March
3/18
Press preview (March 18-20)
113,850 persons visit over three days
3/23
The Emperor and Empress visit
The Crown Prince visits
3/24
Opening Ceremony at the Expo Dome
Opening ceremony
3/25
The 2005 World Expo begins
43,023 visitors
Opening day
3/26
Fourth Meeting of the International Council of Expo 2005
OECD Secretary General Donald J. Johnston inspects the venue
3/27
“Living on the Earth”: The Opening Forum of the Expo 2005 International Forums is held (March 27-28)
Overall theme: “Creation of a Sustainable Society”
Expo 2005 International Forums
French President Jacques Chirac visits Expo 2005
April
4/1
Restrictions on bringing in outside food relaxed
4/4
Sumo grand tournament held at the Expo
Sumo grand tournament
4/5
German President Horst Kohler visits Expo 2005
4/16
Theme Forum of the Expo 2005 International Forums for April: “Culture and Biological Diversity and Internationally Common Recognition”
Visitors waiting to view the mammoth laboratory
4/19
Visit to Expo 2005 by Prince and Princess Akishino
4/22
Earth Day Expo
Various events held at Expo Plaza
Kids' Eco-Tours begin
Earth Day Expo
4/23
Over 100,000 on a single day!
Visitors to date: 2 million
Aichi Week Part 1 begins
100 floats from Aichi Prefecture on display
Floats from Aichi Prefecture
4/25
Eighth Meeting of the Kaisho Area Monitoring Committee
4/26
New opening hours:
Nagakute Area 9:00 - 22:00 (through the end of the Expo), Seto Area 9:00 - 18:00 (through July 19)
4/29
Princess Takamado visits Expo 2005 and attends “Planet of Flowers” event
May
5/3
Fortieth day of Expo sees total attendance break 3 million!
Single-day attendance sets new record at 146,000
Throngs of visitors on the Global Loop
5/4, 5/9
Princess Takamado visits Expo
5/8
End of Golden Week holidays
Attendance over 10-day holiday period totals 979,892
5/10
Cambodia's National Day attended by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen
5/11
Republic of Korea's National Day
National Assembly Speaker Kim Won-ki attends, with Korean-themed events at Expo Dome
A parade featuring students from the Republic of Korea's Maritime University
“Pray for Love” Pas De Deux in Starlight Performance by Tamiyo Kusakari in Expo Plaza
Amazing dance performance
5/15
Concert by Kiyoshi Hikawa
Performance of Official Expo theme song and hit music
5/19
National Day of the People's Republic of China
Ceremony attended by Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi; spectators thrilled by performances of Beijing opera and acrobatics
Hearing-impaired performers form a multiarmed deity
5/21
Theme Forum of the Expo 2005 International Forums for May: “Aiming for an Environment-Based Society-The Ideal Form of Science in the Twenty-first Century”
5/23
Attendance breaks 5 million
Sixtieth day of the Expo: 10 visitors chosen by drawing receive certificates and commemorative goods
Commemorative event marking 5 million visitors
5/26
Winners of first round of Nature's Wisdom Awards decided
5/31
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono visits the Expo
June
6/2
Theme Forum of the Expo 2005 International Forums for June: “Industrial Infrastructure in the Twenty-first Century-A Message for the Development of Eco-Communities”
Princess Akishino visits the Expo
6/5
Spain's Crown Prince Felipe and his wife Letizia Ortiz visit the Expo
Princess Takamado visits the Expo
Environment Day: “Cool Biz” fashion show
Former professional baseball manager Senichi Hoshino appears as a model
From left to right: hostess Junko Kubo, Hiroshi Okuda, Senichi Hoshino, and host Kei Shimizu
6/6
Crown Prince visits the Expo
Inspects the venue and attends Japan Day event
Japan Day and Japan Week
June 6-12
A performance featuring Sadao Watanabe
6/7
Prince Katsura visits the Expo (June 7-8)
6/9
Prototype Robot Exhibition begins
Some 65 types of futuristic robots on display (through June 19)
Visitors watch the robots
6/11
Pearl Anniversary at the Expo
26 couples celebrate their thirtieth wedding anniversary
6/13
Prince and Princess Hitachi visit the Expo (through June 15)
Attend National Day celebration of Belgium
6/17
1,107 group buses arrive at the Expo (single-highest day)
Number of group buses arriving at the Expo comes to 113,285
6/18
Water-provision service begins
A total of 24 water coolers in front of each gate
New single-day record: Over 170,000 visitors
Previous record shattered
People helping themselves to water
6/21
Million Person Candle Night at the Expo
Preventing global warming with 2,005 candles (NPO Global Village)
6/22
Prince Tomohito of Mikasa visits (through June 23)
6/24
137th Meeting of the BIE held in Paris
The BIE unanimously adopts a resolution praising the Expo Association and the Japanese government, saying that “The Aichi Expo is a huge success.”
137th Meeting of the BIE (Paris)
6/25
Halfway point
According to the Nagoya Meteorological Observatory, the temperature in Nagoya reaches a high of 33.3 degrees; more than 160,000 visitors attend.
Total attendance through 6/25: 9,088,913
Visitors use umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun (June 25)
6/29
Meeting of the Expo-Related Otaka Research and Examination Commission
July
7/1
Princess Takamado visits
A cooler Global Loop
Dry misting begins on the Global Loop for the summer months
Evening discount admission tickets go on sale in Nagoya
A test run in early June
7/4
Number of visitors tops 10 million
The 102nd day of the Expo. 10 people selected by drawing receive certificates and commemorative goods; a company worker from Nagoya receives a special 2-carat diamond from the Republic of Sakha, Russian Federation.
An event commemorating the 10 millionth visitor to Expo 2005
7/7
Bio-Lung is decorated for Japanese Tanabata festival
50,000 tanzaku are lit up
7/9
Princess Takamado visits
Global Peace Forum held
An appeal is made from Aichi for efforts to tackle urgent issues.
“Let's all work together to solve such urgent issues as discrimination, poverty, environmental protection, and global peace and protect the Earth!”
7/10
The Republic of Chad opens a booth, bringing the number of participating countries to 121.
7/11
The Emperor and Empress visit (through July 13)
The Emperor and Empress stay for three days beginning July 11 and inspect the Expo. On July 11, they visit the Swiss Pavilion, the German Pavilion, and the Egyptian Pavilion.
7/13
Veteran woman performers of takarazuka (song and dance) take the stage!
“Amour Takarazuka” is performed (through July 14)
7/16
Playing in the snow in the summer
A present from Hida City to the Expo for Nisshin City Day
7/17
Over 210,000 visitors in a single day!
Long lines outside of the popular Hitachi Pavilion as soon as the Expo opens 215,976 visitors by the end of the day
7/19
Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the 2005 World Exposition (forecast and evaluation) and Impact Assessment Report (monitoring survey) (fiscal 2004) released
7/20
Visit by Crown Prince and Crown Princess
Inspection of Earth Tower Nagoya City, Pavilion of the United Kingdom, and the Global House
Seto Area opening hours 9:00 - 19:00 (through August 31)
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess entering the Pavilion of the United Kingdom
7/22
Performance by Yo-Yo Ma
World-famous cellist leads Silk Road Ensemble in performance (Expo Dome)
Visit by Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko
7/23
Visit by Princess Takamado (through July 24)
Theme Forum of the Expo 2005 International Forums for July: “Environmental Education for Realizing a Sustainable Society”
7/25
Visit by Prince and Princess Akishino and their daughters, Princess Mako and Princess Kako
The family of Prince Akishino listening to an explanation inside Aichi Pavilion Seto
7/26
Visit by Prince and Princess Hitachi (through July 28)
Typhoon No. 7 approaches with no trouble at the venue
Fewer people at popular pavilions; a rainbow in the evening
Typhoon No. 7
7/27
“Water-sprinkling (Uchimizu)” Campaign at Expo 2005
Expo Plaza and Seto Area
The Water Sprinkling Event in Expo Plaza
7/29
Expo All-Star Parade begins, lighting up the summer night
Massive crowds of people come to watch; the spectacle is later divided into shows and parades.
An i-unit (left) and a mascot at the North Gate
7/31
Princess Takamado visits
Sports Summit for the Environment in Expo 2005 (Expo Plaza and Seto Area)
Olympic medalists and the world's top athletes take part.
Kenji Ogiwara (left) and Tsuguharu Ogiwara (right) are interviewed.
August
8/1
Princess Sayako visits the Expo (through August 3)
Shops selling official Expo merchandise increased
Morizo and Kiccoro goods wildly popular
8/2
Prince Tomohito of Mikasa and his daughter Princess Akiko visit
Attend Turkey's National Day Celebration
8/7
World Cosplay Summit 2005 held (Expo Dome)
Individuals and members of groups from Italy, the country that was named the most excellent
8/8
Peace Ring 2005: Everyone makes a ring of peace. Some 3,500 people join hands to pray for peace
Nagoya Week begins (through August 14)
A special Expo version of the Middle of Japan Festival, a summer rite in Nagoya
Middle of Japan Festival at the Expo
8/18
Goal of 15 million visitors reached!
The 147th day of the Expo. With 38 days remaining, an event is held marking the already accomplished goal of 15 million visitors. A total of 15 prizes worth \5 million, including a Toyota hybrid car, a robot-shaped harbor seal, and a plasma TV, are awarded via drawing.
Event commemorating 15 million visitors at the Expo Plaza
8/22
Expo All-Star Parade 2 restarted
This night event that started on July 29 was suspended after August 2 for security problems. The shows restarted on August 8, but not the parade.
Morizo and Kiccoro taking part in the parade
8/25
Crown Prince visits (through August 26)
One day before his visit on August 25, he attended the Youth Agricultural Exchange Event in Aichi Prefecture.
This is his fourth visit to the Expo.
As Typhoon No. 11 approaches, precautionary measures are taken, and some evening events cancelled.
The Kiccoro Gondola is stopped.
Trash cans are tied down ahead of the typhoon.
8/27
Princess Takamado visits
Theme Forum of the Expo 2005 International Forums for August: “International Symposium on Climate Change: Economic and Industrial Development in Harmony with the Environment”
September
9/1
Global 100 Eco-Tech Awards
Commemorative symposium and awards ceremony
Seto Area opening hours
9:00-18:00 (for the duration of the Expo)
9/3
Eco-fashion show held
Fashions created by four globally active designers presented
9/4
Goodbye to the seven colors of Kiccoro
All-Star Show and Parade comes to an end
The seven different-colored Kiccoro bid goodbye to the audience.
9/7
Typhoon No. 14 approaches
Braving warnings of strong winds, 13,860 wait for the Expo to open. Total attendance this day comes to 155,915.
9/10
One-day attendance breaks 250,000!
Some 30,000 people already waiting in line for the Expo when it opens at 8:25 am. The final count for the day is 250,694.
Final lecture given by philosopher Takeshi Umehara brings “21st Century Expo 2005 University” to a close.
The scene outside the North Gate at 8:50 am
9/12
The World Intangible Cultural Heritage “Nogaku Theater”
Performance along with avant-garde artists realized at the Expo
Participation by five Living National Treasures, including Sensaku Shigeyama
9/13
Aichi Prefecture Week Part 2 begins
Theme of “Aichi in the Coming Global Era” (through September 19)
Spectacular fireworks during Aichi Prefecture Week (September 13)
9/14
Friendship Film Festival
Documentaries on friendship are shown
9/16
Over 20 million visitors
The 176th day of the Expo. With the goal of 15 million visitors achieved on August 18, attendance continues to grow at a fast pace.
9/18
Attendance temporarily restricted for the first time 280,000 visitors in a single day
As the venue capacity of 170,000 was greatly exceeded, entrance to the Expo was temporarily limited from 12:50 pm to after 6:00 pm.
Visitors waiting outside the West Gate at 1:00 pm
9/19
Shanghai Week begins (through September 25)
PR for the location of the 2010 Shanghai Expo
Women musicians “Twelve Girls Band” performs at Expo Plaza during Shanghai Week
9/19
Second Round of Nature's Wisdom Awards
9/21
Closing Forum of the Expo 2005 International Forums: “Toward the Creation of Sustainable Society”
Expo Dome
9/22
Fifth Meeting of the International Council of Expo 2005
President Ole Philipson makes an announcement concerning the impressions of Expo 2005 and its future legacy expressed by council members. Philipson lauds Expo 2005, holding it up as a model for future world expositions, both in terms of thematic relevance and management.
BIE Secretary General Loscertales (right) and International Council President Philipson (left) at a press conference
9/23
Aichi-Shanghai Joint Symposium
9/24
BIE Day held at Expo Hall
Special group-reading performance
Wishing for the success of the 2008 World
Exposition in Zaragoza and the 2010 World
Exposition in Shanghai
Performers and representatives of BIE member countries take part in a finale
9/25
Crown Prince visits and attends Closing Ceremony
Closing Ceremony (Expo Dome)
Approx. 2,250 people attend. Honorary President the Crown Prince says that he hopes visitors will take their experiences with them around the world and that this will lead to a movement to address global issues. The BIE flag is passed to Shanghai, the host of the 2010 World Exposition.
Seto Area Grand Finale: “The Pulse of the Earth”
Grand Finale Farewell Party
Expo Plaza, each Global Common, NGO Global Village, and FM Love Earth
Final Ceremony
Morizo and Kiccoro's return to the forest
Flag lowering
Closing Ceremony: People singing “Friends Love Believing Expo 2005”
Flag lowering
End of Expo 2005
Last day sees 244,052 visitors
Since the opening, a total of 22,049,544 visitors
Attendants shake the hands of visitors
