Osaka Expo opens in Japan offering a vision of the future. Here's what to know

OSAKA, Japan (AP) — The Expo 2025 opened in Osaka on Sunday with more than 10,000 people singing Beethoven's Ninth Symphony to celebrate the start of the six-month event that Japan hopes will unite the world divided by tensions and wars.

Here is what to know about the Expo 2025 Osaka:

The Osaka Expo is held at Yumeshima, which means “dream island,” a reclaimed industrial waste burial site in the Osaka Bay, where participants from more than 160 countries, regions and organizations showcase their futuristic exhibits inside about 80 pavillons of unique architecture.

“Creating a future society for our lives” is the main theme. It is Osaka's second Expo after the hugely successful 1970 event that attracted 64 million visitors, a record until Shanghai in 2010.

Organizers expect 28 million visitors through mid-October, though ticket sales have been slow, with about 9 million sold in advance, short of an initial target of 14 million.

“It’s been 55 years since the last Expo in Osaka. I've been looking forward to it,” said Daiki Chiba, who traveled from from Sendai, about 900 kilometers (560 miles) northeast of Osaka.

Many visitors carried Myaku-Myaku mascots or wore clothes matching its colors — red, blue and white — to get in the mood.

The Expo comes only four years after Japan struggled to host the no-audience Tokyo Olympics during the coronavirus pandemic.

It opens in the wake of trade wars and fears of a global economic downturn sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, the three-year Russian invasion of Ukraine and Middle East conflicts.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba compared the global tensions to a “national crisis” and said that Trump's tariffs, especially the 25% duty on automobiles, would be a blow to all industries and Japan's economy.

Still, Japan wants to turn the pinch into a chance.

“I think the timing is actually quite fitting,” said Sachiko Yoshimura, head of Expo 2025 global communications. “Holding the Expo now could eventually help to address the divisions in the world. ... I believe this Expo in Japan might actually lead to stronger international relationships and improvements."

The iconic ring, designed by architect Sou Fujimoto, is a lattice-like structure encircling the venue and recognized by the Guinness World Records as the largest wooden architecture. It is 20 meters (65 feet) high and has a 2-kilometer (1.2-mile) circumference.

The costly ring takes up more than 14% of the Expo's total spending of 235 billion yen ($1.64 billion) and has triggered public criticism.

The total cost nearly doubled from the initial estimate largely due to the weaker yen, causing construction delays. Several pavilions, including those of Nepal, India, Vietnam and Chile, were not ready for the opening.

The ring is supposed to be partially reusable, reflecting the theme of creating a sustainable future.

Exhibits of cutting-edge technology, such as robots and flying cars, as well as pop culture like Hello Kitty and Gundam, are among the highlights.

“Pavilions all look amazing,” said Laurel Sylvester from New Zealand, visiting with her husband and two children. Her family is interested in ocean sustainability and planned to visit the Blue Ocean Dome. She said the boys are “super excited to have their photo with the (big Gundam) robot and some of the interesting tech things that are going on.”

A small artificial heart made from induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS, demonstrated a heartbeat at a Japanese health care pavilion. At the Future of Life pavilion, visitors can interact with robots. A human washing machine that was a sensation at the 1970 expo returned with a high-tech makeover.

The U.S. pavilion focuses on space travel. Its lunar stone from the Apollo 12 mission, a sensation at the 1970 expo, was back on display.

China, also highlighting space technology, exhibits soil samples from its lunar missions.

Carrying a “Not for sale” sign and decorated with its blue-and-yellow national flags, Ukraine attracted many visitors with a globe and other items carrying barcodes. By scanning them, visitors can see videos showing people's lives at war and their reconstruction effort.

Dymtro Liuyi, Ukrainian creative director, said his country's participation was undecided until December due to the war. The preparation was finished Sunday morning, he said, showing blue paint on his fingers.

With its blue face encircled by red balls, some of them eyeballs, the mysterious, smiley creature Myaku-Myaku welcomes visitors.

The imaginary creature was born from the fusion of cells and water in a small spring in the Kansai region, organizers say. The friendly but clumsy character can transform into various shapes and is good at finding a rainbow after the rain.

Yamaguchi reported from Tokyo.

Workers try to put up decorations for the exterior of India's pavilion the day before the opening of the Expo 2025 in Osaka, central Japan, Saturday, April 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

Officials participate in the opening of Germany's pavilion on the opening day of the Expo 2025 in Osaka, central Japan, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

Workers try to put decorations on India's pavilion the day before the opening of the Expo 2025 in Osaka, central Japan, Saturday, April 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

Elephant sculptures are seen at Thailand's pavilion the day before the opening of the Expo 2025 in Osaka, central Japan, Saturday, April 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

The Grand Ring is seen on March 8, 2025 prior to the opening of Osaka Expo 2025 in Osaka, western Japan. (Kyodo News via AP)

The Grand Ring is seen on Friday April 11, 2025 prior to the opening day of Osaka Expo 2025 in Osaka, western Japan. (Kyodo News via AP)/

Dancers practice in preparation for Indonesia's pavilion the day before the opening of the Expo 2025 in Osaka, central Japan, Saturday, April 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

Visitors walk past Nepal's pavilion that wasn't completed for the opening day of the Expo 2025 in Osaka, central Japan, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

People visit the opening day of the Expo 2025 in Osaka, central Japan, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

India's pavilion is seen incomplete to open for the opening day of the Expo 2025 in Osaka, central Japan, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

An organizer, center, uses a robot to help navigate those who have visual Impairment, as they show its testing at the Expo 2025 on the opening day in Osaka, central Japan, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

The Grand Ring is seen on Friday April 11, 2025 prior to the opening day of Osaka Expo 2025 in Osaka, western Japan. (Kyodo News via AP)

A kangaroo sculpture is seen at Australia's pavilion the day before the opening of the Expo 2025 in Osaka, central Japan, Saturday, April 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

Visitor queue to enter the Nordic Circle pavilion on the opening day of Osaka Expo 2025 in Osaka, western Japan, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

Participants sing Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" on the opening day of Osaka Expo 2025 in Osaka, western Japan, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

NEW YORK (AP) — Nadine Menendez, the wife of former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, was convicted Monday of teaming up with her husband to accept bribes of cash, gold bars and a luxury car from three New Jersey men looking for help with their business dealings or legal troubles.

The jury returned a verdict of guilty on all counts in the same federal courthouse in Manhattan where a different jury convicted Bob Menendez of many of the same charges last year. The Democrat is supposed to begin serving an 11-year prison term in June.

Nadine Menendez's sentencing was scheduled for June 12, six days after her husband is expected to report to prison.

The evidence shown to jurors over a three-week trial followed the timeline of the whirlwind romance between the couple that began in early 2018 and continued after criminal charges were brought against them in September 2023. Repeatedly during the trial, prosecutors said they were “partners in crime.”

During a 2022 raid on the couple’s Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, home, FBI agents found nearly $150,000 worth of gold bars and $480,000 in cash stuffed in boots, shoeboxes and jackets. In the garage was a Mercedes-Benz convertible, also an alleged bribe.

Both Nadine and Bob Menendez said they are innocent and never took any bribes.

Initially, they were to be tried together, along with the three businessmen, but Nadine Menendez’s trial was postponed a year ago after she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent surgery.

Bob Menendez, 71, resigned from the Senate last August following his conviction. Before the charges were brought he had been chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Prosecutors accused Nadine Menendez of starting to facilitating bribes to the senator around the time that they began dating, before they married in the fall of 2020.

At the time, she was in danger of losing her home in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, after missing nearly $20,000 in mortgage payments, trial testimony showed. A longtime friend, Wael Hana, provided cash to save the home — and prosecutors said that in return, the senator began helping Hana preserve a business monopoly he had arranged with the Egyptian government to certify that imported meat met religious requirements.

Nadine Menendez also needed a new car after her old one was destroyed when she struck and killed a man crossing a street. (She did not face charges in the crash). Prosecutors said a businessman, Jose Uribe, gave her a Mercedes-Benz, and in return Bob Menendez used his clout to pressure the New Jersey attorney general’s office to stop investigating some of Uribe’s associates.

Prosecutor said more cash and gold bribes were paid to the couple by Fred Daibes, a prominent real estate developer who prosecutors said wanted the senator to protect him from a criminal case he was facing in New Jersey. Prosecutors said Bob Menendez also helped Daibes secure a $95 million investment from a Qatari investment fund.

Nadine Menendez, 58, was described by prosecutors at her trial as crucial to the scheme, enabling the senator to communicate with the businessmen and Egyptian government officials.

Besides his conviction on bribery charges, Bob Menendez also was convicted of acting as an agent for the Egyptian government. Prosecutors said that in return for some of the bribes, he ghostwrote a letter for Egyptian officials to give to his fellow senators to calm their concerns about human rights abuses and encourage them to lift a hold on $300 million in military aid.

Nadine Menendez’s lawyer, Barry Coburn, had argued during his closing arguments to the jury that the evidence was insufficient for a conviction.

“These things we’re talking about here are unproven,” he said.

He said the dealings the senator had with the businessmen were just what a politician is supposed to do for his constituents.

In a rebuttal argument , Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Richenthal urged the jury to convict Nadine Menendez, calling the evidence against her “consistent and overwhelming.”

Uribe pleaded guilty and testified against the others. Hana and Dabies were convicted along with the senator. Hana has been sentenced to eight years in prison while Daibes got seven years behind bars.

Nadine Menendez arrives to a federal courthouse in New York, Monday, April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Nadine Menendez arrives to a federal courthouse in New York, Monday, April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Nadine Menendez arrives to a federal courthouse in New York, Monday, April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Nadine Menendez arrives to a federal courthouse in New York, Monday, April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Nadine Menendez arrives to a federal courthouse in New York, Monday, April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Nadine Menendez arrives to a federal courthouse in New York, Monday, April 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)