Within weeks of being awarded the event, Osaka leaders on Tuesday kicked off preparations for the 2025 World Expo.
A formal prefectural headquarters to plan and prepare for the event was opened the same day by Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui. The office will coordinate with local police and other local government agencies. It will also work with the Osaka business community to establish a separate public-private group by early next year that will be responsible for raising private funds to help offset Expo-related construction costs, which are expected to top ¥125 billion.
Private firms from not only the Kansai region but also in Tokyo and elsewhere will be expected to contribute ¥40 billion. The economic benefits of the six-month-long event are expected to be about ¥2 trillion nationwide, the prefecture says.