April 10, 2025

Media, including newspaper Akahata, which are critical of the “Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai,” have been denied access to the Expo site for news-gathering activities by the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition.

The association shut out Akahata reporters from “test run” rehearsals attended by both the public and the media between April 4 and April 6, while many domestic and foreign media were allowed to cover the test events.

Since 2023, the Akahata head office has repeatedly requested press cards to cover press conferences and events. Last November, the office submitted a written demand to Ishige Hiroyuki, the association’s secretary general, seeking “fair and impartial opportunities in news coverage.” However, Akahata has yet to receive any response.

The association excluded not only Akahata but also several other media outlets and freelance journalists. Many of them have raised issues concerning safety measures at the Expo venue.

A huge amount of taxpayer money has been invested in hosting Expo 2025. The association is a public interest incorporated body, and its officers and staff members are “quasi-government employees”. Therefore, they are supposed to be responsible for providing public interest services to all citizens in a fair, equitable, and sincere manner.

Osaka Governor Yoshimura Hirofumi, a deputy chairperson of the association, said April of last year that he would “ban” reporters critical of the Expo. Met with criticism later, he apologized and retracted this statement, saying, “It is natural for news organizations to express critical opinions and point out problems.”

The Expo association’s attitude of not listening to dissenting voices is being called into question.