Japan Press Weekly

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2025 May 14 - 20 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Finally, Expo 2025 association to issue press card to Akahata

Regarding the issue of the unjust barring of newspaper Akahata by the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition from coverage of activities at the “Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai” site, Minister of Trade, Economy and Industry Muto Yoji on May 14 said that a full-term pass (standard press card) for full media access will be issued to Akahata reporters.

The minister made this remark in response to Japanese Communist Party lawmaker Tatsumi Kotaro at a meeting of the House of Representatives Committee on Economy, Trade and Industry.

Tatsumi demanded that the association issue a full-term pass not only to Akahata, but also to freelance journalists and others critical of the ongoing Osaka-Kansai Expo.

The association currently provides Akahata with a “day-pass” to only attend a weekly press conference. However, the government at a Lower House committee meeting on May 9 in its reply to the JCP lawmaker admitted that Akahata is eligible for a long-term pass as the issuance of this pass is determined based on a coverage plan submitted by an applicant.

Past related article:
> JCP Tatsumi urges METI to instruct Expo 2025 association to issue media pass to Akahata [April 24, 2025]