Ticket sales for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai are lagging badly, with the general public buying just some 470,000 through the event's official website by Dec. 18 plus another 5,000 or so paper tickets at convenience stores.

Website sales accounted for just 6% of the some 7.44 million tickets issued as of that date, according to the figures revealed at a Dec. 26 meeting of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, which is organizing the Osaka Expo.

Association figures also showed that of the total 7.44 million tickets issued, 6.13 million (82%) were sold directly to corporations and other organizations, and around 840,000 tickets were sold through travel agencies and convenience stores.

The total sales so far account for only around half of the 14 million advance ticket sales target. One reason for the slow progress was the complicated process of obtaining an "Expo ID" online to purchase electronic tickets, introduced to reduce crowding at the venue. Although the association decided to introduce paper tickets as an alternative, this has not significantly boosted sales.

Association chairperson and Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) chief Masakazu Tokura told a Dec. 26 press conference he acknowledged the need for improvements. "There is room to enhance the website. We expect the peak for advance sales to come between January and March next year. We're implementing various measures and are confident about reaching the 14 million target," he said. Regarding paper tickets, Tokura expressed optimism, saying, "I believe sales will increase moving forward. I don't think it is a small number as a starting point."

To boost ticket sales, the association plans to collaborate with Universal Studios Japan (USJ), a theme park located near the Expo site on Osaka's Yumeshima Island. Tokura emphasized the potential synergy, saying, "If people can visit both the Expo and USJ, they'll be more inclined to come." The association also plans to ramp up promotional efforts around Jan. 13, when the application process for the pavilion reservation lottery gets into full swing.

The Expo's operating costs have risen significantly due to factors including higher labor expenses, increasing from the originally planned 80.9 billion yen (about $513 million) to 116 billion yen (approx. $735.6 million). Ticket revenue is expected to cover over 80% of these costs, with a final goal of 23 million tickets sold.

During a Diet questions session on Dec. 18, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry stated that the Expo would break even if 80% of the expected 28.2 million visitors attend. However, it remains unclear who would bear responsibility for any financial shortfall.

(Japanese original by Satoshi Fukutomi, Tokyo Business News Department; Itsuo Tokubo and Takumi Fujikawa, Osaka City News Department)