Virtual access brings Osaka Expo to broader audience

Japan Times

2 days ago

While the ongoing World Exposition in Osaka frequently draws more than 100,000 visitors a day, interest is also growing in services that allow people to enjoy the event remotely, whether through virtual spaces or online tours.
By offering remote access to the atmosphere of the venue and exhibits from participating countries, the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition hopes to boost in-person attendance and bridge the "experience gap" for those who wish to visit but are unable to make the trip to the site, located on the artificial island of Yumeshima in Osaka Bay.
One such initiative is the Virtual Expo, a free app developed with cooperation from NTT. Accessible via smartphone or computer, the app lets users navigate a digital version of the expo site by controlling avatars.
In the virtual space, around 160 buildings have been faithfully recreated, on the basis of actual architectural data. The digital pavilions feature content provided by participating countries and companies.
The platform also offers access to real-world events from the expo, including live streams of National Day celebrations, when countries highlight their cultures. These broadcasts have been particularly well received by users.
"We hope this will be used by people who can't visit (the expo venue) due to distance," a representative of the association said, noting that interest tends to be lower in regions farther from the Kansai region. The official expressed hope that "learning more (about the event) could serve as a catalyst for actual visits."
Residents at a nursing care facility in Osaka Prefecture participate in a virtual tour of the Osaka Expo presented by student volunteers. |
Jiji
The Virtual Expo has also been used in experience sessions at nursing care facilities. At one such session held in late May at a facility in Osaka Prefecture, student volunteers projected the virtual venue onto a screen, allowing residents to explore the pavilions of countries they were interested in visiting.
"It's difficult for me to go there in person, but it (the virtual experience) was fun," said an 84-year-old female resident with a smile.
The virtual experience also revived memories of the 1970 Osaka Expo for many residents, who fondly recalled scenes such as large crowds and long lines. One said, "There were so many people," while another added, "We were always waiting in lines."
The session was part of the "Let's Expo" initiative, which focuses on making the expo more accessible for individuals with disabilities and the elderly, promoting a vision of an event that everyone can enjoy. Organizers plan to hold at least 200 similar sessions across Japan during the expo period, which runs until mid-October.
Some companies are also working to create opportunities for children to experience the expo. Major staffing company Pasona Group, for example, is offering online tours that connect children with the pavilion the company operates at the physical venue.
The initiative is part of Pasona Group's social contribution efforts, aimed at children who may be unable to visit the expo in person due to reasons such as hospitalization, distance or financial constraints.
The May tour brought together 29 organizations from across the nation, including child welfare facilities and after-school day service providers.
Company officials said many participating children expressed a strong desire to visit the expo in person. Some were especially inspired by the "iPS Heart," a highlight of the event created from induced pluripotent stem cells. One child declared, "When I get healthy, I'll definitely go to the expo," according to the officials.
Pasona Group also plans to offer online tours in August and September. A company official emphasized the importance of the initiative, saying, "We hope to help close the experience gap and spark children's curiosity and interest."