There are only six months left until the opening. Is everything going smoothly? What are the highlights? Why is there so little information about the current location of the Expo?
It will be just six months until the opening of the Osaka Kansai Expo. Although there are reports of delays in constructing the pavilions, paper admission tickets will go on sale from the 13th. Ticket sales have reached approximately 7.14 million, more than half the target. However, sales to the general public have been sluggish as the appeal of the Expo has not been fully communicated. In particular, information about the pavilions is unclear, and visitors' expectations are fading. As the opening approaches, there is a need to disseminate more information about the Expo's "highlights." What is the current state of the Expo? An on-site journalist provides a detailed explanation.
17m life-size "Gundam" completed for the Expo 2020 pavilion created by Bandai Namco to represent life in space.
On the 23rd, a life-sized Gundam, about 17 meters tall, appeared in front of the press. The one that appeared at the event held in Yokohama was reassembled, and this time, it came to Kansai for the first time.
With its hands raised high towards space, this Gundam represents the opening of a new era together with humanity. The life-sized Gundam will be exhibited at the Gundam Next Future Pavilion, created by Bandai Namco. This pavilion represents a world where life in space has become commonplace.
Hiroshi Sakakibara, Chief Gundam Officer, Bandai Namco Group
"The future where people live in space is slowly but surely approaching. I believe that Gundam will be there with us when that happens. I hope that people from all over the world will experience this pavilion at the Expo and that it will be an opportunity for them to think about space and the future."
The content of the pavilion will be announced in due course.
Also, the "Kansai Pavilion," featuring exhibits from nine prefectures belonging to the Kansai Regional Association, was unveiled for the first time. In the exhibition area, Hyogo Prefecture will allow visitors to experience famous places and the future on a large screen, while
Fukui Prefecture will enable visitors to discover dinosaur fossils. In Tottori Prefecture, an exhibition will use the region's characteristics, such as exploring a virtual reproduction of the "Tottori Sand Dunes."
In addition, an event was held on this day to commemorate the completion of the building at the "Osaka Healthcare Pavilion," which is being managed by Osaka Prefecture and City. The building features an exterior resembling a bird's nest, and a spiral monument that resembles a genetic structure was unveiled for the first time. The building will also feature a "moving heart" made from iPS cells and booths where visitors can experience the "urban life of the future" weekly, run by small and medium-sized businesses from all over Japan.