Today's Edition
TOKYO (dpa)
Japan kicked off this year's world exhibition Expo 2025 in Osaka on Saturday in the presence of Japanese Emperor Naruhito and his wife Empress Masako.
The gates will open to the general public on Sunday. The crown prince and princess as well as Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba also took part in the opening ceremony, which was broadcast live on television.
The Expo site, located on the artificial island of Yumeshima, is surrounded by the Grand Ring, a 2-kilometre-long and up to 20-metre-high wooden construction, which the organisers say is the largest in the world.
The imposing structure is intended to symbolise the overarching
concept of the Expo - diversity and unity.
Over six months, until October 13, more than 160 countries, regions and international organisations will be presenting their ideas in their pavilions on the central theme of "Designing Future Society for Our Lives."
The organisers expect 28 million visitors, although surveys indicate that interest among the Japanese population has so far been much lower than hoped for.
Osaka last hosted the Expo in 1970, when more than 64 million visitors came.
Robots and Androids
A starkly different vision of the future takes centre stage at the dark and mysterious "Future of Life" pavilion, created by renowned Japanese robotics expert Hiroshi Ishiguro.
Inside, visitors encounter 50 lifelike androids, along with dozens of robots and avatars, offering a glimpse into a future where humans and machines coexist.
The exhibit explores how these androids might seamlessly integrate into society in just 50 years - and suggests that, in 1,000 years, the line between humans and robot could become virtually indistinguishable.
