The organizers of the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka, western Japan, have invited the media to the construction site of the Grand Roof, the symbol of the venue.

The Grand Roof, also called the Ring, was unveiled to the media on Monday, showing the progress in its construction. Three consortiums have been commissioned to take part in the project.

When completed, the Ring will be one of the world's largest wooden structures with a circumference of 2 kilometers and a height of between 12 and 20 meters.

The construction cost is set at roughly 230 million dollars.

The pillars and beams are connected using a traditional method, which has been used for Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples in Japan. Metal bolts are used to make the roof more earthquake-resistant and durable.

An 8-meter-wide walkway will be built on the Ring, where visitors can have a bird's eye view of the venue.

The consortiums say about one-third of the roof has been assembled. Three sections will be created and joined to form the Ring in late 2024.

Public opinion on the Ring has been divided after it was revealed that the cost for the Expo is projected to total 1.6 billion dollars -- almost double the initial budget.

On social media, some people say the Ring is costly, but they expect that it will be worth the money.

But others say construction of the Ring is a waste of taxpayers' money and outrageously expensive, given that it will be dismantled after the six-month event.

Everything at the venue is expected to be dismantled after the event closes, and the land will be returned to Osaka City.

The organizers say they plan to reuse the Ring after disassembling it.

Osaka Governor Yoshimura Hirofumi has hinted at the possibility of preserving the Ring elsewhere.