A man gained entry to the World Expo in Japan using a ticket from the 1940 Grand International Exposition of Japan, an event that was canceled due to the onset of war, as reported by organizers. The tickets for the 1940 event in Tokyo were released in 1938 but the exposition was postponed indefinitely as Japan became embroiled in World War II. Organizers of Expo 2025, taking place in Osaka and running from April to October, have stated that they will honor holders of tickets from the 1940 event.
One man, Fumiya Takenawa from Tokyo, visited his parents in Osaka and exchanged his 1940 ticket for two passes to Expo 2025. Takenawa, an avid collector of expo memorabilia, had purchased the vintage ticket online in March.
The World Expo, also known as the World’s Fair, began with the 1851 Crystal Palace exhibition in London and now takes place every five years in different countries. Previous Japanese Expos, held in Osaka in 1970 and in the Aichi region in 2005, have also honored individuals holding tickets for the 1940 event as invited guests, continuing this tradition at Expo 2025. Takenawa is reportedly a fan of the iconic Tower of the Sun, a symbol from the 1970 Osaka Expo.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/08/japan-world-expo-2025-with-1940-ticket
