The originally planned collectable cut-outs of the Universe Expo's mascot, known as "Uni", will not be carried out as planned. The Japanese organisers announced this decision amidst a wave of public hesitation and disapproval. No specific reasons were given for this change, but it appears to be a response to societal concerns. It's unclear whether an alternative plan will be set in motion to replace the collectable cut-out campaign.

In Japan, Expo mascots are a cultural phenomenon and public sentiment towards them is often relatively strong. Thus, any changes or decisions involving them are generally met with public interest and concern. The "Uni" cut-outs were seen as a possible source of environmental waste and this has been a hot topic in Japanese society, therefore the decision to abandon the project was broadly welcomed.

In the US or EU, collectable items such as mascots are not as much of a social phenomenon as in Japan although they hold some cultural importance too. Environmental concerns are globally common now, and a similar decision to abort an environmental impactful plan could also be received positively, though the public response may not be as intense as it is in Japan.