Japan Press Weekly

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2024 September 18 - 24 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Osaka citizens’ group urges national government to cancel 2025 World Expo

A civil group called the “Association for Building a Bright and Democratic Osaka Administration,” in which the Japanese Communist Party plays a part, on September 17 made a representation to the national government to demand that the 2025 Osaka World Exhibition be cancelled and that the state approval for the Osaka casino project be retracted.

This action was joined by JCP member of the House of Representatives Miyamoto Takeshi and JCP member Tatsumi Kotato, who is scheduled to run as a JCP candidate in the Kinki proportional representation bloc in the next general election.

In the representation in the House of Representatives members’ office building, the association head, Arita Hiroaki, pointed out that the Expo site, which is located in Yumeshima, an artificial island created on landfill waste, has a great risk of experiencing a gas explosion and is vulnerable to natural disasters, and demanded the cancellation of the event. He also demanded that the Education Ministry stop moving forward with its policy of requiring schools to visit the Expo as part of school events like school trips.

In reply, a government official said, “It is up to each school to include the Expo in its school trip destinations. The ministry’s position is to request the Cabinet Secretariat and the Economy Ministry to implement thorough safety measures.”

Regarding the approval for Osaka’s casino development project, the civil group urged the government to take concrete measures to tackle gambling addiction.

Past related article:
> JCP Osaka: Osaka Expo should be cancelled as it will endanger children’s lives [April 13, 2024]