Press Conference by Minister Muto (Excerpt)

*Note: This is a provisional translation for reference purposes only.

11:04-11:11 a.m.
Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Press Conference Room, METI Main Building

Opening Remarks

Visit to Aomori

On Thursday, October 2, I will visit Rokkasho Village in Aomori to inspect the Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited (JNFL)’s Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant, MOX Fuel Fabrication Plant and other facilities. Resolving backend issues, including those related to the nuclear fuel cycle, is essential for ensuring citizens’ trust and securing the stable use of nuclear power. In particular, the Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant is currently benefiting from a concerted effort by both the public and private sectors to meet the target of completion within FY2026. During this visit, I will directly observe the plant’s efforts in responding to the regulatory examination and implementing construction work for safety measures, and exchange views with Mr. Masuda Naohiro, JNFL Executive President, and other members of JNFL’s management regarding the progress toward completion of the plant.

Approval of Plans for Support Focusing on Price Differences under the Hydrogen Society Promotion Act

Today, under the Hydrogen Society Promotion Act, I approve two plans that qualify for support focusing on price differences. This marks the first approval since the Act came into effect in October last year. One of the approved plans involves the use of green hydrogen produced by Toyota Tsusho Corporation and others in Tokai City, Aichi Prefecture, where Aichi Steel Corporation will manufacture green steel in a domestic electric furnace using green hydrogen, which is an industry-first initiative. Another plan involves the gasification of waste plastics by Resonac Corporation in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, to produce hydrogen and ammonia, with the ammonia then used for manufacturing and sale as raw materials for clothing, which is a first-of-its-kind initiative in Japan. Both plans are pioneering examples of how hydrogen and its derivative can be used to achieve decarbonization while enhancing industrial competitiveness. I am confident that these businesses have high policy significance from the perspectives of reducing emissions in hard-to-electrify sectors, such as steel and chemicals, and in creating new markets. We will continue to support such projects so that technologies in which Japanese companies excel, and the products developed from them, will be deployed both domestically and internationally, and environmentally valuable products utilizing hydrogen and ammonia will be made available to a wider range of users. Further details will be provided later in a briefing by the administrative staff.

Question-and-Answer Session

Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan

Q: I have one question about the Expo. The total number of general visitors to Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai has exceeded 22 million, surpassing the threshold for profitability and also exceeding that of Expo 2005 Aichi. Could you share your thoughts on this? Also, with only a short time left in the Expo’s run, how do you currently plan to preserve its legacy going forward?

A: Since the opening in April, we have welcomed a tremendous number of visitors from both Japan and overseas. As mentioned, the cumulative number of visitors, including Expo affiliates, has exceeded 25 million, and the ticket-based cumulative attendance has surpassed 22 million. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to those responsible this success. Moreover, this Expo has seen participation from 165 countries, regions, and international organizations. Even amid ongoing global conflicts and tensions, I believe that the Expo holds profound significance as an opportunity to engage with people and cultures from diverse countries and to feel a sense of connection with the global community. It has also served as a venue for business interaction, and through showcasing the appeal of regions across Japan and demonstrating cutting-edge technologies, it has played a role in creating opportunities to shape a positive vision for Japan’s future. Regarding the legacy, based on instructions from Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, a framework will be established under the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Minister in Charge of the World Expo 2025 to begin discussions after the event’s closure on how to preserve and carry forward its achievements. We intend to deepen discussions with relevant stakeholders on both the physical legacy, such as the Grand Roof Ring, and the intangible legacy leading to the social implementation of its innovations.

Q: Regarding the current Expo, while it is thriving, there remains the issue of how to handle unused tickets. As this has become a challenge in the final stages, how do you, as Minister, intend to address it?

A: From before the Expo opened, we have consistently encouraged visitors to make early reservations. As you know, since August, only date-specific tickets have been available in order to promote advance booking. Moreover, we have introduced new measures. In addition to allowing a few hundred same-day ticket exchanges for unused tickets, we now enable holders of unused tickets exclusively to reserve thousands of entry slots two days in advance. We deeply regret the difficulty some face in securing visit date and time reservations despite having purchased tickets, and the limited number of same-day exchanges available under the new measure. However, given safety considerations and the maximum capacity of the venue, these measures were designed to minimize unused tickets. We ask for your understanding and continued cooperation as the Expo enters its final phase.