section_path: Opening ceremony and operations
section_name: Opening ceremony and operations
paragraph_text: Opening ceremony and operations
  
  Prior to Expo 2025, around 9.69 million advance tickets were sold. A rehearsal for Expo 2025 was conducted from 4 to 6 April, a week before the opening. About 98,000 people attended, including those from exhibiting companies (who attended on 4 April) and Osaka residents and citizens selected through advance applications and lottery (who attended on 5 and 6 April). A media preview was hosted on 9 April. The dedication ceremony for Expo 2025 took place on 12 April 2025 at the EXPO Hall "Shine Hut" and the EXPO National Day Hall "Ray Garden". The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, Crown Prince Akishino, and 1,300 representatives of participating nations. The theme of the opening ceremony was "Re-Connect: Circulate, Resonate, Return, Connect". After Naruhito gave an opening address, Akishino, Honorary President of the Expo, performed an "opening action" by placing his hand over the activation panel to open the Expo.
  
  Expo 2025 officially opened the following day, 13 April. At the time of the opening, eight foreign nations' pavilions were incomplete. Visitor numbers lagged expectations during Expo 2025's first week. Even though the exposition was expected to attract 28.2 million total visitors (or 150,000 visitors per day), the event had not recorded that number of visitors on any day during its opening week. Expo 2025 recorded its one-millionth visitors 10 days after the exposition opened, on 23 April.