by A multiple mascot, a huge wooden ring, 160 countries and regions that struts their things, and robots and sushi in abundance: Expo 2025 started in Osaka on Sunday.
The World Expo takes place every five years at various global locations. Here are five things that you should know about this event that runs until mid -October.
– Grand Ring –
Cires to circled dozens of national pavilions is the Grand Ring, which is recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest wooden architectural structure of the planet.
The architect Sou Fujimoto says his building, which costs 34.4 billion yen (230 million US dollars) and has a scale of two kilometers (1.2 miles), is a symbol of unit.
Latters beams hold a sloping roof, 20 meters high at its highest point, which serves as a “skywalk”.
Fujimoto said AFP that he chose Wood as a sustainable material.
However, Japanese media say that only 12.5 percent of the temporary structure are reused – from the original plan of 25 percent.
– ‘mysterious’ mascot –
Myaku-myaku, the mascot of Expo 2025, is red and blue with five googly eyes that have been cast around the smiling mouth-and another eye on his red cock.
It is “a mysterious creature born from the merger of cells and water,” said the organizers.
“In the sunlight it is the source of its energy” and sometimes the shift in form forgets myaku myaku “its original form,” they say.
Despite confused reactions in the unveiling, the mascot has been popular with social media users in Japan since then and has even inspired Fan Art.
– slow sales –
This is Osakas Second World Expo after the 1970 edition, in which 64 million people took part, a record to Shanghai in 2010.
The first film in IMAX format was shown on the Expo 1970 and the visitors admired that were brought back by the moon.
This time, however, the ticket sales were slow and many locals are not impaired that the construction of 27 percent is above the budget.
The organizers want to sell a total of 23 million tickets, and 8.7 million were sold from last week. In order to encourage visitors, admission is now possible on the same day.
– Meteorites and Marley –
Japan’s pavilion has a meteorite from Mars, which was discovered by Japanese researchers in Antarctica – the first time that it is open to the public.
Hungry visitors can stop by the longest sushi conveyor belt Japan before checking out the latest robots, drone shows and a striking “heart” from stem cells.
The American pavilion “America the Beautiful” has an LED screen simulator of a NASA rocket start.
Elsewhere, visitors can help polish five heart-shaped “love and peace” rock, while the Jamaica pavilion offers life-sized Bob Marley and Usain Bolt statues and a bob bob.
– Ukraine ‘Peace’ –
Russia announced in 2023 – one year after his penetration of Ukraine – that it would not take part in the Expo.
But Ukraine is present, despite its poor financial situation caused by the war – a decision that Osaka’s governor “conveys peace”.
According to reports, 18 objects are reported, including helmets that are used in the restoration of strength devices that were damaged by the Russian invasion.
NF/KAF/STU/MTP
