So-called ‘Web3’ wallet and grotesque mascot fail to generate interest in $20B Osaka Expo 2025

A so-called “Web3” wallet, a disturbing mascot, and a convoluted ticketing system have unsurprisingly resulted in lower-than-expected ticket presales for the anticipated Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan.

Regional news outlets have been busy reporting in recent months on the manifold troubles facing the event, set to be a cashless endeavor and featuring its own so-called “Web3” wallet.

A big part of the cashless and the “Web3” promotion of Expo 2025 has been the official wallet app of the event. Wallet users who log-in every month will receive an SBT (Soulbound Token) — as well as another non-fungible token (NFT) commemorating the 1970 Osaka World Expo.

Expo 2025’s repulsive mascot dressed as Santa Claus drew disapproval from Japanese users of social media platform X.

The site notes: “Even before the Expo officially begins, you can join the Expo-related services and events through the ‘Connect Feature’, which is linked to Web3 Wallets and the SBT Digital Passport.” Attendees are also made aware they can pay by mere facial recognition, should they register their biometric data with the wallet.

Aside from heavy promotion of cashless payments (indeed, there will be no cash options inside the expo), the expo’s digital wallet, which does not feature the ability to pay with any actually decentralized or private peer-to-peer cryptocurrency, is being leveraged to sell the United Nations’ controversial Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) initiative. “Earn unique points by participating in various SDGs and the EXPO initiatives, and by exchanging other points!” the wallet’s website states.

Cryptopolitan reached out to event organizers regarding event difficulties and the Expo 2025 Digital Wallet, but at time of writing, no response has been received.

Cashless Expo 2025’s mascot Myaku-Myaku grosses-out public

“No matter how you dress it up, I just can’t stand it.”

“Disgusting.”

“I’m sorry, but it just looks like a monster to me.”

These are just a few of the reactions to the expo’s mascot, “Myaku-Myaku,” on an X post from last November.

Japanese X users speculate on Expo 2025 as a potential center for disease. The Japanese portion reads in part (translated): “Do not go near people who went to the Osaka Expo. People who went to the Osaka Expo are infected with a new virus.”

Expo 2025’s official website describes the character as “a mysterious creature born from the fusion of cells and water,” elaborating: “The red part represents ‘cells,’ which divide and multiply … [and] the blue part represents ‘pure water,’ which can flow and change shape.”

If you think a description of the onomatapoeic Japanese “myaku-myaku” might ease your mind about the character somehow relating to genetic mutation, you might be wrong. The official site clarifies: “Our human DNA, wisdom, technology, history and culture have been passed down “myaku-myaku” (continuously) from generation to generation.” The term, notably, can also mean “pulsating.”

Some Japanese are even speculating, controversially, that the Expo’s self-decribed “People’s Living Lab” may be just that: a center of some kind of new disease.

Public upset with the expo’s confusing ticketing system and construction

Kyodo News reported on March 13 that the projected three-trillion-yen impact (about $20 billion USD) of the expo may fail to be realized due to poor ticket sales and delays in construction.

Though the original target was to sell 14 million tickets, as of March 5, the number of tickets sold reportedly stood at a mere 8 million. Hiroyuki Ishige, a leader of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, acknowledged that the goal was “extremely ambitious.”

The ‘Grand Ring’ where Expo 2025 will be held in Osaka, Japan. Source: OBAYASHI CORPORATION/Expo 2025.

The late introduction of new ticket types, and reduced prices for season passes added just last month, have some would-be attendees giving up altogether on going, and others demanding refunds.

Further complicating preparations are major delays in construction, with the Kyodo report noting only about 20% of “Type A self-built pavilions,” considered to be the main attraction, have been completed.

There have also been problems reported with foreign participants not completing interior displays by the suggested March 13 date. For now, Japanese are left to wonder if is there real trouble afoot at the artificial “Yumeshima” (roughly translated “Dream Island/Continent”) location.

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