International Horticultural Expo Association Chair Yoshinobu Tsutsui and BIE Secretary General Kerkenz met Wednesday to confirm cooperation for the upcoming expo [1].

The meeting aims to align the event with global initiatives regarding climate change and sustainable urban development. By coordinating preparations now, the organizers hope to maximize worldwide participation and leverage the event as a platform for international collaboration.

Tsutsui said he expects the expo to be a stage for international cooperation that connects nature with people and people with each other by linking the wisdom and experience of various countries and international organizations [1].

Kerkenz pledged full support for the event [1]. He said he wants to carry the momentum from the Kansai Expo over to the horticultural expo [1].

The event is scheduled to open in March 2027 [1]. Preparations have accelerated as the countdown progressed, with reports in early June indicating fewer than 300 days remained until the opening [2].

To emphasize the theme of greenery and sustainability, the expo plans to feature 10 million plants and greenery [3]. This massive scale is intended to showcase sustainable city models and the intersection of nature and urban living.

The cooperation between the BIE and the Horticultural Expo Association is designed to ensure the event transcends a local exhibition and functions as a global summit on environmental resilience. Both leaders said that the synergy between international bodies will be critical to the event's success [1].

“I expect [the expo] to be a stage for international cooperation that connects nature with people”

The alignment between the BIE and the International Horticultural Expo Association suggests a strategic effort to pivot the 2027 event from a traditional gardening show toward a high-level policy forum on urban sustainability. By linking the event's success to the momentum of the Kansai Expo, organizers are attempting to create a continuous cycle of international interest in Japan's capacity to host large-scale, environmentally focused global gatherings.