July 17, 2025

Subcontractors that have not been paid for the construction costs for foreign pavilions at the ongoing “Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai” on July 16 demanded that the national government cover the unpaid construction costs and resolve the issue without delay.

Japanese Communist Party Dietmembers Daimon Mikishi (Upper House) and Tatsumi Kotaro (Lower House) accompanied the subcontractors taking part in this action organized by the National Federation of Traders and Producers Organizations (Zenshoren) to seek government help.

In their representation, they received the following responses: “We will conduct guidance and supervision in accordance with the Construction Industry Act” (Ministry of Land and Infrastructure); and “Victims have different points of contact for consultations. We are now establishing a coordinated framework among relevant ministries and agencies” (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry). However, no specific support measures were shown to the subcontractors whose construction costs remain unpaid.

One victim said, “Osaka Prefectural Governor Yoshimura is a deputy chairperson of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition. He claims that he will support us, but he refuses to provide advance payments or emergency loans by asserting that it is a ‘private-sector issue’.”

Another victim complained, “Many subcontractors, construction workers, and their families are left behind without a way out. Some companies have gone bankrupt. Some people have even had to give up their land and homes.”

Reportedly, the construction costs, ranging from several tens of millions of yen to over 100 million yen, for the pavilions of Angola, China, Germany, Malta, Nepal, Romania, Serbia, and the United States have not been paid to the subcontractors. The largest unpaid amounts are from “GL events Japan”, a French event company, which is the prime contractor for the pavilions of Germany, Malta, Romania, and Serbia.