Osaka officials capped a last-minute round of personal lobbying efforts in Paris to win the 2025 World Expo, which will be decided Friday.
While convinced that Osaka has the superior technical bid, concerns about the city's rivals remains strong. In addition, the arrest of Nissan Motor Co. Chairman Carlos Ghosn in Tokyo earlier this week for alleged financial misconduct had Osaka media wondering Thursday whether that might hurt Osaka's chances.
Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui and Osaka Mayor Hirofumi Yoshimura arrived in Paris earlier this week, days before the vote by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) on who will host of the 2025 World Expo, to meet with BIE delegates. Osaka is bidding for the event for a second time, having hosted the 1970 World Expo. Its rivals are Ekaterinburg, Russia, and Baku, Azerbaijan.