Cyberthreats and lone offenders: osaka expo’s security becomes a global stress test
Expo 2025 Osaka: security tightened across Japan amid fears of lone wolf attacks and cyber threats
Tokyo, April 12, 2025 – Just two days before the opening of Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japanese authorities have activated a nationwide security plan, extending heightened alert to Tokyo and beyond. At Shin-Koiwa Station, one of Tokyo’s busiest railway hubs, special police units are already rehearsing procedures against improvised explosives and unconventional attacks.
Cyberthreats and lone offenders: osaka expo’s security becomes a global stress test
The main concern does not stem from organized terrorist groups but from individual actors—so-called “lone wolves”—whose unpredictability poses a serious challenge. The fear is not unfounded: the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022 and the attempted attack on Fumio Kishida in 2023 are part of a growing list of politically or ideologically motivated actions by isolated individuals.
In response, Tokyo’s Metropolitan Police Department has equipped officers with net launchers, mobile barriers, and spike strips to stop vehicles attempting to plow into crowds. A new special division focusing specifically on lone offenders was launched on April 1, with the aim of preventing incidents not only in Osaka but anywhere people gather in large numbers.
More than 10,000 police officers will be deployed to Yumeshima—the artificial island hosting the Expo—but the security perimeter stretches across the entire country. Japan expects to welcome approximately 28 million visitors during the Expo, including numerous high-ranking dignitaries and officials from 158 countries and regions. This makes the event a high-profile target from both a symbolic and operational standpoint.
Among the more complex challenges is the threat of cyberattacks. Officials are particularly concerned about potential retaliation from pro-Russian hacker groups, especially since Ukraine will participate in the Expo, while Russia has formally withdrawn. History gives cause for caution: the 2015 Milan Expo suffered a major distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack, and in 2018, the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics were disrupted just before the opening ceremony.
Japan’s smart infrastructure—covering transport, payment systems, and communications—is among the world’s most advanced. Yet this interconnectedness is also a vulnerability: cyberattacks targeting ticketing systems, public transportation, or crowd control platforms could severely impact the Expo’s operations. Authorities are now working closely with tech providers and railway companies to implement advanced surveillance and response protocols.
What’s unfolding around Expo 2025 reveals a shift in the logic of global security. The traditional model of preventing spectacular, coordinated attacks is being replaced by a focus on continuous vigilance against spontaneous, decentralized acts—often without claims of responsibility or direct links to terrorist networks. In this context, Japan’s security perimeter is no longer physical but symbolic: the entire country becomes a potential flashpoint.
Cyberthreats and lone offenders: osaka expo’s security becomes a global stress test
Exacerbating the scenario is today’s geopolitical tension. Ongoing conflicts, digital polarization, social media propaganda, and disinformation combine to create an environment where the security of a global event depends on a nation’s overall institutional resilience. According to counterterrorism expert Isao Itabashi, “it’s not just about defending a location—it’s about preserving Japan’s image as a safe and open society.”
In this sense, Expo 2025 is far more than a showcase of innovation or culture. It is a test of Japan’s ability to balance openness with safety, and its capacity to project both technological leadership and institutional reliability at a moment when global confidence feels increasingly fragile.
Cyberthreats and lone offenders: osaka expo’s security becomes a global stress test
Visiting Expo 2025 Osaka
Expo 2025 will take place in Osaka from April 13 to October 13, 2025, on the artificial island of Yumeshima in Osaka Bay. Over 150 countries and 25 international organizations will participate, showcasing solutions for building a sustainable society of the future.
Ticket options include:
- One-day tickets: starting from ¥4,000 for adults, with price variations depending on the purchase period and visitor’s age.
- Season passes: up to ¥30,000 for adults, allowing multiple entries during the Expo’s entire run.
Tickets can be purchased via the official Expo 2025 website, through authorized travel agencies, or select online platforms. To buy tickets online, visitors must create an Expo ID, which also enables booking access to specific pavilions and events.
Getting to the Expo is easiest by public transport:
- Osaka Metro Chuo Line: extended to reach the new Yumeshima Station.
- JR Sakurajima Line: offers dedicated shuttle services.
- Airport and hotel shuttles: available for added convenience.
Where to stay:
- Osaka Bay Area: close to the Expo site, with a wide range of hotels.
- Universal Studios Japan area: ideal for combining the Expo with theme park fun.
- Central Osaka districts: Umeda and Namba are well connected by public transport.
For more details on tickets, transportation, and accommodation, visit the official Expo 2025 website and plan your trip in advance.