TANABE, Wakayama -- A massive torii gate at a shrine in this western Japan city has been lit up in red and blue, the theme colors of the 2025 World Expo set to open in Osaka on April 13, in a bid to create momentum for the event.

The Oyunohara Otorii gate, located at the former site of Kumano Hongu Taisha shrine, towers about 34 meters tall and spans 42 meters in width. It will be lit up through April 23, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. each evening, and until 9 p.m. on the last day.

After being illuminated in blue then red, both colors appear and the hues gradually move left and right, up and down, switching positions to create a fantastic scene against the black night sky.

At around 7 p.m. on the final day of the light-up, some 300 lanterns in the Expo colors will be sent up into night sky.

(Japanese original by Koji Osawa, Tanabe Local Bureau)