Osaka Kansai Expo 2025

[thomas]

Yesterday, the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition unveiled the official mascot for the 2025 Osaka Expo.

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Shapeshifter, mutated cookie monster or Cthulhu creature of Lovecraftian proportions, online media called it everything from kooky, terrifying, to cartoonish.

The event organizer, the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, unveiled the bizarre creation on March 22. It was chosen out of 1,898 mascot designs submitted in a public competition. The winning design was created by a Tokyo-based group of designers called "mountain mountain," led by graphic designer Kohei Yamashita. A screening committee's 11 members including graphic designers chose it from the final three candidates. The official mascot has a blue body that carries the expo's bright red logo on its head. Its blue body represents water and the ability to change shapes. The logo is comprised of red cells, embodying the "brilliance of life." The group of designers said the theme of the mascot is the "potential for diversity and change."

All eyes on Osaka Expo's kooky, cartoonish official mascot | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Here are some inspirations from Twitter.

 

[Uncle Frank]

I would have picked this one.

 

[thomas]

So far, the Osaka Expo has been plagued by delays, and many have questioned whether the curtain will rise on the expo on time. As of last July, not a single country had started constructing self-built pavilions, as the Osaka Municipal Government has not even received any of the required applications for construction. With labour shortages and sudden increases in the cost of building supplies, progress is stalled on contracts with domestic construction companies.

Now, the first two countries have pulled the plug: Mexico and Estonia have withdrawn from constructing their expo pavilions.

While not going into detail out of diplomatic consideration, Jimi said the domestic fiscal situation in the two nations was behind their decision. Mexico had initially planned to build a Type A pavilion in which the nation covers the construction cost. Jimi did not divulge what type of pavilion Estonia had been contemplating. Jimi also said nine nations, including Denmark and Finland, and one international organization had newly expressed their intention to take part in the world expo scheduled to open in April 2025. The two-day international conference here that opened on Nov. 14 was intended to provide representatives with information about the expo, such as what procedures had to be completed for the pavilions as well as the state of venue construction.

Mexico, Estonia withdraw from expo pavilion construction | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition announced that 153 countries and regions have agreed to join the expo, which will run for 184 days starting 13 April 2025. The participating countries and regions will showcase their pavilions in three different ways. Type A pavilions are self-funded and self-built by the countries themselves. Type B pavilions use the facilities provided by the expo association, while Type C pavilions are shared among several countries or regions.

However, the construction of Type A pavilions, which will host about 50 countries such as Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands, is facing delays. These pavilions require the countries to sign contracts with construction companies and get approval from the Osaka Municipal Government to build temporary structures. The expo association initially planned to finish the construction by July 2024 and the interior work by January 2025. But so far, Osaka has not received any applications.

 

[thomas]

After Mexico and Estonia, Russia, too, has decided to pull out from the Osaka Expo. Not that anyone seems to be displeased by that move.

A Russian representative told a plenary session of the Bureau of International Expositions in Paris that Moscow has decided to refrain from participating in the World Expo in Osaka "amid the lack of efficient communication with the host." The official did not elaborate further. [...] "We would not assume Russia's participation in the Osaka-Kansai Expo if there will be no change in the current situation" surrounding the country's invasion of Ukraine, Hanako Jimi, the minister in charge of the expo, told reporters Friday. The ongoing invasion conflicts with the event's theme of "Designing Future Society for Our Lives," she said.

Russia withdraws from 2025 World Expo in Osaka - The Mainichi

PARIS (Kyodo) -- Russia said Tuesday it will withdraw from the World Exposition in Japan's Osaka planned for 2025.

mainichi.jp