Osaka Kansai Expo Organizers Grant Pass to Communist Party's Newspaper After Initial Denial

The Osaka Kansai Expo has generated attention due to its organizers' decision to issue a one-time press pass to the Akahata, the newspaper affiliated with the Japanese Communist Party, after previously refusing them entry to preview events. Initially, the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition had declined the newspaper's participation in both a test run conducted from April 4 to 6 and a media preview on April 9, asserting that the publication did not receive an invitation in alignment with their internal policies.

Subsequently, the expo organizers referenced a similar situation from the 2005 Aichi Expo when the Akahata was temporarily accredited, leading them to grant access for the ongoing event, which is scheduled to run until October 13. They will provide the newspaper with a single-use pass for each news conference and media event as requested, rather than offering a standing accreditation. Furthermore, the association has indicated that freelance journalists, who otherwise do not fit the guidelines, might still gain access depending on individual circumstances.

This backdrop of events occurs against the critical stance held by the Akahata and the JCP towards the expo. Notably, a local assembly member from the JCP highlighted safety concerns when they reported finding dangerous methane gas levels at the venue during the test run, raising alarms about the safety of the expo, which is constructed on a former landfill site.