Construction Costs Balloon Like Snowballs... Osaka Expo Preparation Faces Difficulties

Countries Including Mexico Withdraw Participation
69% Say "Expo Not Needed" in Poll

The 2025 Osaka-Kansai World Expo, scheduled to open in 1 year and 5 months, is facing difficulties in preparation. This is due to a surge in construction costs leading to negative public opinion domestically, as well as some countries expressing intentions to withdraw from participation.

According to Kyodo News and Yomiuri Shimbun on the 10th, multiple countries including Mexico have indicated their intention to cancel plans to build temporary structures called "pavilions" for the Osaka Expo. Yomiuri reported that this is the first time a country scheduled to participate in the Expo has expressed a desire to withdraw. A total of 153 countries and regions, including Mexico, were expected to participate in the Osaka Expo.

Pavilions are categorized into 'Type A,' where participating countries pay to build their own; 'Type B,' where the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, the Expo organizer, prepares buildings that participating countries use; and 'Type C,' which are shared by many participating countries.

Mexico originally applied for Type A but is reportedly considering withdrawal due to domestic circumstances. Regarding this, Kyodo News reported, "Mexico conveyed to the Japanese side that it might become difficult to secure the Expo participation budget depending on the results of the presidential election in June next year." The Japanese side plans to confirm Mexico's willingness to participate in Type C, which does not require pavilion construction costs.

The surge in construction costs due to rising prices of building materials and labor has emerged as a variable for the Osaka Expo. The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition raised its estimated construction costs last month from 125 billion yen (approximately 1.09 trillion KRW) to a maximum of 235 billion yen (about 2.051 trillion KRW). The construction costs will be borne equally by the central government, local governments, and the business community. Yomiuri reported, "Due to the sharp rise in construction costs, it has become difficult for participating countries to find contractors within their budget. Although 60 countries applied for Type A, only 24 have secured contractors."

In a public opinion poll conducted by Kyodo News from the 3rd to the 5th of this month, 68.6% of respondents answered that the Osaka Expo is "not necessary," while 28.3% said it is "necessary."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.