The "2025 Osaka World Expo" kicked off in April for a six-month run, drawing massive crowds with visitors from all corners of the globe flocking to experience it. And today, October 13th, marks its grand finale, bringing the 184-day spectacle to a close.
According to Japanese media reports, Ms. Utamiyo Yamada, affectionately known as "Expo Grandma," has once again pulled off an incredible feat. She attended every single one of the 184 days of the current Osaka-Kansai Expo, from its opening on April 13th to its closing on October 13th, without missing a single day! It's a perfect attendance record that's got Japanese netizens buzzing.
Yamada, who hails from Seto City in Aichi Prefecture, first made headlines back in 2005 for her perfect attendance at the "Expo 2005 Aichi: Love the Earth" International Exposition. For subsequent expos in places like Shanghai and Yeosu, she even moved to the host cities, all to ensure she could check in every single day. It's how she earned her beloved nickname, "Expo Grandma," from the Japanese public.
This year was no different. She specifically rented a home in Osaka City, attending the expo every single day for 184 days, come rain or shine. And today, entering the grounds at 9 AM on the closing day, she officially completed her perfect attendance challenge.
Expo Grandma Yamada shared, "So many people came on the closing day, I almost couldn't get in!" While she felt under the weather a few days during the expo, she found immense satisfaction in exploring the unique features of different countries daily and watching the visitor numbers steadily climb.
Netizens were quick to laud "Expo Grandma's" incredible feat, expressing admiration for her unwavering passion for her hobbies at her age, and her dedication to checking in and documenting her activities daily. Truly inspiring!
The half-year Osaka World Expo initially faced a lukewarm reception, with daily attendance at one point dipping below 50,000, sparking controversy and questions about its overall effectiveness. However, as word-of-mouth spread and promotional efforts ramped up, visitor numbers saw a significant rebound in the latter half of the expo, especially in the month leading up to the closing, where daily attendance consistently stayed above 200,000.
And today, with its official closing ceremony, the expo has successfully concluded. Its related structures will be repurposed for use across Japan, ensuring the spirit of the expo lives on in new forms.