I had never thought that I would have the opportunity to visit a World Exposition but when the opportunity came for me to attend the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka, I jumped at the chance. And how glad I am that I went.
World Expositions get their origin from Prince Albert’s Great Exhibition of 1851.The aim has always been to showcase progress in a changing world. After World War II, expos changed their focus to technology promoting human development rather than an end to itself. “The Osaka Expo” has been conceived as a People’s Living Lab, a venue for demonstrating cutting-edge technologies and presenting the results of co-creation projects that have been in development in Japan. As a Future Society Showcase, the Expo incorporates inclusivity and sustainability while offering a futuristic and immersive experience for visitors in line with the three subthemes: Saving Lives, Connecting Lives and Empowering Lives.
Entering the Expo site was like entering a Disney park. It was huge, it had a Future Life Zone and a parade of nations and a Forest of Tranquility. One of the main features of the expo is The Grand Ring, the world’s largest wooden structure. It encircles most of the expo and allows you to get around the site. 159 countries are represented, some of the smaller countries have small booths in a common area. The bigger countries have magnificent pavilions.
Our first reservation was for the Future Life Pavillion showcasing many ideas of what the future will look like. Innovations in agriculture, transportation and health were nothing short of science fiction. And to think that some of these innovations are already being used in Japan. We even saw a flying car and I tried out a standing nap pod.
We then stopped at whatever pavilion didn’t have much of a line. We went to the Baltics, Chile, Senegal, Malaysia, Monaco, Luxembourg, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, United States and the Women’s Pavilions. I see why they are selling season passes, it would take many visits to see it all.
Each country was responsible for the design of their own pavilion but all with a mind to sustainability. Each country chose to showcase something special about their country, whether their people or their landmarks. It was very interesting to learn about all these diverse countries.
The architecture of the pavilions was amazing. Because all the pavilions will have to be dismantled some nations were very mindful of being able to dismantle it completely, like Switzerland. Qatar was a huge tent, in homage to their Bedouin tents. The Netherlands had a moon rising out of its building. Australia showed its colorful side and Spain had a gorgeous staircase.
My favorite pavilions were Malaysia with a tree made out of woven mats. Luxembourg was worth the wait in line because they showed the diversity of their people and the beauty of their land in a really cool movie that you got to sit on a net while being surrounded by the images. Really cool.
But I have to say that my favorite was the US’s pavilion. It showed all that we can accomplish when we work together with everyone around the world. It showed the beautiful landscapes of America, and some of its most iconic landmarks. Then it showcased space exploration, culminating in us being underneath a rocket as it launched. It was a really cool experience and made me proud to be an American. (visit my page to see a video of the US pavilion)
Our final stop was the Women’s Pavilion. It was probably the most thought provoking stop of the day. As a woman who lives in the US, I take for granted the rights I have. But women in many places do not have the same rights, privileges or even safety. It showed the importance of protecting women.
But the best experiences happened while waiting in line or while sitting for lunch. We shared a picnic table with an elderly Japanese couple. With the aid of a translation app we got to know each other a bit. I joked with them that they were eating a Chicago style hot dog and they shared how they follow the Cubs because of their Japanese players. It was so much fun getting to know this sweet couple. While waiting in line we also got to talk to people from the Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Italy and Russia. It was interesting to learn about their lives, what they thought of the expo and what they were doing in Japan. I found that we had more in common with all these people than different. If we choose to find things in common, we can make new friends and make the world a better place.
I think in line I found the purpose of the expo, making the world a little smaller, and a lot more friendly.
If you are going to be in Japan this year, I suggest you spend some days at the expo. It was really a lot of fun.
Silene Walters is a CPA, the owner of Walters Accounting Inc in Stillman Valley. When she is not preparing taxes she travels with her husband George and shares her experiences on https://www.facebook.com/dreamoftraveling