Expo 2025 Osaka officially draws to a close after 184 days
- BT
- Oct 15
- 3 min read
OSAKA, JAPAN, 15 October 2025: After 184 days, the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, Japan officially draws to a close on October 13, welcoming over 28 million visitors from all around the world during its 6-month run. Themed “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”, the Expo brought together 165 countries and international organisations on Yumeshima Island, and concluded with an official closing ceremony in the Expo Hall – Shining Hat, followed by a parade of flags and a celebratory farewell fireworks display before the site officially closed its gates at 10pm.
Held under the motto “For the Futures”, the closing ceremony celebrated the creativity, unity in diversity and spirit of cooperation that defined Expo 2025 Osaka. Conceived as both the closing of the Expo and as the dawn of a new beginning, the ceremony featured a ‘symphony of the Expo’ interpreted through music and dance performances, and a virtual flag parade paying tribute to international participants. In attendance were national and local authorities, Expo organisers and international participants, together with representatives of volunteers, civil society and the media and all those who contributed to the Expo’s success.
His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Akishino formally declared, "I believe that it is of profound significance that the Expo has offered opportunities that have brought together large numbers of people here on Yumeshima to forge links and deepen mutual understanding and to ponder together solutions to the common issues that confront humanity. I hope that the world will continue "Designing Future Society for Our Lives.""
The ceremony also featured addresses by the Prime Minister of Japan, Shigeru Ishiba, the Minister for the World Expo, Yoshitaka Ito, the President of the General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), Alain Berger, the Governor of Osaka Prefecture, Hirofumi Yoshimura, and the Secretary General of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, Hiroyuke Ishige.
The President of the General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), Alain Berger said, “Expo 2025 has invited the world to reflect on the future of humanity. Guided by a spirit of solidarity, innovation, and hope, it has highlighted the core priorities: health, the environment, human dignity, and shared progress. In a world confronted with global challenges, Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai has stood as a symbol of resilience. It has shown that collective intelligence and international cooperation are our greatest strengths in the face of uncertainty.”
According to the Secretary General of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, Ishige Hiroyuki, the Expo successfully achieved its 3 core goals: avoiding major accidents, remaining financially solvent and attracting a large number of visitors. He also expressed pride in fulfilling the promise made to the world 7 years ago, and hoped that the Expo’s legacy will remain as a ‘seed’ that blossoms globally.
“In a world facing division, the profound significance of over 160 countries gathering to reaffirm that the world is “diverse, yet one”, a core message of the Expo which theme as “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.” Thanks to the Expo’s focus on real, interactive experiences, which resonated deeply with visitors, we are able to drive attendance to over 28 million through word-of-mouth and social media,” shared the Chairperson of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, Tokura Masakazu.
As a symbolic handover to the future, the flag of the BIE and Expos was lowered and returned to the President of the BIE General Assembly and Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, Secretary General of the BIE. It was then entrusted to H.E. Eng. Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al Sultan, Minister of State of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and CEO of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC), representing Expo 2030 Riyadh, the next World Expo.
Meanwhile, the Malaysia Pavilion at the Expo 2025 Osaka has concluded its 6-month run with a total of RM24.45 billion in potential trade and investment, according to the Malaysian Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), and recorded approximately 3.51 million visitors.
BorneoTalk is proud to be an officially accredited media of the prestigious 2025 Expo Osaka, and we look forward to the next World Expo, the Expo 2030 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. You can read more on our coverage of the 2025 Expo Osaka in BorneoTalk Vol.78 (Page 86 to 89).
