[Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai]

The other day, I had the opportunity to visit the “Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai.”

Expo is an abbreviation, and its official name is “Universal Exposition” or “World Exposition.” The purpose of holding the current Expo is to contribute to solving global issues, and the host country is supposed to set forth a theme for the event. The theme of this year's Expo is “Designing a Future Society that Shines with Life,” and it will be held over six months from April 13 to October 13. A total of 158 countries and regions and seven international organizations, as well as local governments and private companies, will participate.

The Expo is also an opportunity for wisdom from around the world to gather and create new technologies and products that will make life more convenient. Elevators, telephones, electric cars, IC-chip admission tickets, AEDs, etc., were introduced at past Expos. 1970s Expo '70 in Osaka, the first of its kind in Asia, became a major event symbolizing Japan's rapid economic growth, and this was followed by Expo 2005 in Aichi. This year's Expo will be the first to be held in Japan in 20 years, following Expo 2005 in Aichi, Japan.

Upon entering the venue, the first thing that catches the eye is the “Great Roof Ring.” It is the symbol of the Expo, created in the image of the Expo's philosophy of “diversity and unity.” The scale and power of the building are so impressive that it has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the “Largest Wooden Building.” The pavilion can be reached by stairs or elevators and is approximately 2 km in circumference.

The pavilions at the venue are divided into three main categories: “Domestic Pavilions,” where each region and company in Japan develops its own theme; “Overseas Pavilions,” where each country expresses its future society, technology, and culture; and “Signature Pavilions,” led by eight producers. As a lover of international travel, I found the Overseas Pavilions to be the main attraction. Just walking around the pavilions, one can feel the “now” atmosphere and culture of each country from the unique architecture of the pavilions, the local staff, costumes, music, and aromas, which is perhaps the best part of the Expo.

At the “Commons,” one of the overseas pavilions where several countries and regions exhibit together, visitors can experience crafts and resources from African countries that are difficult to visit in reality, see actual blue tiles from Uzbekistan—a country I would like to visit someday—at the “Uzbekistan Pavilion,” and enjoy Italian beer “Peroni” and Italian gelato made with ingredients like blood orange, tomato, olive oil, and salt at the kitchen car in front of the “Italy Pavilion.” The taste was so good that I heartily recommend it to anyone visiting the Expo.

Google Maps is constantly adding information on each pavilion, which is very useful. Even if you cannot enter the pavilions, you can still get a taste of the “real thing” from the architecture, cafes, and stores of countries you do not plan to visit.

Overseas pavilions are located in a large roofed ring that resembles a city. On the roof ring surrounding the pavilions, flowers and grasses were blowing in the wind, people of various ages and nationalities were walking around and laughing with each other, and the scenery combined with the changing sky was beautiful, creating a truly peaceful world scene. If you visit the Expo, I hope you will encounter many new sights and discoveries that you can only witness because you are living in the present time.

References
https://www.expo2025.or.jp/
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20250411/k10014776441000.html