The Nepal Pavilion—the only pavilion at the Osaka–Kansai Expo that had remained closed—opened on the 19th, more than three months behind schedule, and at last all participating countries’ exhibits are now in place after the event passed its halfway point.
The pavilion that opened on the 19th, the 98th day since the Expo began, was the Nepal Pavilion, where staff welcomed visitors with applause and palms pressed together.
On the first floor, a golden monument modeled after a Nepalese stupa stands at the center, surrounded by eight food-and-beverage outlets and retail shops, while the second floor features replicas of stupas and Buddhist statues, as well as mandalas—creating a space where visitors can experience the culture.
A 30-year-old man from Ibaraki, Osaka, who visited the pavilion said, “This is my 25th time coming to the Expo since opening day, and I was curious about what was inside the building. The exhibits left a strong impression on me.”
Construction had been suspended after payments for construction costs from a local private company commissioned for the project to the Japanese contractor fell into arrears; however, work resumed last month (June), and embassy officials say payments are now almost complete.
With this, the Osaka–Kansai Expo has finally passed the halfway point of its six-month run, and all 84 pavilions—spanning 158 countries and regions, as well as private-sector participants—are now in place.
News source: NHK
