What is Expo? Explanation of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, a World Scale Event
Category: blog
Less than 100 days remain until the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai finally opens! In Japan, the topic of the Expo has become a popular topic on TV and other media.
But, “What will I end up experiencing at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai?” I hear people say. Further research reveals that there are still many people who have no idea about the Expo itself.
So, in this issue, we will explain why the Expo is being held in an easy-to-understand manner!
Expo is “Questions and Answers”
To understand the Expo, we recommend the perspective of “questions and answers.”
For example, the theme of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan is “Designing Future Society for Our Lives. ”What do you think we should do to design a future society that shines with life?
The Expo is the place where each country presents its answer and where we can think together about it.
Let’s take a look at the answers from each country.
France Pavilion is “a hymn to Love”
© Coldefy & CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati
The legend of the red string, in which two people’s little fingers are connected to each other by an invisible magic string. We propose a new vision of the future guided by various kinds of “love” through the red thread.
France says that “love” is necessary to design a future society where life shines brightly. This is a very French answer!
Germany is a “circular economy”
© German Pavilion / MIR LAVA facts+fiction
It is very German to take up the economy!
It is said that the pavilion will be a pathway to a circular future through an integrated architectural, landscape, and exhibition experience.
The China Pavilion is “Building a Community of Life For Man And Nature — Future Society of Green Development”
© 素材提供：中国国際貿易促進委員会 (CCPIT)
Next is China.
Building a community that lives in harmony with nature will lead to a future society where life shines brightly.
The pavilion welcomes visitors with Chinese culture, which is derived from nature, adapts to nature, and lives in harmony with nature. The exterior walls are inspired by the shape of an unfolded scroll of a traditional Chinese book.
Austria pavilion is “Composing the Future”
© BWM Designers & Architects
Australia, home to the musical capital of Vienna, expresses “Designing Future Society for Our Lives” through music. The spiral-shaped objet d’art, which rises grandly toward the sky, is designed in the motif of musical scores, allowing visitors to experience the diversity and creativity of the country.
In this way, the question, “What will you do to design a future society where life shines brightly?” The exhibition will display the future as envisioned by each country, making the most of its own culture and characteristics.
Now do you have an idea of what the Expo will be like?
“Answers” from various fields. Let’s experience the society of the future!
It is not only countries that provide answers. Next, let’s look at who else besides countries can provide answers.
Signature Pavilion
©FUTURE OF LIFE / EXPO2025
Pavilion by 8 Japanese producers with different backbones.
The eight producers will think about “life” and give shape to this concept.
For example, Hiroshi Ishiguro, professor at Osaka University and visiting director of ATR Hiroshi Ishiguro Special Research Institute, plans to exhibit a future society where humans and androids/robots work together and experience cutting-edge living spaces. Kaoru Koyama, broadcaster and vice president of Kyoto University of Arts, plans a pavilion that will show how much we sacrifice other lives in order to live and have a renewed appreciation for nature.
Six others are also preparing pavilions that can only be experienced at the Expo. A diverse experience that combines the real and the virtual awaits you!
Osaka Healthcare Pavilion
提供：（公社）大阪パビリオン
Under the theme of “REBORN,” we will present answers to the question of “life” and “health” for a future society where life shines brightly. There will be exhibits and experiences for both children and adults to enjoy, and you can meet yourself in Mirai and taste Mirai’s health care food.
Women’s Pavilion in collaboration with Cartier
© Cartier
This pavilion shows the status of women’s activities in Japan and around the world.
A world where all people can truly live equally, respect each other, walk together, and demonstrate their abilities is a future society where life shines brightly. As a working woman, I share this belief!
Let’s think about the gender gap and other issues.
There are many other pavilions at the venue, including the Japan Pavilion, which will present “Designing Future Society for Our Lives” as the host country, and the Junior SDGs Camp, which will feature exhibits and hands-on programs related to the SDGs for elementary through high school students.
The word “life” may sound a little daunting, but the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai is a place where you can experience what kind of technology and thinking is important for creating a society in which we can live happily. What you experience here may come true in the future, and when it does, you may remember, “This is the one that was introduced at the Expo! You may even remember it when it comes true.
Opportunities to go to the Expo in Japan don’t come around that often, so why not go?
You can also experience the latest technology. Valuable events will also be held
Technologies exhibited at past Expos have been realized several years or even a decade later.
One familiar one in Japan is the cellular phone, the prototype of which was exhibited at the 1970 Osaka Expo. In this issue, we will introduce what kind of technology awaits us.
Advanced Air Mobility
©SkyDrive
Advanced Air Mobilitys that can carry people and objects in flight by applying technology such as drones.
Preparations are underway at the “Mobility Experience” in the northwest part of the venue.
Unfortunately, it looks like visitors will not be able to board the vehicle in time and it will only be a demonstration flight, but even so, there are high expectations for this next-generation means of air transportation! Let’s take a look at it actually flying in the sky.
Automated Driving EV Bus
Approximately 100 state-of-the-art EV (electric) buses will operate throughout the day at the venue.
Level 4 automated driving, meaning fully automated driving under specific conditions. That is, the vehicle runs completely without a driver, though under specific conditions such as location, weather, speed, and so on.
I am quite excited about this, as I have yet to drive an automated vehicle.
Automatic Translation System
Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan will be visited by many foreign visitors, who will be able to experience a future communication environment without language barriers using translation tools.
One such tool is EXPO Honyaku (Automatic Translation System). This system allows visitors to install an application on their smart phones, set the language of the other party, and the translated content will be displayed on the smart phone screen. It is also possible to output voice and communicate in 13 languages, including Japanese! The application is free of charge!
In addition, EXPO Honyaku Remete, which translates the guide’s explanations into the native language and allows visitors to listen to the audio, is also scheduled to be available. Enjoy communicating with many people with real-time translation!
Virtual EXPO
© NTT CORPORATION
Can I enjoy this Expo without coming there?
The Virtual Expo allows visitors to enter the world of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai as an avatar, 24 hours a day and from anywhere in the world. In the virtual world, actual buildings are reproduced and visitors can enjoy pavilions and events.
Compatible application delivery platforms are smartphones (iOS/Android), PCs (Windows/Mac), and VR goggles (MetaQuest2,3), with release scheduled for April 2025.
Other cutting-edge technologies to be unveiled include a “carbon recycling factory” that captures CO2 from the atmosphere and exhaust gas from city gas fuel facilities and synthesizes methane from it, a “Hydrogen fuel boat for passenger service,” AI robots, a moving iPS heart, and more!
Now, 2025 is the Expo year! Don’t miss this opportunity!
