Woman's 20-year mission to unite people as she breaks record with World Expo attendance
A Japanese woman keen to learn about the world broke a Guinness World Records title for the most days visiting expos after spending 1.7 years at the events.
Incredibly, Tomiyo Yamada, 76, has been visiting the World Expo for the past 20 years. The total number of days she has been at an expo site now amounts to a whooping 648, and she's still counting.
Tomiyo Yamada at 2005 Expo Aichi
Tomiyo's first visit to the World Expo was in Aichi in 2005. Back then, Tomiyo's health was unstable, with her having surgeries and going in and out of hospitals frequently. However, after going to the Expo regularly, a doctor said her health was improving and suggested she should visit the event more often.
According to Tomiyo, there were plenty of other reasons to go along.
She said: "I experienced many exhibits, and met many people from around the world. As that year's Expo focused on the environment, I was worried about the Earth, but I realized through the Expo that we can change the course of the environment."
At a volunteer meeting of Expo 2017 Astana
In the end, Tomiyo went to every single day of the Expo - all 185 days of it. And while there, she made many acquaintances and friends. When they suggested they should meet again at the next World Expo, Tomiyo wanted to honour that.
She kept up with her exercise to keep fit and as healthy as possible in the following years (and decades) in order to make it to the next expo, and the one after that, and so on.
Tomiyo Yamada receives a certificate from Shanghai Expo Committee for attending every single day of the Expo
As a result, Tomiyo was able to visit Expo Shanghai 2010, Expo 2015 Milano, and Expo 2020 Dubai. In addition, Tomiyo visited specialized expos in 2008 (Zaragoza), 2012 (Yeosu), and 2017 (Astana), as well as horticultural expos in 2019 (Beijing) and 2023 (Doha Qatar).
For Shanghai and Yeosu, Tomiyo was awarded by the committee for visiting every single day of the Expo (184 days and 93 days respectively).
At the gate of the Expo 2025 Osaka on the opening day
Fast forward to 2025: the World Expo had returned to Japan. Tomiyo was ready to take it on fully by going to every single day of it. She even rented an apartment (with a view of the Expo site) to make the visit easier.
Even though Tomiyo had learned a lot in 20 years of expo-going, she had realized some things even at Osaka Expo. One was that even people living in hot climates found the Japanese summer extremely challenging.
Purchasing six-month Osaka Metro commuter pass
At first, Tomiyo hadn't thought about applying for a Guinness World Records title at all. But that all changed about a month into the Expo, when 12,269 people (consisting of 333 groups) clinched a record title for the largest marching band.
"When I saw the participants' joy in breaking a record, that also brought joy to me. Achievements like that are contageous - it makes other people inspired to do something," she said.
With Manuel Salchli, Commissioner General of Swiss Pavilion
Tomiyo added: "A lot of people wish me luck when I'm at the Expo. The reason why I've been able to keep going was thanks to all the people I've met at each site. I felt I now have the opportunity to say thanks to all the people who supported me over the last 20 years."
Of course, going to Expo every day is not an easy task. Sometimes, she pushed herself to go even if she was not feeling perfect, or simply didn't feel like going. She said she pulled encouragement from the peple who told her "do come again tomorrow".
After successfully achieving a Guiness World Records title for the 648 days and counting she's visited, Tomiyo was simply thankful.
She said: "Looking back, 20 years was indeed a long time. There were a lot of tough moments in order to keep going this long, but it's people that changes other people's mindset. It's people that kept me going, so I am truly thankful for all those who supported me."
Tomiyo continues to profess the importance of people all over the world meeting up, helping each other, and interacting with each other in a friendly manner through attending expos.
"Expo is an alternative Earth, where people are bound by smiles," she said. "Same should be true in the real Earth. Smiles will overcome any obstacle and bring people together. I wish for a world without wars and conflicts."