In an attempted display of local enthusiasm for the 2025 World Expo, Osaka rolled out the red carpet this week for a senior official from the organization that will decide next November who will host the event.
But with the central government focused on ensuring a successful Tokyo 2020 Olympics — and a public relations blitz by rival bid city Paris emphasizing support among younger generations — concerns are growing in Osaka about how best to drum up domestic and international support among broad and diverse groups of people.
Dimitri Kerkentzes, deputy secretary-general of the Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) concluded a three-day visit to Japan on Thursday, during which he met with Diet members in Tokyo, Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui in Osaka and toured the site where the city hopes to stage the event.