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During the promotion, one of the Shanghai Expo officials said to her they hoped she could visit the Shanghai Expo every day and she gave them a nod. Yamada traveled to Shanghai several times after 2005 to check out the progress of the Expo. In 2009, her family moved to Shanghai to make visiting the Expo more convenient. They have spent some 700,000 yuan to visit the Expo. "Living in Shanghai allows me to visit the Expo as an ordinary local citizen and I can feel the atmosphere better."

The Japan Pavilion is close to the China Pavilion, whose construction she followed from start to finish. For Yamada, it was like seeing her child growing up. "I used to think Chinese people's lives differ greatly from Japanese people. But after seeing the China Pavilion I can see they have plenty in common. I am moved when I feel the life and pulse of China and the changing times for the Chinese people."

Expo Grandma's journey of discovery

Tomiyo Yamada and her son visit the Japan Pavilion.[Xinhua]

"The change in Shanghai is so unbelievable. In 2005 the Expo Park was barely there and now a gorgeous one is right in front of us like in a blink of eye. Shanghai people's livelihood and quality of life have improved as well," she said.

Expo Grandma's journey of discovery

Expo Grandma Tomiyo Yamada shows off an article about herself in a Chinese newspaper.[Xinhua]

The Japan Pavilion displays the portraits of Buddhist monk Jian Zhen, one of the most notable figures in the history of communication between China and Japan. "Jian Zhen traveled to Japan seven times to spread Buddhism. Now it is like he is back in China again. The two countries really enjoy intimate connections," said Yamada.

The "Expo Grandma" has kept an Expo diary to record her daily trips to the Shanghai Expo. "This is a habit I developed from the Aichi Expo in 2005. I like to write down what I have seen every day and also post some photos. It will be my memorable gift to the Expo," she said.

As a regular visitor and a foreigner, she has her own preference. "I prefer the Puxi side of the Expo Park to the Pudong side because I think the exhibits in Puxi are closer to the main theme of the Expo. For example, on the Puxi side the China State Shipbuilding Corporation Pavilion – built from an old factory – was interesting to me. Also, the Urban Best Practices Area is very interesting, too, as it tells us how we may live and work in the future."

The media hype has made Yamada more popular than ever and requests for interviews keep coming one after another. Despite her busy schedule, however, she never forgets her full attendance plan for the Expo.

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