan Heritage has become an important pillar of the city's policies, and it has also led to the revitalization of the city,' said a Hachioji city government official in charge of promoting local Japan Heritage. The city's story, 'Mt. Takao: Mountain of Spirits — Mulberry City spun with people's prayers,' was the only story in Tokyo that was designated in fiscal 2020. The story recounts the construction of a mountain castle built during the Warring States period (1493-1573), the flourishing of sericulture and silk weaving in the area and the worship of Mt. Takao. The official said the project has had a significant effect in promoting tourism to Mt. Takao and fostering children's love for their local community. 'Our long-cherished wish has come true. The joint efforts of the public and private sectors have borne fruit,' said a city government official in Otaru, Hokkaido, in charge of promoting sightseeing. The city was designated as a Japan Heritage site in had already been attracting tourists before the designation, but the designation has helped boost the city further, allowing it to show the whole story of its development, decline and revival since the Meiji era (1868-1912) to visitors, including those whose purpose is to enjoy the local cuisine. Unlike conventional cultural property administration, which focuses on preserving cultural assets, the Japan Heritage system aims to revitalize local communities by utilizing tangible and intangible cultural properties. The Cultural Affairs Agency supports the efforts of designated regions with subsidies. In April 2015, the first 18 stories were designated, and by fiscal 2020, the total number of designated stories reached 104, which is around the 100 as initially planned. To maintain the system's brand value, the agency introduced a system of comprehensive evaluation and continued examination in fiscal 2021. This new system evaluates revitalization projects utilizing Japan Heritage sites after a certain period of time and also allows for revocation of the designation. The system also allows for a replacement based on a comparative evaluation, in which designated areas compete with approved candidate areas. While Otaru was newly designated under this system, seven cities and towns in Fukuoka and Saga prefectures were excluded from the designated regions for the first time and downgraded to a candidate region due to their regional story, 'The Western Capital of Ancient Japan — Exchange Hub with East Asia,' and their efforts to have tourists travel around the area being deemed insufficient. 'We heard disappointment from the residents. While the quality of the cultural assets that make up each story is completely different from one another, how can they uniformly evaluate all of them?' a related municipal government official said. Several other areas have also voiced their opinion that the new system has changed the character of Japan Heritage by placing more emphasis on economic aspects, such as the number of tourists who visit the area, in the evaluation processes. 'The purpose of the system, which is to revitalize regions by emphasizing cultural aspects, has not changed,' a Cultural Affairs Agency official said. However, a local government official from another designated region pointed out: 'The system is extremely strict compared to others in which very few certifications are canceled.' Nevertheless, Akira Matsuda, an associate professor at the University of Tokyo, who specializes in cultural resources studies and is familiar with the Japan Heritage system, gave the program a positive evaluation. 'At first, I was concerned that this system would only certify [and not produce results]. However, I think the system is working to maintain a sense of urgency [among local governments] and growing in a positive way,' he said. Whether the new system can maintain its viability depends on how many regions will apply for new designation in the future. However, according to the agency, there have been no new applications since fiscal 2022. An agency official said, 'Regions that were not designated previously may see Otaru's case and apply again.' However, the system may be reviewed if no applications are submitted. Another problem is that the system is not well-known to the public. In a survey conducted last year by the agency, only 35.4% of respondents said they were familiar with Japan Heritage and the designated cultural assets. Even now, 10 years after its establishment, it is often confused with World Heritage. Last year, the agency launched a project to have companies and other organizations that have formed partnerships to promote the attractiveness of Japan Heritage. In October, it launched a series of short videos that tell the stories of each designated area. 'Lack of recognition is the biggest challenge. If a cap is set on the number of designated regions, people outside of those regions will not be interested unless they can join the system, and interest may taper off,' Matsuda said.

Lotuses in Japan

time4 hours ago

Lotuses in Japan

Cultural Snapshots Guide to Japan Society Jul 14, 2025 Lotuses are enjoyed for their beauty and are also valued as important Buddhist symbols. The Japanese word for lotus, hasu or sometimes hachisu , is said to derive from the word for bee's nest, hachinosu , due to the similar honeycomb appearance of the plant's seed pod. The lotus is closely associated with Buddhism. As the plant grows from the mud on the bottom of ponds, it symbolizes the possibility of transcending this world's impurity to achieve enlightenment. While the blooming seasons may vary depending on the kind of lotus, July is typically peak time for enjoying the flowers. Early morning viewing events are held at temples, shrines, and parks where lotuses are grown. Tokyo's Shinobazu Pond in Ueno Park is particularly famous for the beauty of its flowers, which typically bloom from mid-July until mid-August. Almost the entire plant—the seeds, leaves, stalk, heart, and roots—can be eaten or used in traditional medicine. A lotus grown from seeds that were 2,000 years old. (© Pixta) (Originally written in English. Banner photo: Lotus at Shinobazu Pond the Ueno Park. © Pixta.) flower lotus

Japan emperor, empress describe trip to Mongolia as "truly memorable"
Japan emperor, empress describe trip to Mongolia as "truly memorable"

Kyodo News

time6 hours ago

  • Kyodo News

Japan emperor, empress describe trip to Mongolia as "truly memorable"

TOKYO - Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako on Sunday described their visit to Mongolia as "truly memorable" as they concluded a trip aimed at affirming the two nations' enduring friendship and commemorating war victims. "We were able to directly feel the rich history and culture of Mongolia, as well as its natural wonders," they said in a statement released by the Imperial Household Agency, recalling the first state visit to Mongolia by a Japanese emperor. During their eight-day trip, held in a year marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the imperial couple paid their respects to Japanese nationals who died in internment camps in Mongolia after the war. "We prayed for the souls of the deceased who were unwillingly separated from their home and thought about the hardship they faced," they said. After the war, the Soviet military transferred around 14,000 of the approximately 575,000 Japanese prisoners of war held in Siberia to Mongolia, where they were made to work on infrastructure projects for about two years. More than 1,700 are believed to have died. The emperor and empress laid flowers and observed a moment of silence at a memorial established by the Japanese government on the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar on Tuesday. It was the first time an emperor honored the memory of Japanese victims at an overseas internment site. At a banquet hosted the same day by Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh and his wife in Ulaanbaatar, the emperor joined a musical performance by traditional horsehead fiddle players with his viola. The imperial couple also attended Naadam, Mongolia's largest annual festival, on Friday. "We have deepened our understanding of the progress of the friendship that has been fostered over many years through the visit," the imperial couple said, expressing their appreciation for being warmly welcomed by the government and the people of Mongolia. "We expect young people to further deepen their mutual interest and play significant roles (in advancing bilateral ties)," they also said. Sandwiched between China and Russia, Mongolia established diplomatic relations with Japan in 1972. The two countries have maintained close ties since the landlocked nation began democratization and economic liberalization in 1990. The imperial couple waved farewell as Mongolian officials saw them off at Chinggis Khaan International Airport. They returned to Tokyo's Haneda Airport later Sunday.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store