EXPO2025 OSAKA, KANSAI was “Worth Hosting, and Worth Visiting”
CHINO Keiko / Journalist
December 25, 2025
For a long time, I believed innocently that that the famous quote “Yatte Minahare” (Why don’t you just give it a shot) was a saying by Konosuke Matsushita (1894-1989), founder of Panasonic. However, it turned out that it was a favorite saying of Shinjiro Torii (1879-1962), founder of Suntory. It struck a sympathetic chord of Matsushita, who used it frequently.
Whichever the case, the quote expresses the Kansai Spirit, a get-up-and go temperament of the people of Kansai region. EXPO2025 too was a manifestation of such a spirit expressed in the message “Yatte Minahare”.
There had been streams of unfavorable comments about EXPO202 before its opening, and problems and challenges continued to arise after its opening. Despite all that, I would say now that it was indeed “worth hosting, and worth visiting”. My reasons are as follows:
First and foremost is the success of “The Grand Ring”, one of the world’s largest wooden architectural structures. It uniquely represented Japan, a country with the world’s oldest surviving wooden building, Horyuji temple. Before the opening, it was criticized as waste of money, but now the preservation of a part of the ring is decided.
Similarly, a decision to dismantle the “Tower of the Sun”, a monument designed by Taro Okamoto that served as the symbol of Osaka Expo1970 has been overturned. It was set to be demolished due to maintenance cost burden etc., but an official recommendation was made last May for its preservation and registration as a national important cultural asset in recognition of its value as a legacy from the World Expo. Both cases coincidentally revealed the hazard of rashly jumping to conclusion as well as the importance of having long-term perspectives.
The success of the Grand Ring, being ranked at the top of the Expo2025’s popularity rating, must be due to the way in which the design philosophy “Unity in Diversity” was concretely demonstrated, with pavilions from 158 countries/regions and 7 international organizations each showcasing its unique theme and concept, and International Pavilions situated within the ring and Japanese Pavilions outside of the ring, each competing for excellence and thus creating a stunning landscape.
Today, the world is severely divided and, as conflicts abound, we are anguishing over the difficulty of uniting as one. The Grand Ring, however, seemed as if it held all parts together, and the magnificent landscape of the sky, the ocean, and the mountains seen spreading from its roof rendered a sense of infinite acceptance. It showed what the ideal world might look like, conveying a potent message from Japan that would resonate around the world in the mid-21st century.
Secondly, the fact that all Japanese visitors, regardless of age and sex, were full of curiosity and darted here and there around the Expo site for search of exhibition and food, as if they had been freed from the introverted gloom over the past two or three “lost decades”. Expo provided the heat that ignited the people’s positive desire to turn extrovet. “The Commons” (pavilion A to D) housed pavilions of smaller nations, regions and organizations across the world and the building was packed with children holding stamp passports, eager to collect multiple stamps upon each entry. Looking at a bunch of curious children, I could not help but hope that they will one day spread their wings and take flight into to the unknown world stamped on their stamp passport. This childhood experience of visiting Expo2025 may have a decisive influence on their lives.
Thirdly, a ripple effect on Japanese diplomacy. Despite the fact Japan is not hosting G7, G20, APEC or other international conferences this year, high ranking officers including heads of state visited Japan one after another. Then Prime Minister Isihiba, deeply battered and bruised politically, could not have completed so many summit-level diplomatic engagements if it had not been for the Expo.
The day I visited the Expo was the National Day of Kingdom of Eswatin (formerly Swaziland), of Africa. The delegates of Eswatin headed by Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini appeared in colorful traditional clothing and visitors were treated to traditional dances in praise of Eswatin performed by a men-and-women dance company. The majority of the people there who probably had never heard even the name of this country, were fascinated by the performance. Later on, a bilateral summit meeting followed in Tokyo.
The Expo exhibited the importance for Japan to act on its own initiative and project messages if it is to play a key role in the world despite its handicap of sluggish growth, decreasing population and geographic disadvantage of being located far from Europe and the United States. In the popularity rating of pavilions and food, there were more votes than expected in favor of the Gulf countries such as United Arab Emirates (UAE), State of Qatar, State of Kuwait, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It should not escape notice that their popularity owed much to their active diplomatic efforts supported by their abundant oil money, e.g., UAE hosting the pervious EXPO, and Saudi Arabia hosting the next Expo2030.
Lastly, there was the ripple effect of the revitalization of the host city Osaka. In particular, the concept of “Umekita Park” situated roughly at the center of the “GRAND GREEN Osaka” is truly impressive. In terms of scale, it ranks among the largest urban parks in the world. It aims to integrate urbanity and greenery, and it is also a park that can serve as an emergency relief center for the first time in Japan.
The modern city of Osaka was once dubbed as “Manchester of the Far East”, symbolizing the prosperity supported by smoke-emitting chimneys. This Osaka may transform itself into a city symbolizing the prosperity based on great greenery. Such a hope crossed my mind.
What was unfortunate was the fact that the level of interest and appraisal towards Expo2025 was not as good in Tokyo as it was in " the west and low pressure in the east”. The Tokyo 2020 Olympics revealed a similar parochial sentiment of putting My Region First and feeling that “whether it be Expo or Olympics ‘once is enough’”. Plausible as it may seem one should not trample on the excitement of the children with sparkling eyes I met at the Expo2025. This was their very first Expo, and they may well be looking forward to another one.
Let us hope that the spirit of “Yatte Minahare” pervade All Nippon in the post-Expo2025.
Chino Keiko is a freelance journalist
Whichever the case, the quote expresses the Kansai Spirit, a get-up-and go temperament of the people of Kansai region. EXPO2025 too was a manifestation of such a spirit expressed in the message “Yatte Minahare”.
There had been streams of unfavorable comments about EXPO202 before its opening, and problems and challenges continued to arise after its opening. Despite all that, I would say now that it was indeed “worth hosting, and worth visiting”. My reasons are as follows:
First and foremost is the success of “The Grand Ring”, one of the world’s largest wooden architectural structures. It uniquely represented Japan, a country with the world’s oldest surviving wooden building, Horyuji temple. Before the opening, it was criticized as waste of money, but now the preservation of a part of the ring is decided.
Similarly, a decision to dismantle the “Tower of the Sun”, a monument designed by Taro Okamoto that served as the symbol of Osaka Expo1970 has been overturned. It was set to be demolished due to maintenance cost burden etc., but an official recommendation was made last May for its preservation and registration as a national important cultural asset in recognition of its value as a legacy from the World Expo. Both cases coincidentally revealed the hazard of rashly jumping to conclusion as well as the importance of having long-term perspectives.
The success of the Grand Ring, being ranked at the top of the Expo2025’s popularity rating, must be due to the way in which the design philosophy “Unity in Diversity” was concretely demonstrated, with pavilions from 158 countries/regions and 7 international organizations each showcasing its unique theme and concept, and International Pavilions situated within the ring and Japanese Pavilions outside of the ring, each competing for excellence and thus creating a stunning landscape.
Today, the world is severely divided and, as conflicts abound, we are anguishing over the difficulty of uniting as one. The Grand Ring, however, seemed as if it held all parts together, and the magnificent landscape of the sky, the ocean, and the mountains seen spreading from its roof rendered a sense of infinite acceptance. It showed what the ideal world might look like, conveying a potent message from Japan that would resonate around the world in the mid-21st century.
Secondly, the fact that all Japanese visitors, regardless of age and sex, were full of curiosity and darted here and there around the Expo site for search of exhibition and food, as if they had been freed from the introverted gloom over the past two or three “lost decades”. Expo provided the heat that ignited the people’s positive desire to turn extrovet. “The Commons” (pavilion A to D) housed pavilions of smaller nations, regions and organizations across the world and the building was packed with children holding stamp passports, eager to collect multiple stamps upon each entry. Looking at a bunch of curious children, I could not help but hope that they will one day spread their wings and take flight into to the unknown world stamped on their stamp passport. This childhood experience of visiting Expo2025 may have a decisive influence on their lives.
Thirdly, a ripple effect on Japanese diplomacy. Despite the fact Japan is not hosting G7, G20, APEC or other international conferences this year, high ranking officers including heads of state visited Japan one after another. Then Prime Minister Isihiba, deeply battered and bruised politically, could not have completed so many summit-level diplomatic engagements if it had not been for the Expo.
The day I visited the Expo was the National Day of Kingdom of Eswatin (formerly Swaziland), of Africa. The delegates of Eswatin headed by Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini appeared in colorful traditional clothing and visitors were treated to traditional dances in praise of Eswatin performed by a men-and-women dance company. The majority of the people there who probably had never heard even the name of this country, were fascinated by the performance. Later on, a bilateral summit meeting followed in Tokyo.
The Expo exhibited the importance for Japan to act on its own initiative and project messages if it is to play a key role in the world despite its handicap of sluggish growth, decreasing population and geographic disadvantage of being located far from Europe and the United States. In the popularity rating of pavilions and food, there were more votes than expected in favor of the Gulf countries such as United Arab Emirates (UAE), State of Qatar, State of Kuwait, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It should not escape notice that their popularity owed much to their active diplomatic efforts supported by their abundant oil money, e.g., UAE hosting the pervious EXPO, and Saudi Arabia hosting the next Expo2030.
Lastly, there was the ripple effect of the revitalization of the host city Osaka. In particular, the concept of “Umekita Park” situated roughly at the center of the “GRAND GREEN Osaka” is truly impressive. In terms of scale, it ranks among the largest urban parks in the world. It aims to integrate urbanity and greenery, and it is also a park that can serve as an emergency relief center for the first time in Japan.
The modern city of Osaka was once dubbed as “Manchester of the Far East”, symbolizing the prosperity supported by smoke-emitting chimneys. This Osaka may transform itself into a city symbolizing the prosperity based on great greenery. Such a hope crossed my mind.
What was unfortunate was the fact that the level of interest and appraisal towards Expo2025 was not as good in Tokyo as it was in " the west and low pressure in the east”. The Tokyo 2020 Olympics revealed a similar parochial sentiment of putting My Region First and feeling that “whether it be Expo or Olympics ‘once is enough’”. Plausible as it may seem one should not trample on the excitement of the children with sparkling eyes I met at the Expo2025. This was their very first Expo, and they may well be looking forward to another one.
Let us hope that the spirit of “Yatte Minahare” pervade All Nippon in the post-Expo2025.
Chino Keiko is a freelance journalist
The English-Speaking Union of Japan
「やって良し、行って良しだった」大阪・関西万博
千野 境子 / ジャーナリスト
2025年 12月 25日
私は「やってみなはれ」はパナソニック創業者松下幸之助（1894～1989）の格言だとずっと思い込んでいた。
ところが正解はサントリー創業者鳥井信治郎（1879～1962）だった。鳥井の口癖に少し後輩の松下が共感し、多用したということらしい。
いずれにしてもこれは関西スピリット。そして2025大阪・関西万博もまさにこの「やってみなはれ」精神の発露だったと思う。
開幕前の様々な不評や、開幕後も問題や課題はあり続けた。にも関わらず今、何故「やって良し、見て良しだった大阪・関西万博」と言えるのか、私なりの理由はこうだ。
第1に挙げるべきは、世界最大級の木造建築「大屋根リング」の存在である。世界最古の木造建築、法隆寺を擁する日本ならではであり、開幕前は大金の無駄遣いと不評だったが今や一部保存が決まった。
1970年大阪万博のシンボルと言われた岡本太郎作「太陽の塔」も、維持費などの問題から撤去の筈が、今年5月には万博レガシー（遺産）として国の重要文化財への登録が答申された。
短兵急な判断への反省と長期的視野で考えることの重要性を、両者は期せずして示している。
大屋根リングが人気No.1の好感度を得たのは、デザインの理念「多様でありながらひとつ」の下、リングの内側に海外館、外側は国内館を基本に一五八カ国・地域、七国際機関のパビリオンを取り込み、独自の構想や演出でテーマを体現、魅力を競わせる包摂性と景観の素晴らしさにあったと思う。
世界は今や分断・対立が先鋭化し、ひとつになれない現実に苦悶している。しかし大屋根リングの屋上から眼前に広がる大空や海や山など雄大な自然は、無限の包容力に満ち、これこそあるべき世界のようにも感じられる。
もしかしてこれは21世紀中盤の世界へ向けた、日本からの示唆にむメッセージではないか。そんな風にさえ思われたのだった。
第2は、失われた20年いや30年ですっかり内向きになった日本人老若男女が、会場では好奇心一杯に展示へ食事へと駆け巡っていたことだ。万博には人を外向きにするプラスの熱源が満ちていた。
小国を中心に世界中の国・地域・機関が入るコモンズ館（A～D4館）は入館記念のスタンプラリーの数を稼げるので、ノートを抱えた子供たちで溢れていた。私は好奇心の塊のような彼らを見ながら、何時の日かノートの未知の国へ羽ばたいて欲しいと願わずにはいられなかった。
万博体験の有無はもしかして子供の人生に決定的となり得るかもしれない。
第3に日本外交への波及効果である。日本は今年、G7やG20、APECなど主要国際会議の開催国でないにも関わらず世界から首脳・首脳級の訪日が相次いだ。満身創痍の石破茂首相（当時）が多くの首脳外交を出来たのも万博あればこそだった。
私が訪れた日はアフリカ・エスワティニ王国（旧名スワジランド王国）のナショナルデーだった。ドラミニ首相以下代表団は全員鮮やかな民族衣装の装いで、舞台では男女の舞踏団によるエスワティニ賛歌のダンスが、恐らくは国名も初耳の人が大半であろう観客を魅了していた。この後、東京で両国首脳会談も行われた。
低成長で人口減、地理的にも欧米などから遠くハンディのある日本が世界のキープレイヤーになるためには、自ら行動し、発信して行く大切さを万博は示したと言える。
人気パビリオンやグルメにアラブ首長国連邦（UAE）やカタール、クウェート、サウジアラビアなど湾岸諸国を挙げた入場者が意外に多かったのも、UAEが前回、サウジは次回2030年万博を主催するなど、潤沢なオイルマネーに支えられての積極的外交があることを忘れてはならない。
最後に波及効果として、開催地大阪の活性化も指摘したい。中でも大阪駅北ヤードに出現した「グラングリーン大阪」のほぼ中央に位置する「うめきた公園」のコンセプトが素晴らしい。都市公園として規模は世界最大級、緑と都市の一体化を目指し、本邦初とも言える防災公園の役割も備えている。
かつて「東洋のマンチェスター」と謳われた近代都市大阪は「煙突の繁栄」だった。しかしこれからの大阪は、さしずめ「大なる緑の繫栄」へ変身するかもしれない、そんな期待も一瞬過ったのだった。
残念だったのは、大阪・関西万博に対する関心や評価の「西高東低」ぶりだ。
東京五輪2020でも言われたことだが、万博も五輪も「1回やれば十分」というもっともらしい意見に潜む自分ファーストに気づくべきだろう。会場で目を輝かせていた子供たちにはこれが1回目なのである。
ポスト万博は、オールニッポンに「やってみなはれ」精神を。
筆者はフリーランスジャーナリスト
ところが正解はサントリー創業者鳥井信治郎（1879～1962）だった。鳥井の口癖に少し後輩の松下が共感し、多用したということらしい。
いずれにしてもこれは関西スピリット。そして2025大阪・関西万博もまさにこの「やってみなはれ」精神の発露だったと思う。
開幕前の様々な不評や、開幕後も問題や課題はあり続けた。にも関わらず今、何故「やって良し、見て良しだった大阪・関西万博」と言えるのか、私なりの理由はこうだ。
第1に挙げるべきは、世界最大級の木造建築「大屋根リング」の存在である。世界最古の木造建築、法隆寺を擁する日本ならではであり、開幕前は大金の無駄遣いと不評だったが今や一部保存が決まった。
1970年大阪万博のシンボルと言われた岡本太郎作「太陽の塔」も、維持費などの問題から撤去の筈が、今年5月には万博レガシー（遺産）として国の重要文化財への登録が答申された。
短兵急な判断への反省と長期的視野で考えることの重要性を、両者は期せずして示している。
大屋根リングが人気No.1の好感度を得たのは、デザインの理念「多様でありながらひとつ」の下、リングの内側に海外館、外側は国内館を基本に一五八カ国・地域、七国際機関のパビリオンを取り込み、独自の構想や演出でテーマを体現、魅力を競わせる包摂性と景観の素晴らしさにあったと思う。
世界は今や分断・対立が先鋭化し、ひとつになれない現実に苦悶している。しかし大屋根リングの屋上から眼前に広がる大空や海や山など雄大な自然は、無限の包容力に満ち、これこそあるべき世界のようにも感じられる。
もしかしてこれは21世紀中盤の世界へ向けた、日本からの示唆にむメッセージではないか。そんな風にさえ思われたのだった。
第2は、失われた20年いや30年ですっかり内向きになった日本人老若男女が、会場では好奇心一杯に展示へ食事へと駆け巡っていたことだ。万博には人を外向きにするプラスの熱源が満ちていた。
小国を中心に世界中の国・地域・機関が入るコモンズ館（A～D4館）は入館記念のスタンプラリーの数を稼げるので、ノートを抱えた子供たちで溢れていた。私は好奇心の塊のような彼らを見ながら、何時の日かノートの未知の国へ羽ばたいて欲しいと願わずにはいられなかった。
万博体験の有無はもしかして子供の人生に決定的となり得るかもしれない。
第3に日本外交への波及効果である。日本は今年、G7やG20、APECなど主要国際会議の開催国でないにも関わらず世界から首脳・首脳級の訪日が相次いだ。満身創痍の石破茂首相（当時）が多くの首脳外交を出来たのも万博あればこそだった。
私が訪れた日はアフリカ・エスワティニ王国（旧名スワジランド王国）のナショナルデーだった。ドラミニ首相以下代表団は全員鮮やかな民族衣装の装いで、舞台では男女の舞踏団によるエスワティニ賛歌のダンスが、恐らくは国名も初耳の人が大半であろう観客を魅了していた。この後、東京で両国首脳会談も行われた。
低成長で人口減、地理的にも欧米などから遠くハンディのある日本が世界のキープレイヤーになるためには、自ら行動し、発信して行く大切さを万博は示したと言える。
人気パビリオンやグルメにアラブ首長国連邦（UAE）やカタール、クウェート、サウジアラビアなど湾岸諸国を挙げた入場者が意外に多かったのも、UAEが前回、サウジは次回2030年万博を主催するなど、潤沢なオイルマネーに支えられての積極的外交があることを忘れてはならない。
最後に波及効果として、開催地大阪の活性化も指摘したい。中でも大阪駅北ヤードに出現した「グラングリーン大阪」のほぼ中央に位置する「うめきた公園」のコンセプトが素晴らしい。都市公園として規模は世界最大級、緑と都市の一体化を目指し、本邦初とも言える防災公園の役割も備えている。
かつて「東洋のマンチェスター」と謳われた近代都市大阪は「煙突の繁栄」だった。しかしこれからの大阪は、さしずめ「大なる緑の繫栄」へ変身するかもしれない、そんな期待も一瞬過ったのだった。
残念だったのは、大阪・関西万博に対する関心や評価の「西高東低」ぶりだ。
東京五輪2020でも言われたことだが、万博も五輪も「1回やれば十分」というもっともらしい意見に潜む自分ファーストに気づくべきだろう。会場で目を輝かせていた子供たちにはこれが1回目なのである。
ポスト万博は、オールニッポンに「やってみなはれ」精神を。
筆者はフリーランスジャーナリスト
一般社団法人 日本英語交流連盟