The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's World Expo Conference, TBS report "About 30 myaku myaku ...", 30 uncles? Pointed out on SNS

On February 12, 2025, 60 days until the opening of the Osaka Expo, a meeting was held at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). At that time, it was reported that a stuffed animal of the Expo character "Myakumyak" was placed in the participant's seat, and it became a hot topic on SNS. (Photo: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)

At the meeting, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Muto said, "There is an urgent need to create an environment that makes it easier for many people to obtain tickets" in response to sluggish sales of advance tickets. We were asked to promote the sale of "paper tickets" sold at convenience stores and to introduce "same-day tickets" requested by Governor Yoshimura of Osaka Prefecture

The meeting was attended by about 30 senior officials from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Each seat was filled with a stuffed toy of the official character of the Osaka Expo, "Myakumyaku". After the meeting, TBS announced that " There are about 30 myakumyak...! Social media users commented, "30 uncles" and "Who will decide the future of the Expo?" Comments criticizing the participants were conspicuous.

In addition, in response to the notation of "30 animals", it was pointed out that "Isn't it strange to count myakumyak by animals?" According to a representative of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, "Myakumyaku is set up as a god, so there is no unit to count" and "What was installed at the meeting was a stuffed animal, to be precise, 32 stuffed animals of Myakumyak" is the correct way to convey it.

In addition, TBS had called the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to confirm before the report, but the person in charge was absent. A representative of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said, "It seems that '30 animals' were reported without confirmation."

TBS was the only media affiliated with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Press Club that reported on the meeting, and it was presumed that the only news slot was not the program, but the web news "TBS CROSS DIG" linked to Bloomberg News in the United States (editorial department survey), and the report was somewhat incongruous.