Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai: World Expos, a vector of influence ?

On April 13th opened the 2025 edition of World Expo in Osaka, Japan. Thirty-five editions have alredy been organised since the first one in 1851 in London. At, the time, in the context of the Industrial Revolution, this event served as a technical and artistic showcase for innovations to “satisfy the needs of a civilisation”, according to the 1928 Paris Convention on the Organisation of World Expos. Organised mainly by Western countries during the 20th century, World Expos are no longer the exclusive preserve of the Western world. The event, which attracts tens of millions of visitors, has become a veritable soft power tool for governments. It is also a major economic opportunity.

In 2018, Osaka was chosen to host the 2025 edition. For the second time (after 1970), the Japanese city is hosting the World Expo, the theme of which is “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”. Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai testifies to Japan’s policy of influence, as the country relies on its attractiveness and culture to strengthen its position on the international stage. In recent years, the country has stepped up the number of major international events it organises, particularly sporting and cultural ones, and the number of foreign visitors has soared since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, reaching a record of over 36 million tourists in 2024. Here’s a look at the impact of the World Expo and Japan’s appeal, with maps and charts.