Man Enters Japan’s World Expo Using 85-Year-Old Ticket

Eighty-five years after a ticket was originally issued for a similar event, a man was permitted to use it at this year’s World Expo in Japan. Fumiya Takenawa, who is 25 years old, attended Expo 2025 in Osaka with a ticket initially issued for the Grand International Exposition of Japan in 1940. The event’s organizers announced this remarkable occurrence in a recent statement.

They noted that the original expo never occurred due to Japan’s intensifying war efforts in the region. The historical context is significant, as Japan invaded China in 1937 and escalated conflicts when it launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Takenawa acquired the old ticket through an online sale in March and began using it as home decor, having a penchant for collecting memorabilia from past expos.

After contemplating its use for the current event, he inquired with the organizers, who granted him permission to attend. “This is my first expo, and I feel part of history,” Takenawa expressed. He enjoyed visiting various pavilions, including those from the Czech Republic and Saudi Arabia.

Reflecting on the ticket’s past, he remarked, “The person who had this ticket before me waited 85 years, and now their wish finally came true.” Even though he resides in Tokyo, he plans to revisit the expo when he travels to Osaka to see family. The Expo, often referred to as the World’s Fair, showcases advancements in science, technology, economics, and social progress from across the globe.

Since its inception in 1851 at London’s Crystal Palace, it has been held every five years in different locations. The 1940 event is known as the “phantom Expo” because it was ultimately not held. Previous holders of the canceled tickets have attended expos in 1970 and 2005, and others with tickets from 1940 will also be eligible to participate this year.