First posted in Japanese: October 23, 2025
Official headline: I believe the 1970 Osaka Expo continues to generate profits even 55 years later.
I'd like to revisit some of the points I mentioned in my previous article.
[About the Infrastructure Developed Around Expo '70]
Prior to the 1970 World Expo, transportation and other infrastructure development, including private projects, was carried out at a furious pace across northern Osaka, centered around Senri, and the wider Keihanshin(Kyoto,Osaka,Kobe) area. Much of this infrastructure is still in use today, continuing to generate economic benefits. This economic impact likely translates into increased tax revenues and a return on the money spent.
However, some of this infrastructure was planned even before the Expo was decided upon, and I believe that some of it was simply brought forward in time for the Expo, and therefore cannot necessarily be considered a benefit of the Expo.
As mentioned in the original article, at the time, "Osaka was in the midst of its period of high economic growth, with a large influx of people into the city. Construction of subways, expressways, and other infrastructure was underway even before the decision to host the Expo in 1965, meaning that it was not directly related to the Expo. Similarly, Senri New Town was developed independently of the Expo, with the first blocks opening in 1962."
Thus, while it is sometimes said that "Senri area developed greatly thanks to the Expo," I believe we need to distinguish between developments that were made in response to the Expo and those that were not.
So, did this Expo(2025) result in any notable infrastructure development beyond the one station between Cosmosquare and Yumeshima on the Chuo Subway Line? And will the infrastructure that was developed continue to be useful in the future, bringing in economic benefits, tax revenue, and so on?
I have my doubts.
As I wrote in the original article, "Now that the city and its surrounding areas have been developed to the point where there's little room for growth, and we're in an era of declining birthrates and an aging population, it's unlikely the city will undergo any major changes in the future."
Furthermore, the subway between Cosmosquare and Yumeshima is listed as a "planned future section" even in documents from over 30 years ago. The undersea tunnel (Yumesaki Tunnel), which also serves as a road in this section, opened in 2009. This means that when the subway was extended on January 19th of this year, construction work was carried out to lay tracks and other equipment in the already completed tunnel (only the undersea section).
[Regarding the direct economic effects of hosting the Expo] (excluding the infrastructure development mentioned above)
As for economic effects, anything can be said based on the theory that "when the wind blows, the barrel maker makes money." That would be limitless, so let's limit our consideration to direct effects. Surely the benefits of the Expo are limited to the construction, transportation, accommodation, food and beverage (including not only eating out but also sales at supermarkets), and related product manufacturing and sales industries? Whether in 1970 or 2025, who else will benefit? Are there any Kansai residents in industries other than those mentioned above who have benefited financially?
By the way, according to the Japan Tourism Agency, "The total amount spent by international visitors to Japan in 2024 is estimated to be 8.1257 trillion yen. Broken down by category, accommodation accounts for 33.6%, shopping 29.5%, and food and beverage 21.5%."
https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/content/001884192.pdf
The number of international visitors to Japan in the same year is estimated to be 36.87 million.
https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/tokei_hakusyo/shutsunyukokushasu.html
[Around 1970, even domestic travel had yet to become commonplace]
At the time, international travel, and even domestic travel to distant locations, were not yet commonplace. Traveling far away was something special. Aside from returning home, school trips, honeymoons, and company trips were the norm.
Today, Kintetsu Railway Co., Ltd. offers direct service from Osaka City to Kashikojima in Mie Prefecture, but until February 1970, just before the World Expo, it only went as far as Ujiyamada. Therefore, to get to Kashikojima, you had to travel by bus between Ujiyamada and Toba, and then take the Shima Line, which was an isolated line from Toba.
In order to attract people who visited Osaka to see the Expo to the Ise-Shima area, which is located along the company's railway line, Kintetsu built a new line (the Toba Line) connecting Ujiyamada and Toba, and also converted the Shima Line, which had a different rail width, to allow direct service from Osaka to Kashikojima. Therefore, the hosting of the Expo may have had a certain economic effect on Ise-Shima, even though it is far from Osaka. Naturally, the effects of the direct service are likely still being felt today.
You may be wondering, "Why visit faraway Ise-Shima while you're all the way to Osaka?" The thinking at the time was perhaps similar to today's thinking, "Since I'm traveling all the way to America, I might as well pop over to Canada." Traveling far away was not as easy as it is today.
Because it was such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, even Osaka's neighboring cities of Kobe, Kyoto, and Nara put a lot of effort into attracting tourists.
But were there any visitors from far away who thought, "Since I've come all the way to Osaka, I might as well stop by Ise on the way?" Foreigners might have, but I suspect that very few Japanese did. Even if they did go to Ise, they probably thought it was time for another visit.
[EXPO '70 continues to generate profits and economic impact, even 55 years later]
The majority of the pavilions at the Expo site were removed and redeveloped into Expo Commemoration Park. As I've mentioned before, the Tower of the Sun was originally scheduled to be demolished along with the other pavilions, but after petitions were collected from various parties, it was decided in 1975 that it would be permanently preserved.
A previous post is reprinted on the right: "I'm glad the Tower of the Sun was built, and I'm glad it remained after the Expo ended. If the Tower of the Sun were not in Expo Park today, people, especially those born after the Expo, would not recognize that an Expo had taken place here, and would simply see it as a large park or plaza."
I believe that the Tower of the Sun is still there, and that it is precisely because it is still there that people visit Expo Commemoration Park. Even if they don't enter the park, some people stop by to view it while they're nearby. If it had been demolished, it's likely that far fewer people would have visited the park and the Senri area.
I suspect that the recent Expo, like the Okinawa Ocean Expo, Tsukuba Science Expo, and Osaka Flora Expo, will fade from many people's memories within a few years, and that future generations will hardly know about it. It's unfortunate, but I think that's the reality. Therefore, I don't expect the economic effects to be felt for many years to come.
[Finally this post...]
I would consider it an "investment" if the money poured into the 2025 Expo were to be returned in a meaningful way, but I don't think that will be the case, which is why I wrote "a huge deficit" in my previous article.
I hear that Expo character goods are selling well. They'll continue to be on sale until next spring, but can we trust those numbers? Is it really possible to sell that many billions of yen? Aren't they just hard selling? Is it not the case that they have unsold goods and need to sell them off? This may be a wild guess, but... It goes without saying, but sales and profits are different.
Of course, there are probably some products that only have expo-themed boxes and wrapping paper, but are just regular sweets inside. You may have seen such products being sold around Shin-Osaka Station. Even if you're not going to the expo, I'm sure there are people who bought them as souvenirs since they were in Osaka. If they sell a lot, I think they can reduce their deficit.
This is all I can write today, October 23rd. I may add and revise in the future. Thank you for your understanding.
