With less than a year before the start of Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, and with more details being revealed about this anticipated international fair, let’s take a look at what we know so far.
Starting from April 13 to October 13, 2025, Osaka will be hosting the upcoming Expo on the artificial island of Yumeshima. With the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives” the fair will host exhibitors from all around the globe to reveal their projects and ideas to better our future and create a better society. As of now, the number of participating countries is 40.
As 2025 is only 5 years away from the deadline that was set by the United Nations for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Expo 2025 is going to face the challenge of being a key platform to reach these goals. Now, this might sound broad and abstract, however as this is not the first time Japan has hosted an Expo—and according to its past achievements—we can expect great results from the upcoming fair as well.
Back in 1970, Osaka hosted the first World Expo not only in Japan but in the whole of Asia. With the theme of “Progress and Harmony for Mankind,” they welcomed 77 countries participating in Expo 1970 and 64 million people. For decades it was the highest number of visitors until Expo 2010 in Shanghai broke the record. Back then Japan, as a rapidly evolving and developing country, used that World Fair, as an opportunity to symbolize its economic growth and achievements in technology and science.
With the second World Expo—Aichi Expo 2005—held in Japan twenty years ago, the country is looking forward to repeating its previous successes and bringing international visitors back. This time around, with three subthemes “Saving Lives, Empowering Lives, and Connecting Lives”, Osaka will have a chance to unite the new technologies from every corner of our planet.
The Expo Site Design Producer Sou Fujimoto, a creator of the Expo 2025 Masterplan, is overseeing the construction of the main facilities—Expo Hall, Expo National Day Hall, and Guest House. He is revealing details of the projects that are currently being developed on his Instagram page. One of such revelations is the construction of the 60,000-square-meter Timber structure green roof in collaboration with Tohata Architects & Engineers and Azusa Sekkei. The ring roof—inspired by traditional Japanese timber constructions like the Stage of Kiyomizu temple in Kyoto—represents the rich history of Japan.
The construction, which is going to be 12m-22m in height, around 600m in diameter, with 2 km around, will be the main circulation of the Expo Masterplan. Attendees will be able to go all the way to the rooftop and enjoy the view from the observatory deck, Fujimoto stated. In true sustainable fashion, the roof will be covered by greens and flowers, and will also protect visitors from any rain or sun exposure.
Lastly, meet Myaku Myaku, the official mascot of Expo 2025. This fluffy and kind creature with rolling eyeballs around his sunflower-shaped head was designed in an attempt by the Expo 2025 organizers to create a character that people can associate the fair with and remember even after.
