Osaka's bid to host the 2025 World Exposition earned a stamp of approval from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government Tuesday.
The Cabinet decision comes amid mounting concerns about the strength of the bid made by Paris, which is also vying to hold the international exhibition, as well as questions about who would pay for needed infrastructure projects.
Despite these problems, support from the central government had been expected. Abe is close to Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui, who heads the nominal opposition party Nippon Ishin no Kai, and the two men and their parties share similar views on many issues.