NAGOYA, Japan, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- The 2005 World Exposition in central Japan's Aichi prefecture has ended after six months and 22 million visitors.
Four international organizations and 121 countries, as well as local governments and Japan's business giants Toyota, Hitachi and Toshiba, sponsored pavilions to raise awareness about global environmental issues under the Expo 2005 theme of "Nature's Wisdom."
The total number of visitors was 22,049,544, far exceeding the initial target of 15 million set by the exposition organizers.
At Sunday afternoon's closing ceremony at the Expo Dome, Crown Prince Naruhito, honorary president of the exposition, said, "Through this exposition we learned about nature's great system and the strength of life as well as the importance of working toward a society in which people and nature coexist through respecting nature's wisdom."
Ticket sales brought $133.6 million more than expected for a total of $378.5, and the event is likely to see a net profit of some $44 million.
