Parade on the closing day. MYAKU-MYAKU also bid a fond farewell. (©JAPAN Forward by Mika Sugiura)
After 184 days, Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai came to a close on October 13. While World Expos often reflect the global mood of their time, whether this one will leave a lasting legacy remains to be seen.
Taiwan was one of the participants that particularly caught my attention. Represented through a private company pavilion, it drew over one million visitors, including event participants — a result considered a success.
Taiwan's Unique Participation
On the evening of October 13, 167 flags — representing 158 participating countries and regions, along with the Expo's organizing bodies — were quietly lowered by Boy Scouts at the venue entrance. But one flag was missing: Taiwan's.
Since Taiwan is not a member of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), it took part not as a nation but through the private company Yushan Technology Corporation.
The pavilion's Director General Felix HL Chiu reflected, "Although we didn't participate as a country, we were able to demonstrate that Taiwan's semiconductor technology is essential both today and for the future."
He added, "The world doesn't advance through nations alone — it improves when people, nature, and countries work together. That was the concept we aimed to express."
Many visitors entered the Tech World Pavilion without realizing it represented Taiwan. Around 720,000 people visited the pavilion, roughly 20% of whom were from Taiwan, reflecting strong domestic interest in the Expo. Including participants in about 300 events organized by the pavilion, the total number of visitors reached approximately 1.1 million.
"It was a great success. What matters isn't the flag — it's the content. The Expo may have ended, but what we presented here is second to none. Although we haven't decided anything yet, we want to recreate this experience in Taiwan," Chiu said.
Inclusivity and Accessibility
Another notable aspect of the Expo was the active participation of people with disabilities and rare diseases, many of whom contributed not just as visitors but also as presenters and speakers.
For example, in June, the Australia Pavilion hosted an event titled "Power of Speech: A World of Hearing, A World of Choice." Children with hearing impairments who use cochlear implants gave speeches in English. They demonstrated how early implantation can help develop language skills to the point that challenges are barely noticeable — including pronunciation, music, and learning foreign languages.
Yuri Ikeda, who also uses a cochlear implant and founded the support group Bridge Heart, said, "The implant opened the door to a world of sound for me. Sharing information about cochlear implants on an international stage like the Expo was deeply meaningful."
On May 23, Japan's Rare Disease Day, many people with rare or intractable conditions took the stage to sing and dance, sending a message that it's okay for everyone to be different.
Visitor Experience
I noticed many attendees using wheelchairs. Naoko Tajiri was visiting with her husband and their son, who has a severe congenital chromosomal disorder affecting his breathing.
"There were priority lanes for people with disabilities, so we were able to visit many pavilions. My son has a tracheostomy and can't speak, but he reacted and smiled while watching the exhibits," she said.
It was their third visit to the Expo, and she added that it had become a precious opportunity for her son to enjoy being outdoors.
Mothers with infants were also given priority entry. While there were some operational challenges, such as five-hour waits for certain same-day pavilion entries despite online reservations, the Expo overall demonstrated thoughtful consideration for visitors who needed support.
Inbound Visitors
Walking through the Expo grounds, one couldn't help but notice the relatively small number of international visitors. The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition had projected that 12.4% of attendees would come from overseas, but as of September 12, the figure was only 6.1%.
This was surprising, given that inbound tourism in Japan is currently on track to reach record highs. Complicated reservation systems may have been one contributing factor.
A family from the Czech Republic, who planned a two-week trip to Japan around the Expo with their five-year-old child, said, "We bought two-day tickets, but couldn't make a single pavilion reservation. We went to Expo Dubai, and it wasn't nearly as crowded."
Another family from Sudan, visiting with four children, also looked weary from the crowds but said they were determined to see their own country's exhibit.
Looking Ahead
Until the very end, each pavilion offered various creative performances and entertainment. Portugal's pavilion featured live Portuguese guitar music from its second-floor terrace, while Australia's drew applause with circus acts. The Expo was, above all, a celebration of omotenashi — heartfelt hospitality.
The event also served as a stage for national pride and a reflection of global affairs. Taiwan participated through a private company, while Ukraine, amid ongoing war, used VR technology to convey the realities of the destruction it faces.
I was four years old during the 1970 Osaka Expo, when moving walkways and videophones were seen as futuristic innovations. Today, they are part of everyday life. Whether the technologies showcased at this Expo will shape our future society will only become clear in the decades ahead.
I hope the exchanges and messages from this grand event do not fade as fleeting moments. The closing of the Expo should mark not an end, but a new beginning. Whether it becomes a lasting legacy will depend on the lessons we take from it.
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Author: Mika Sugiura
