World Expo 2025 opens in Japan with a message of unity amid global challenges

Japan launches World Expo 2025 in Osaka, celebrating innovation and international solidarity despite worldwide tensions.

The Indonesia pavilion is seen during a media preview day for the 2025 Osaka Expo in Osaka on April 9, 2025, four days ahead of the public opening of the six-month event. Photo by Richard A. Brooks/AFP

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

With a dazzling display of creativity, technology, and global spirit, World Expo 2025 opens in Japan with a message of unity amid global challenges. On Sunday, Japan welcomed the world to Osaka, officially launching the six-month international event that aims to bridge cultures and inspire hope in a time of conflict, uncertainty, and skepticism.

The opening ceremony of World Expo 2025 was marked by celebration and symbolism. Against the backdrop of economic tension, climate anxiety, and geopolitical unrest, host nation Japan put forth an optimistic vision: that through innovation and shared understanding, humanity can come together to shape a better future.

More than 160 countries, regions, and organizations are participating in the Expo, each contributing their vision of progress under the overarching theme, Designing Future Society for Our Lives. Visitors arriving at the enormous waterfront site in Osaka are immediately struck by the architectural centerpiece—the Grand Ring.

This awe-inspiring wooden lattice structure, said to be the largest of its kind, encircles the core exhibition pavilions. Intended as a powerful symbol of inclusion and unity, the ring’s open, circular form invites people from all backgrounds to converge, connect, and contribute.

A spectacular showcase of technology and imagination

A large Martian meteorite is displayed at the Japan pavilion during a media preview day for the 2025 Osaka Expo in Osaka on April 9, 2025, four days before the six-month event opens to the public. Photo by Richard A. Brooks/AFP

From the whimsical to the scientific, the exhibits at World Expo 2025 span a vast spectrum of human achievement. Inside many of the pavilions, cutting-edge technologies and bold futuristic concepts are on full display. A Mars meteorite the size of a sourdough loaf draws curious eyes, while a synthetic heart beating with life—grown entirely from stem cells—captivates science enthusiasts.

Then there are cultural treasures infused with playfulness and symbolism. At one corner of the expo, visitors can find Hello Kitty rendered in algae form—an unusual yet charming fusion of Japan’s pop culture with the theme of sustainable innovation.

A visitor walks past a Hello Kitty display featuring various types of algae at the Japan pavilion during a media preview day for the 2025 Osaka Expo in Osaka on April 9, 2025, four days before the six-month event opens to the public. Photo by Richard A. Brooks/AFP

While some booths are lavish and futuristic, others convey deeply personal or national narratives. The Ukrainian pavilion, for instance, is modest in scale but rich in meaning. Above it hangs a bright yellow and blue banner declaring “Not for Sale”—a poignant reference to the ongoing war with Russia.

The Ukraine pavilion is seen during a media preview day for the 2025 Osaka Expo in Osaka on April 9, 2025, four days before the six-month event opens to the public. Photo by Richard A. Brooks/AFP

The phrase echoes the defiance of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has remained firm in his call for sovereignty and resistance.

Messages of peace and cooperation

Israel’s presence at the Expo offers another perspective on the pursuit of peace amid conflict. Its compact pavilion includes a stone from Jerusalem’s ancient Western Wall, one of the most sacred sites in Judaism. Israeli Commissioner Yahel Vilan described the display as “a message of peace,” emphasizing the importance of dialogue and cultural recognition even in times of division.

Despite the geopolitical undercurrents, the Expo’s broader mission of peaceful collaboration remains evident in many of the joint efforts featured throughout the event. Multinational exhibits focused on renewable energy, climate solutions, and digital health systems underscore the growing recognition that the world’s most urgent problems require collective action.

Tepid public enthusiasm meets bold ambition

While the government of Japan has poured immense effort and resources into organizing Expo 2025, the event has not been without criticism. Public enthusiasm, both domestically and internationally, has been lukewarm.

Part of the reason stems from the scale of the investment. With a projected cost of more than $13 billion, some Japanese citizens have expressed concern over whether the funds could have been better allocated, particularly as the country faces economic stagnation and rising social welfare needs.

Additionally, the international climate—marked by inflation, conflict, and a growing mistrust of globalization—has cast a shadow over the celebratory tone. Nonetheless, the organizers remain hopeful that over the next six months, the Expo will win over skeptics and draw millions of visitors from around the world.

Spotlight on sustainability and the future

One of the strongest unifying themes at World Expo 2025 is sustainability. From eco-architecture to low-emission transportation, nearly every aspect of the event seeks to model the future of responsible living.

Solar panels, water recycling systems, and waste-reducing technologies have been seamlessly integrated into the infrastructure of the Expo grounds. Many of the national pavilions echo these values, highlighting how cultures across the globe are innovating in green energy, smart agriculture, and climate resilience.

Particularly impressive is the Nordic Pavilion, which uses only recycled materials and operates entirely on renewable energy. It hosts interactive exhibits on circular economies, sustainable food systems, and biodiversity preservation.

Japan’s cultural diplomacy on display

While technological innovation takes center stage, Expo 2025 is also an important exercise in cultural diplomacy for Japan. The country is using the event not only to showcase its advancements in robotics, medicine, and sustainable design, but also to strengthen international ties.

Through artistic performances, culinary showcases, and cross-cultural dialogues, Japan hopes to foster greater understanding and appreciation among nations. Performers from Okinawa, Kyoto, and Tokyo will rotate weekly, offering visitors a taste of the country’s diverse regional identities.

Global events shape global gatherings

It is impossible to ignore the world outside the Expo gates. Trade disputes, like the ongoing tensions between the United States and China, cast a shadow over international cooperation efforts. The recent imposition of tariffs and retaliatory economic measures have added pressure to already strained diplomatic relationships.

Yet within the Grand Ring of World Expo 2025, the message remains clear: dialogue must continue. Even amid turmoil, the act of showing up—of listening, displaying, exchanging ideas—serves as a declaration of hope.

Six months of exchange and exploration

Visitors observe a water and light show during a media preview day for the 2025 Osaka Expo in Osaka on April 9, 2025, four days before the six-month event opens to the public. Photo by Richard A. Brooks/AFP

As World Expo 2025 opens in Japan with a message of unity amid global challenges, it sets in motion six months of dialogue, celebration, and reflection. Whether showcasing a beating heart grown in a lab, or a centuries-old cultural artifact, the Expo invites us to ask: What kind of future do we want to build together?

It’s a question without simple answers. But in a world that often feels fractured, World Expo 2025 offers a platform—however imperfect—for imagining, dreaming, and collaborating across borders.

From Osaka, Japan has extended an open hand to the world. Now it remains to be seen how the world will respond.