[Title] Press Conference by Prime Minister Ishiba regarding His Visit to the Venue of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, and Other Matters

(On Prime Minister Ishiba's impressions of his visit to the venue of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan; how he hopes the Expo will contribute to the revitalization of the Kansai region; details of his meeting with Governor Yoshimura; how the ticket sales target will be achieved; how any operating deficit will be covered; and how he plans to leverage the visits by foreign dignitaries during the event for diplomatic purposes)

We are now less than three months away from the opening. While I recently assumed the honorary chairmanship of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, I had never visited the venue before. Therefore, I am very grateful for the opportunity to tour the venue today, with the help of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, the governor and the mayor. Fifty-five years ago, I was a second-year junior high school student in Tottori City, and the Osaka Expo that took place that year left an extremely strong impression on me. Although it was held 55 years ago, the event provided a dream-like experience in a space that symbolized a truly brighter future for Japan, as the country was in the midst of rapid economic growth. Now, more than half a century later, I am deeply grateful to witness the Osaka Kansai Expo unfolding as a site for once again creating a new Japan. Although we are no longer in a period of rapid economic growth, the event will allow each of us to truly experience what it feels like to live, while inspiring us to have hope for the future of Japan. Today's visit to the Expo venue left me with a strong sense of that, as the saying goes, "seeing is believing." The Expo will open in April, and I believe many people will feel that they want to visit again, once they come here. One of the attractions will be a globe featuring Wajima lacquerware, a traditional craft from the Noto Peninsula, which can only be seen at the event, although I was unable to see it today. The exhibition of a rock from Mars, along with the globe featuring the Noto tradition that I just mentioned, will be something that only Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, can offer. Seeing them will bring happiness and inspire dreams. I want many people, both in Japan and around the world, to experience this sense of excitement. The Japanese Government, together with Osaka Prefecture, Osaka City and the Expo Association, is committed to making this Expo a success.

We have to admit that ticket sales are not yet at an ideal level, but I believe part of the reason is that the Expo is not yet widely known. It is relatively well-known in the Kansai area, but not enough in other regions. The key is to raise awareness, and as I mentioned earlier, to ensure that many of those who have attended and enjoyed the experience will return. In all past Expos, ticket sales did not see a significant increase at the start, but they gradually rose over time. Of course, everyone will have to work together to boost ticket sales, but I am not at all concerned. I am unable to answer hypothetical questions such as: What will happen if ticket sales do not meet expectations?

(On how the Government plans to generate momentum for the Expo; whether the Government is considering support for the reuse (repurposing) of the Grand Roof (Ring), the symbol of the Expo venue, which currently lacks concrete plans for repurposing; and what kind of "legacy" the Expo aims to leave and how it should be utilized.)

With regard to various materials used for the "Grand Roof," for example, around 20 companies have so far expressed interest in using them. Once the Expo becomes a success as a result of the efforts of many people, I believe that more people will want to use materials that was part of the Expo. Now is the time when we produce things on the assumption that they will be reused, and as we proceed with the intensification of a recycling society, we need to come up with appropriate ways to use them. I believe efforts must be made with everyone participating. When it comes to promoting sales, I believe the approach varies depending on the generation and region. Each area has its own sales strategies, which differ between the Kansai region, the Greater Tokyo area, Hokkaido and Kyushu. Our goal is not just to bring visitors to the Expo but also to turn their arrival into regional revitalization. We want to encourage those coming to the Expo to also visit places like Kyushu, Hokkaido and Shimane, offering them such a package of experiences. It's not just about inviting a lot of people to Osaka. We want to create an atmosphere where people in places like Hokkaido or Sanin feel motivated to encourage the purchase of Expo tickets as part of their efforts to attract visitors to their own regions. While touch panels are useful for some people to buy tickets, others, particularly the elderly, have struggled with them. It's important to consider how to motivate them to purchase tickets and ensure that the process is simple and easy. I believe this is crucial, but it cannot be carried out by government officials alone. Therefore, we plan to incorporate ideas from the private sector to make it happen.

(On the details of the meeting with Governor Yoshimura)

I apologize for not addressing your question regarding the meeting with Governor Yoshimura. Today, we exchanged various opinions on how to attract a large number of people, with a focus on the Expo, as your question suggested. It's not just Osaka Prefecture or Osaka City. We, the Government, are also committed, under the leadership of Minister Ito in charge, to working together with all cabinet ministers united to ensure the success of the Osaka Kansai Expo. We obviously must make it a success, but our goal is not to make it just a one-time event. As the Governor mentioned, we want to turn it into a lasting "legacy," such as by holding an international conference on health there once a year, rather than simply looking back and saying the Expo in Yumeshima in 2025 was a great success and fun. In this context, various ministries, including the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, would have to cooperate with Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City. We discussed how to make the 2025 Expo in Yumeshima an opportunity to present a vision for the future of Japan, and I received many valuable insights from the Governor.