Unpaid Bills and Piles of Waste—The Osaka-Kansai Expo’s Biggest Problems Come After Closing Day

The aftermath of the frenzy: even more problems after the closing

On the final day, the Italy Pavilion had huge crowds, with wait times exceeding five hours and the space beneath the ring packed with people. On October 13, the Osaka–Kansai Expo closed. Around 210,000 people visited on the final day, and the total number of general visitors surpassed 25 million. The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition announced that it expected an operating surplus of 23 to 28 billion yen, creating an atmosphere of success.

But what has become of the site left behind after the excitement? When we visited on October 17, four days after closing, the gateway to the Expo—Yumeshima Station, through which a total of 40 million people passed during the event—was nearly deserted. Inside the venue, dismantling and removal of pavilions had already begun. The official character, Myaku-Myaku, stood abandoned, and the iconic Grand Roof Ring was closed off and no longer accessible. Some pavilions, such as those from Uzbekistan and Luxembourg, will be relocated and reused in their home countries, but most are scheduled to be demolished.

At first glance, the closing work appears to be proceeding smoothly, but contractors say major issues remain.

“Industrial waste such as concrete and wood generated from demolition is overwhelming disposal facilities in the Kinki region. If no new disposal sites are secured, waste will remain piled up on-site, delaying demolition work.”

Another contractor added that unpaid construction fees remain unresolved.

“Disputes between prime contractors and subcontractors have been raised at 11 pavilions, including the Serbia and Germany pavilions. Unpaid construction fees are estimated to total around 500 million yen. Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura (50), who is also a vice-chairman of the Expo Association, considers it a private-sector matter and has not intervened. We fear similar non-payment issues will occur during demolition.”

As for the Association’s bold announcement of a maximum 28 billion yen surplus, Osaka-based journalist Yuji Yoshitomi remains critical:

“That surplus applies only to operating costs. The total budget for venue construction reached 235 billion yen. Additional expenses were incurred for surrounding area development and security. Operating revenue was only about 140 billion yen. Looking at the overall balance, the Expo is deep in the red.”

A 28-billion-yen surplus cannot come close to covering it. Osaka City has pinned hopes on building an IR (integrated resort including a casino) on the former Expo site to recoup the massive losses, but consumer economy analyst Hiroaki Watanabe is skeptical:

“Only part of the Grand Roof Ring will remain because of the high cost of maintenance. Why not let IR operators manage it and keep it intact?

Casinos already exist across Asia, and unless Osaka builds something extremely attractive, people won’t come. Yet concrete plans are still in development—far too slow. The Expo impressed many, but unless Osaka creates and communicates a clear vision for the future to recover the huge spend on construction and PR, the IR could plunge them even further into the red.”

When we sent questions to the Expo Association regarding the shortage of waste disposal sites and the unpaid-construction-fees issue, they responded:

“According to the 2025 Environmental White Paper, the remaining capacity of industrial waste final disposal sites as of 2022 was 181 million m³, with an estimated remaining lifespan of 20 years. We share the same understanding.

Regarding unpaid construction fees, it is regrettable that such issues have arisen. Disputes between contracting parties are governed by mechanisms established under the Construction Business Act, and while the Association is not a contracting party, we have been doing everything possible—hearing circumstances from stakeholders and providing information to administrative authorities with licensing powers under the Act, such as Osaka Prefecture and the national government.”

More problems after closing than during the Expo. With all this unresolved, how can the Association proudly claim that the Osaka Expo was a success?

From the November 7, 2025 issue of “FRIDAY”