Osaka – Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako arrived Friday in Osaka Prefecture ahead of this weekend’s opening of the 2025 World Exposition, in which they are scheduled to attend an opening ceremony for the six-month-long event.
The first day of the imperial couple’s two-day stay in Osaka will see them visit Yumeshima, an artificial island that serves as the venue for the expo opening Sunday, to see the Grand Ring — a vast wooden roof encircling the pavilions — as well as the Japan Pavilion and the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion.
On Saturday, the imperial couple will attend the opening ceremony with Crown Prince Fumihito, who serves as the expo’s honorary president, and his wife, Crown Princess Kiko. They will return to Tokyo in the evening after visiting the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement Pavilion.
Emperor Naruhito previously served as honorary president of the Expo 2005 in Aichi when he was crown prince.
Grand Ring, a gigantic wooden structure symbolizing the site of the 2025 World Exposition, completed the same day on an artificial island in the western Japan city of Osaka.
BY: The Times Union – KYODO
