Expo '85, officially called the International Exhibition, Tsukuba Japan 1985 (国際科学技術博覧会), was a world's fair held in Tsukuba Science City, Ibaraki, Japan between Sunday, March 17 and Monday, September 16, 1985. The main venue was located in town of Yatabe, and the sub venue was in village of Sakura. The theme of the fair was "Dwellings and surroundings – Science and Technology for Man at Home". Attendance was over 20 million and 48 countries participated, along with several companies.

The exposition

The exhibition recognised by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), was devoted to the advancements in science and technology, and sought to highlight the impact of technological evolution on ordinary life to ensure that science and technology would be accessible to everyone. The exhibition had a double intention. It was expected that the exposition would showcase Japan as a country of technological innovation. In addition, organisers hoped that the Expo would give some much needed exposure to Tsukuba, a city created 2 decades before as a scientific center, without much success. Among the attractions of the exposition was the first Jumbotron, a huge TV screen developed by the Japanese firm Sony. Grouped by continent, the participant countries were as follows: In regards to the companies, the ones who were present are as follows: Also present were the United Nations, the European Economic Community, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Asian Development Bank, along with the government of the Ibaraki prefecture.

Mascot

The mascot was Cosmo Hoshimaru was designed by a student in a design competition, and shows either a anthropomorphic planet with a ring or an alien astronaut with a flying saucer.

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