The Japanese city of Osaka will host the World Expo in 2025, after beating out cities in Russia and Azerbaijan in the race to host an event expected to draw millions of visitors and showcase the local economy and culture. Shouts of joy in Japanese rose up in the Paris auditorium where the 170 member states of the Bureau International des Expositions voted Friday in favour of Osaka's bid. Japan's economy and trade minister, Hiroshige Seko, was in the room and led his compatriots in welcoming the victory.