Global echoes at a festive event

More than 50 days have passed since the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo began. Exhibits that evoke the future of society are popular, and the number of visitors is increasing after an initially slow start.

- KENJI NAKANISHI

Although they tend to be overlooked amid the spectacular exhibits, some events and activities during this 50-day period have reflected the complex state of the world today.

A procession led by the king of Denmark passed along the Grand Ring, the world's largest wooden structure and the symbol of the Expo, and made its way to the Japan Pavilion. Visitors held up their smartphones to record the scene.

On April 24, it was Denmark's turn to mark "National Day," in which countries participating in the Expo showcase their cultures. King Frederik X—the successor to Queen Margrethe II, who enjoyed immense popularity during her 52-year reign—led the party, which included Danish corporate leaders.

King Frederik chose Japan as the first Asian country to visit after his accession to the throne in January last year, accompanied by a business delegation including Danish Crown, his nation's largest meat producer. One of the accompanying members wrote in an email before arriving in Japan that she considered this visit to Japan to be "particularly important."

One reason is the Trump administration's tariff policy. Japan is gaining importance as a market amidst the instability of the global free trade system, and it has "a long-standing partnership [with Denmark] grounded in mutual respect and values," as King Frederik said in a speech at the Expo.

The day before arriving in Osaka, the king stopped by Ippudo, a ramen chain restaurant in Ginza, Tokyo, that uses pork supplied by Danish Crown. He enjoyed a bowl in front of the press, helping to promote Danish products.