TOKYO -- The World Expo to be held in Osaka next year should take place as planned, the leader of Japan's second-largest opposition group told reporters on Tuesday, defying criticism over the rising cost of the event when the country needs resources to support the earthquake-hit region.
"In regards to the budget, I don't believe that this is an either-or situation where only one of the two has to be selected, but rather both of these are important, and both are high budget priorities as well," Japan Innovation Party leader Nobuyuki Baba said at a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo, when asked whether to prioritize the Expo or the reconstruction of the Noto region struck by a powerful earthquake on New Year's Day.
