By Anadolu staff
ANKARA (AA) - The World Exposition opened in the Japanese city of Osaka, kicking off a six-month expo, which will bring together 158 countries, including arch-rivals China and the US, Kyodo News reported Sunday.
The expo, expected to be visited by 28.2 million people, is centered on designing a sustainable future society, with organizers hoping for an economic effect worth 2.92 trillion yen ($20 billion) for the domestic economy.
Masakazu Tokura, chairman of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, declared the expo open, which will continue until Oct. 13 on Yumeshima, an artificial island in Osaka Bay.
Major exhibits are encircled by the "Grand Ring," which has a circumference of 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) and is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the world's largest wooden architectural structure.
Main exhibits at the Japan pavilion, include a "Mars rock" discovered by a Japanese research team in Antarctica in 2000, while the Osaka prefectural and city government's health-themed pavilion features sheets of heart muscle made from iPS cells.
Another major draw will be the 42 "Type A" pavilions by exhibiting countries including the US and China.
The opening ceremony featuring dancing, singing and a light show was held Saturday with 1,300 people attending, including Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.