Osaka Expo Faces Dual Task of Drawing Visitors, Managing Crowds

   Osaka, April 20 (Jiji Press)--The 2025 World Exposition in the western Japan city of Osaka faces the dual challenge of dealing with large crowds and attracting visitors one week after its April 13 opening.
   The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition is rushing to adopt measures ahead of the Golden Week holiday period from late this month, which the organizer believes to provide a litmus test for event operations.
   The Osaka Expo drew some 119,000 visitors on the opening day, when wireless network outages occurred, forcing the association to improve communications facilities. Yumeshima Station, the nearest train station to the venue, was crowded with people heading to the Expo and leaving it amid strong winds and rain.
   Long lines formed in front of entrance gates, while the communications failure made many people unable to display their electronic admission tickets on their smartphones. Two-hour queues formed at pavilions that did not require advance reservations.
   "We will make constant improvements every day and try to ensure comfortable experiences," Hiroyuki Ishige, secretary-general of the association, told a press conference on the second day of the Expo.

(2025/04/20-00:10)