Japan’s emperor opens the Expo in Osaka

In the presence of Emperor Naruhito and his wife Empress Masako, host Japan celebrated the starting shot for the World Exhibition Expo in the metropolis of Osaka. The gates open on Sunday for normal visitors. The crown prince couple and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba also took part in the opening ceremony broadcast on television.

The Expo site, located on the artificial island of Yumeshima (in German: dream island), is surrounded by the spectacular « Grand Ring », a wooden construction, which is around two kilometers long and up to 20 meters high – according to the organizers of the largest in the world. The impressive building is intended to symbolize the overarching concept of Expo – diversity and unit.

More than 160 countries, regions and international organizations show their ideas for the central theme « Designing Future Society for our Lives » in their pavilions in their pavilions (which shape future society for our lives). As with previous world exhibitions, it is about sustainability and climate protection.

In the Luxembourg Pavilion, for example, it will be a functional traditional Luxembourg bowling alley give.

Criticism of cost explosion

In 1970 Osaka was the host of Expo. At that time, more than 64 million visitors came. This time, according to the latest information, the organizers expect around 28 million. But the interest in Japan’s population has so far been low. As a reason, critics indicate that the expo-topic is vague and too wide. Another point of criticism is the costs that have almost doubled to 1.4 billion euros. Among other things, increased material prices are mentioned as the reason. There are also additional security measures.

The artificial island of Yumeshima was partly built on an earlier landfill, which is why high -inflammatory methangas can escape. A year ago, Funken triggered an explosion during welding work. Critics also pointed out the risk that tens of thousands of visitors on the island, which is only accessible to a limited extent, could be included in an earthquake disaster. Precautionary measures had to be taken accordingly.

Hosts believe in success

However, the organizers believe that interest in Expo will increase. For this, attractions such as talking robots or a « flying car » should contribute. Japan presents itself in the largest pavilion of the Expo, the outer walls of which consist of vertical wooden panels and which has the topic of « circulation » as a concept. This includes a state -of -the -art biogas plant in which waste is converted into energy from Expo with the help of microorganisms.

Sustainability and climate protection

The German pavilion, which, on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection, consists of several cylindrical wooden buildings on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection. « The plants come from a tree nursery in the south of Osaka, » says the director of the pavilion, Christopher Hecker.

On interactive displays, visitors learn how sustainable cities can look like what Germany’s economy and research institutions already have to offer in innovations and ideas and what everyone can contribute to everyday life. Like the « Grand Ring », the pavilion was designed so that it can be dismantled and the material can be reused.

Robot and androids

In the dark and black pavilion « Future of Life » of the famous Japanese robotic researcher Hiroshi Ishiguro, it is about a completely different vision of the future. Here 50 androids and dozens of robots and avatars await visitors. They show how people and androids coexist in 50 years – and could no longer be distinguished from each other in 1000 years.