May 2026
Economic Impact of the World Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai
Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai closed its doors in October with 29 million visitors and an economic impact of up to JPY 3.6 trillion. For companies considering entry into the Japanese market, the event opens a narrow window: Kansai Region today commands an economy on the scale of Sweden, Belgium or Poland – at 30-50% lower operating costs than Tokyo. This analysis introduces the key Expo figures, sets them against the legacy of Expo 1970 (after which Kansai lost ground rather than gaining it), and spells out what would need to be done to make the outcome different this time.
