Dentsu to be able to participate in bidding for the Osaka Expo project announced after February 10
Dentsu, a major advertising agency, has suspended its bidding qualifications for Osaka Prefecture for one year from February 11, 2023* in response to allegations of fraudulent transactions at the Tokyo Olympics, but will be able to participate in Osaka Prefecture's bidding from projects that will be announced on or after February 10, 2024 (Saturday). (Photo: Dentsu Kansai Office Building)
| * Dentsu has suspended bidding nominations by Osaka City (together with the Expo Promotion Bureau), the national government, Osaka Prefecture City, and the Japan Exposition Association by the business community. It is under the jurisdiction of the Japan Exposition Association public announcement Several Dentsu subsidiaries are participating in the bidding (proposal). |
Preparations are underway for the Osaka Expo, which aims to be held from April 2025, but it has been controversial due to its bloated budget, construction delays, the construction of wooden rings, and the words and actions of business leaders. As a result, the trending word "Expo cancellation" frequently appears on social media, and it has not gained support in major media polls. Osaka Prefecture and Osaka Head Office Comprehensive Partnership Agreement The Yomiuri Shimbun announced in November last year National Poll Then, 30% of the respondents said they would like to go to the Expo, and 69% said they were not convinced by the doubling of the cost of building the venue. In addition, this year, new discussions have arisen due to the occurrence of the Noto Peninsula earthquake and the remarks of politicians.
In FY2023, Dentsu Suspension of nomination During the period, several businesses are conducting public relations-related projects of the Expo Promotion Bureau (Osaka City) Contract However, the results of the poll have not been completed. In the midst of this, "one year until the opening of the World Expo," which is the perfect timing for the formation of public opinion, the suspension of Dentsu's bidding nomination will be lifted.
Last year, when Osaka Prefecture decided to suspend the appointment of Dentsu, Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura expressed concern that it would affect the momentum building for the Expo. It will be interesting to see how Dentsu will be involved in Expo-related businesses in the future.
On February 2, the editorial department asked the Expo Promotion Bureau about these matters. "We are taking it seriously because the target (of the Expo poll) has not been achieved, and we will actively disseminate information as various details are finalized in the future," he said, adding that he welcomed Dentsu's return to bidding, saying, "I welcome the creation of competition among operators and the emergence of excellent proposals." In addition, when we asked the Dentsu Public Relations Department about the lifting of the suspension of nominations in Osaka Prefecture and the system for working on the Expo, they replied, "We would like to refrain from answering questions about individual projects."
Along with the revival of Dentsu in Osaka Prefecture's bidding, the suspension of the nomination of major advertising agencies Hakuhodo and Tokyu Agency will also be lifted on March 1. These two companies were also involved in bid-rigging at the Tokyo Olympics, so since March last year Suspension of nomination I received it. As for Hakuhodo, the nomination was suspended after concluding a sponsorship partner agreement for the Expo Osaka Pavilion in 2021. However, it was not until December last year that it became clear that the contract had been continued.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has set a period of suspension of nominations for Dentsu, Hakuhodo, and Tokyu Agency in connection with fraud at the Tokyo Olympics that began in February last year and ends in August 2024 for 18 months.
