The Japanese minister for the World Expo 2025 in Osaka says the government has no plans to cancel or postpone the event following the massive quake that hit the Noto Peninsula.

Jimi Hanako was speaking at a news conference on Friday.

Reporters pointed out that reconstruction works in the quake-hit area are likely to aggravate the shortages of construction workers and materials for the Expo. They asked whether there is a possibility that the Expo will be rescheduled or canceled.

Jimi replied that the situation in the quake-hit region is still changing, and it is too early to say how the disaster will impact the works in the run-up to the Expo.

She said that cancelation and postponement are not the options at this point, but she stressed that recovery and reconstruction efforts in the disaster-stricken area are the top priority.

Jimi also said the government will try to grasp the situation that construction companies and their subcontractors are facing, to come up with the best way to prepare for the Expo.