In an age of division, 158 countries gather in Japan, which has a strong connection to the World Expo
On April 4, the Osaka Kansai Expo opened. The Expo is an international event that "promotes human progress and international cooperation." Expo 13 is being held in Osaka, Kansai, Japan. It features pavilions from 158 countries and regions around the world, including the currently conflicting territories of Palestine and Israel, and Ukraine, as well as seven international organizations, many companies, and a number of themed pavilions.
These various exhibits, which could be said to be a microcosm of the world today, are gathered under the theme of "Designing a Future Society for Life," inside and around the "Big Roof Ring," the world's largest wooden structure, with a circumference of 2 km. Walking around the Big Roof Ring and looking down at these pavilions, you can feel a connection with the world today. This is a rare and precious experience.
Each country and company explores and chooses the exhibits and pavilions that will best showcase their country.
For example, the Italian Pavilion, which has an interior structure modeled after the Colosseum, exhibits the "Atlas of the Farnese," a marble sculpture created in ancient Rome 2000 years ago, as well as Leonardo da Vinci's original sketches. The Vatican Pavilion, also located in the Italian Pavilion, has the theme "Beauty brings hope," and is exhibiting Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio's masterpiece "The Entombment of Christ." The French Pavilion, which is shaped like a theater and has the theme "Hymne vitae," features Rodin's hand sculpture, which is being exhibited for the first time outside of a museum, and an exhibition centered on a 1000-year-old olive tree, said to be the most powerful spot in the Expo site.
The United States is also exhibiting moon rocks, while China is exhibiting sand from the far side of the moon.
The Saudi Arabian pavilion, which will host the next World Expo in 2030, will make visitors feel as if they have been transported to Saudi Arabia from the moment they step inside, where they can enjoy traditional dancing and coffee.
The Italian Pavilion's theme is "L'Arte Rigenera la Vita (Art Regenerates Life)." The impressive Roman marble sculpture "Farnese Atlas" from the 2nd century AD, which will be on display in Japan for the first time, is the symbol of the museum and represents the fusion of scientific knowledge and artistic skill.
The French Pavilion is based on the theme of "amour (love)," which is what many people associate with France. Each exhibit is a highlight of the exhibition, with the themes of "love of oneself," "love of others," and "love of nature." The luxurious exhibits by the maisons that symbolize the country are eye-catching, but the 1000-year-old olive tree in the courtyard, which was brought from the south of France, is also one of the highlights. A Shinto ceremony was held in front of the tree shortly after the opening.
The Japan Pavilion features exhibits such as a Martian rock that fell to the Antarctic about 1000 million years ago and was discovered by the Antarctic Research Expedition, as well as unique Japanese technologies (technology for turning waste into resources, technology for creating new materials using countless algae, and technology for deliberately making things soft and fragile).
It's amazing enough that all the incredible exhibits you would normally see in an art gallery or museum are gathered in one place from all over the world, but in addition to this, there are also performances, parades, talks and other events taking place all over the venue, featuring people dressed in national costumes from various countries.
The first World's Fair was held in London in 1851. The organizing body, the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), was established in 1928, but Japan actually has a surprisingly deep connection with the World's Fair.
The 1878 Paris World's Fair sparked the spread of the "Japonism" movement, which had a major influence on art such as Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, and Art Nouveau. 92 years later, the 1970 Osaka Expo was the first World's Fair in Asia, and remains the most successful one to date. It attracted 6420 million visitors, making it the most popular Expo of all time (it is currently in second place) until the 2010 Shanghai World's Fair (7300 million visitors).
The 2005 Aichi Expo (Expo 21 Aichi, Japan) was the first World Expo of the 2025st century, and the XNUMX Osaka-Kansai Expo will be Japan's third BIE-certified "Registered Expo" (there are currently other "Certified Expos" that are medium-sized expositions held for three months with special themes).
The fact that Japan is hosting the third World Expo since the COVID-2015 pandemic, a popular travel destination, is enough to make it noteworthy, but in fact, at the most recent Milan Expo in 2020 and Dubai Expo in 228, Japan's exhibits were among the most popular in terms of both visitor numbers and evaluation, winning consecutive gold awards in the exhibition design category. The Japan Pavilion at Milan Expo, which was visited by XNUMX million people, was more popular than the pavilion of host country Italy, and it was also talked about when Italians, who hate queuing, queued for up to nine hours. With Japan as the host country this time, there are high expectations for the World Expo.
Looking at the world today, we see growing tensions in international relations due to the growing nationalism among major powers, and international organizations such as the United Nations and the WHO are often unable to fulfill their roles adequately.
Meanwhile, 158 countries participated in this year's World Expo. Although this is not as many as the 246 countries that participated in the Shanghai World Expo or the 192 countries that participated in the Dubai World Expo, it is the third highest number of countries to date, more than double the number of countries that participated in the 3 Osaka World Expo, and nearly 1970 more than the 2005 Aichi World Expo.
Among the three countries, there is a pavilion for Israel, which is currently in conflict, and in the building called COMMONS, where small and medium-sized countries exhibit together, there is also an exhibit for Palestine, which is also a conflicting enemy, where some of the exhibits, such as traditional embroidery, had empty display stands because the delivery was delayed due to Israeli military occupation, which became a topic of conversation (Israel denied this. The exhibits arrived safely on April 4th and began displaying). Similarly, there is a pavilion for Ukraine, which is currently in conflict, with an exhibit on the theme of democratic values that the country is trying to protect from Russian aggression.
VIPs from various countries are also scheduled to visit the Expo site, including the Emperor and Empress of Japan who attended the opening ceremony, and the Danish Prime Minister Frederick
It is said that the State Guest House will host around 2 foreign dignitaries and leaders, along with their accompanying guests. In addition, for example, a representative from an organization that brings together Italy's top brands will visit, hold a panel discussion with top Italian and Japanese designers and chefs, and hold an event promoting MADE IN ITALY. For the next six months, the Expo site will truly be the center of international exchange around the world.
At the Osaka-Kansai Expo, all participating countries, including those in conflict with each other, as well as the pavilions of seven international organizations, are all housed inside the same large roof ring.
The Japan Pavilion was produced and designed by Oki Sato of the globally acclaimed designer, Nendo. It is made up of three areas: the Plant Area, themed on turning "garbage" into "water", the Farm Area, themed on turning "water" into "materials", and the Factory Area, themed on turning "materials" into "things". The area introduces Japan's approach to manufacturing, which it excels at. In the center is a courtyard filled with water, and in front of it are exhibits of Martian rocks discovered by an Antarctic expedition, and the extremely thin slices of Martian rocks are on display and can be touched.
Saudi Arabia's pavilion ahead of the Riyadh Expo in 2030. The pavilion was designed by Foster+Partners, a leading British architect, Sir Norman Foster, and was inspired by traditional Saudi Arabian urban structures. When you enter the pavilion, you feel as if you have wandered into the Saudi Arabian desert. In the central square, traditional dances called Qubaiti dances are occasionally performed. The coffee made with traditional cardamom and the food served in the restaurant are also popular.
Private companies and organizations gather to display the challenges and visions of future society
The Expo site is not just home to pavilions from countries and international organizations. In the "East Gate Zone" on the east side of the large roof ring, there are pavilions with themes that will be important in the future society, such as the "Women's Pavilion in collaboration with Cartier" (Cabinet Office, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Richemont Japan Co., Ltd. Cartier, and Expo Association), which aims to create a world where all people can live truly equally, and the "Osaka Healthcare Pavilion" (Osaka Prefecture, Osaka City, Osaka Pavilion of the 2025 Japan World Expo, a public interest incorporated association), where you can learn about future medical care and food.
The exterior of the Women's Pavilion was designed by architect Yuko Nagayama and features a striking three-dimensional lattice design that combines the Japanese hemp leaf pattern and arabesque motif, and was created using recycled building materials from the Japan Pavilion at the Dubai Expo.
The interior design was done by the stage designer Eze Devlin, who is known for his work on the Olympic Games, and the exhibit tells the life stories of three women, including Banana Yoshimoto, and includes various statistics that help understand the position of women in modern society. Next to the rooftop, which has a beautiful courtyard, is the Kanenren Hall, where various talk events are planned to be held.
Around the "West Gate Zone," a total of 21 exhibitions and events are being held under six themes, including smart mobility, greenery, art, and future life, under the name of the "Future Society Showcase."
The highlight is the "flying car," which has a theater that provides an immersive experience showcasing its appeal, and occasionally demonstration flights are also held at a dedicated takeoff and landing site.
Another highlight is the "Future City Pavilion," which exhibits "future experiences with 12 attractions" co-created by the Expo Association and 15 companies and organizations.
In addition to the pavilions where multiple companies worked together to exhibit, there were also 13 private pavilions where companies from fields such as communications, energy, medicine, and entertainment exhibited individually.
The NTT Pavilion is well worth seeing, not only for its exhibits looking back on the history of human communication, but also for its next-generation information and communications infrastructure "IOWN," which will be capable of spatial transmission and is scheduled to be implemented in society in 2030, where visitors can experience a recording of a Perfume live concert transmitted through the air, with not only the footage being XNUMXD but also transmitting vibrations, making it a truly fascinating experience.
PASONA NATUREVERSE, by the Pasona Group, uses a story featuring popular characters from manga artist Tezuka Osamu to exhibit the future of medical care, including a heart made from iPS cells.
The Sumitomo Pavilion expresses the mountains, the origin of the group, which has a 400-year history of using forests as the foundation of its development, in a beautiful wooden pavilion. Inside the pavilion, there is a theme park-style exhibit called "UNKNOWN FOREST" that visitors can freely explore, as well as a reservation-only reforestation experience program.
The NTT Pavilion is known for its PARALLEL TRAVEL, a "pavilion that travels through time and space." Using spatial transmission technology from the next-generation information and communications infrastructure "IOWN," the live performance by Perfume, which took place at the Expo in 1970 just before the opening, was transmitted in XNUMXD, including the vibrations. You can relive the recorded footage. There are also exhibits that look back on the history of moving communication technology. All of the works by the creative team, who were also in charge of Japan's production at the closing ceremony of the Rio Olympics, are of overwhelmingly high quality.
The Sumitomo Pavilion is eye-catching with its beautiful wooden pavilion made from cedar and cypress trees grown in Sumitomo Forest. Its strange shape is modeled after the mountain ridges of the Besshi Copper Mine in Ehime Prefecture, which was the foundation of the Sumitomo Group's development. Inside this pavilion, a forest that looks just like the real thing spreads out, and it is a popular attraction where you can explore with a guide lantern in hand and learn about the ecology of the forest while interacting with forest creatures and wind spirits. Beautiful animal animations and paper cutouts by artists are hidden in several places in the forest. In the final theater, dancers playing wind spirits dance in beautiful images to tell the story of the forest. There is also a corner where you can experience reforestation by reservation and see the seeds of ideas that will lead to the future. This is a recommended pavilion with a high level of completion and an interesting ingenuity and story behind each and every product on sale.
The private pavilions are home to exhibitors not only from companies but also from non-profit organizations.
The BLUE OCEAN DOME is a pavilion by the non-profit organization ZERI Japan, which is themed around the sustainable use of marine resources and the protection of marine ecosystems in order to realize the "Osaka Blue Ocean Vision," which was announced at the 2019 G20 Osaka Summit and aims to reduce additional pollution from marine plastic waste to zero by 2050.The three domes, made of three different materials designed by architect Shigeru Ban, feature an exhibit that shows the water cycle using Japanese craftsmanship, an unprecedented video experience on a giant ultra-high definition spherical screen that tells the story of the ocean, and video interviews sharing wisdom about the ocean.
Although they are not in the form of a pavilion, the restaurants that have opened at the Expo are also making proposals and taking on challenges for the future. For example, the conveyor belt sushi chain Sushiro's store at the Expo site is offering the "Fish of Tomorrow" series, which is environmentally friendly and uses sea urchins that have become emaciated due to the coastal denudation phenomenon caused by global warming and are then farmed on land to fatten them up. The stores also have content that allows children to learn about environmental issues while having fun, like playing a game.
The Blue Ocean Dome, themed "Revival of the Ocean," is a hidden gem of a booth, designed by Shigeru Ban and produced and planned by Kenya Hara. It is made up of three domes, the "Circulation" dome is made of laminated bamboo, the "Ocean" dome is made of CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic), and the "Wisdom" dome is made of cardboard tubes. The 17m-tall spherical display in the second dome is attracting attention as a visual experience never before seen by mankind (the video was produced by WOW).
The Expo 2020: Eight of Japan's leading producers exhibit to help people understand the importance of nature
At the 1970 Osaka Expo, artist Taro Okamoto was chosen as the thematic exhibition producer, and was responsible for the Tower of the Sun, which still stands today.
In response to this, instead of entrusting everything to one person, eight experts active in different fields were selected as thematic project producers for this Expo. Biologist Fukuoka Shinichi, animation director Kawamori Shoji, filmmaker Kawase Naomi, television writer Koyama Kundo, world authority on android research and Osaka University professor Ishiguro Hiroshi, musician and STEAM educator Nakajima Sachiko, media artist Ochiai Yoichi, and Keio University professor Miyata Hiroaki have produced eight pavilions with the themes of "Knowing Life," "Nurturing Life," "Protecting Life," "Weaving Life," "Expanding Life," "Enhancing Life," "Refining Life," and "Resonating Life," and these are being built near the Water Plaza, where a water-based show will be held as one of the central exhibits of this Expo.
The most popular piece is Yoichi Ochiai's "null²," which aims to create a "spectacle never before seen by mankind." The pavilion is entirely covered in mirrors, which Ochiai calls the most powerful imaging device, and continuously projects images of the surrounding scenery, visitors, and the sky. The appearance is always changing even without these devices, but the surface is further distorted and transformed by vibrations caused by low-pitched sounds and deformations caused by robotic arms. The exterior alone is quite eccentric and entertaining, but the inside is also completely covered in mirrors, and the images are constantly changing, foreshadowing Ochiai's vision of a future in which digital has become as commonplace as nature. Furthermore, if people who make a reservation for the experience register their data in advance, they will be able to project their digital avatar onto the screen.
Another highlight is Hiroshi Ishiguro's "Future of Life" exhibition, an experiential exhibition that shows a society 50 years from now where androids have become a part of society and humans have begun to mechanize parts of their bodies, and a society 1000 years from now where humans have begun to design their own bodies. It is in the form of a story with many thought-provoking themes, and leaves you feeling as satisfied as if you had just watched a movie.
Naomi Kawase produced "Dialogue Theater - Testimony of Life," in which a visitor is chosen to hold a one-off dialogue based on a pre-prepared theme, while the other participants listen. In addition to the theme, the pavilion was made by relocating three abandoned school buildings from Nara and Kyoto, and the garden where plants were carefully nursed and transplanted created a calm atmosphere that was completely different from the other pavilions.
Shinichi Fukuoka's "Dynamic Equilibrium of Life" depicts the drama of life on Earth over the last 38 billion years with 32 delicate particles of light, and introduces Fukuoka's view of what "life" is.
Shoji Kawamori's "Adventures of Life" regards mating and food chains as the fusion and transformation of life, and introduces them through six experiences (and a virtual experience), including an immersive one.
Broadcast writer Kundo Koyama produced "EARTH MART," which brings together various insights about food, the Japanese culture that is attracting the most attention worldwide, with the theme of "weaving life." Past articles:Osaka Kansai Expo 1 Exploring XNUMX. The story of life woven by Koyama Kundo Museum "EARTHMART"
Nakajima Sachiko's "Jellyfish House, a Playground of Life" is a playground-like pavilion that children can enjoy, where they can watch footage of festivals from around the country and enjoy live music, while Miyata Hiroaki's "Better Co-Being" features an outdoor pavilion by the world-famous architectural unit SANAA, as well as works by Chiharu Shiota, Tatsuo Miyajima, and Miyata himself, and on sunny days only, you can enjoy an artificial rainbow.
This alone should be enough to make it clear that this Expo is well worth seeing, but in addition, there are also public art works displayed throughout the site by some of Japan's leading artists, displays of Japan's most famous characters such as Pokémon, and even rest areas and toilets designed by promising young Japanese creators, each of which can be enjoyed for its architectural design, the technology used, or the stories behind the building materials.
Produced by Yoichi Ochiai, null² is an organic monument whose undulating mirror surface melts into the landscape. Ochiai says that "mirrors are the highest resolution real-time media," and this transforming monument continues to transform the landscape. While the outside is a physical mirror, the inside is a digital mirror that generates information. This structure, with the two overlapping, embodies Ochiai's idea of "digital nature," where technology and nature blend together.
"The Future of Life" produced by Hiroshi Ishiguro is structured to allow viewers to relive a story set in a future society 50 years from now, where androids and people who have mechanized their bodies to extend their lifespan are commonplace members of society. In the underground space, a human being 1000 years from now, floating freely in the sky as envisioned by Ishiguro, who created this in collaboration with fashion designer Tamae Hirokawa, is on display, where humans can shape themselves as they like.
Among the many futuristic exhibits at the Expo site, Naomi Kawase's pavilion stands out as a unique space that exudes the warmth of the students who attended the pavilion every day. The dialogue experience in the theater is wonderful, but the wooden school buildings and gardens relocated from Nara and Kyoto are soothing.
The Expo site is filled with artificial pavilions. In the center of the site is the "Forest of Silence," which was created by moving trees that were scheduled to be cut down, and there is also a pond in the center. It also functions as a place to calm the mind and organize the various things you have seen and heard at the Expo. Public art pieces by artists including Yoko Ono are placed here and there in the forest, as well as a "Thinking Bench" created by three of Japan's leading creators.
The walls of Rest Area 4 (designed by Hattori Daisuke + Niimori Yudai | First-class architectural firm Schenk Hattori + Niimori Jamison), next to Silent Forest, which was created with the theme of imagining "life on the other side," feature paintings by artist Miyake Mai, who adds a unique perspective to the delicacy and depth of traditional arts and crafts. The undulating roof represents Osaka Bay, and sea creatures including octopuses are depicted. The creatures you see change depending on where you stand/sit, making this an art piece that makes use of the space, where you cannot see everything at the same time.
It is very Japanese to have these non-pavilion "ma" spaces provided here and there, and the largest of these is the "Forest of Silence" in the center of the Expo site. It was created by transplanting approximately 1,500 trees that were scheduled to be cut down within Osaka, and it is a place where you can feel the healing power of nature in the midst of the artificial Expo site, with not only trees, but also water basins placed here and there and public art by world-famous artists such as Yoko Ono and Leandro Erlich.
From the moment visitors enter the venue to the moment they leave, the world's largest wooden structure, the "Great Roof Ring," continues to delight the eyes of visitors. Not only can visitors walk on top of it and enjoy the view of the venue, including pavilions from around the world, and the sea that stretches out outside, but it also serves as the stage for various parades, and even if they just look at it from afar or pass through it, they will be delighted by the beauty of the wooden structure, constructed using the same "nuki" construction method as Kiyomizu-dera Temple.
The most symbolic feature of this Expo is the large roof called the Ring. The contrast between the evening sky, the Expo site, and the sea outside seen from the Ring in the evening, and the Ring reflected on the surface of the water in the Water Plaza, are sure to be your fondest memories of this Expo.
Osaka/Kansai Expo
Business hours: 9:00-22:00 (Last admission 1 hour before closing)
Access: Immediately after getting off at Yumeshima Station on the Osaka Metro Chuo Line (2-minute walk from the East Gate), there are also shuttle buses from major Keihanshin stations, Kansai International Airport, and Itami Airport, and water access (harbor shuttle boats)
Profile
Nobuyuki Hayashi
Began writing for domestic and international media as a tech journalist in 1990. Covered the latest trends and conducted interviews with influential figures who played key roles in shaping the IT industry. In the 2000s, came to believe that technology alone cannot enrich people's lives and shifted focus to promoting the importance of good design through design-related reporting and activities such as serving as a juror. Around 2005, foresaw the transformative impact AI would have on the world and expanded into exploring contemporary art and education that question the essence of human existence, as well as delving into Japan’s regional and traditional culture. Currently, with the belief that Japan’s traditional philosophies hold invaluable inspiration for the future of society, is dedicated to sharing these values with the world. Additionally, serves as an advisor or external board member for several companies and holds the title of Visiting Honorary Professor at Kanazawa College of Art. Fondly known as "Nobi."
Lounge
Premium Salon
Nobuyuki Hayashi's Perspective
Premium Salon
