A look at the Japan Pavilion

As the host country of the 2025 World Expo, which is taking place in Osaka until October 13, the Japan Pavilion is one of the most popular pavilions in this world-class event, and is a massive 11,000 sq m located just outside the Grand Ring near the East Gate entrance.

Themed ‘Between Lives’, the Japan Pavilion has a circular structure made of cross-laminated timber (CLT), derived from Japanese cedar. These CLT panels that measure 3 X 12 metres are arranged in a staggered formation along the circular circumference, and are designed to be disassembled, repurposed and used in subsequent architectural projects across Japan upon the conclusion of the expo. 

Throughout the pavilion, these panels were arranged in such a way that visitors are able to glimpse the interior, further exploring the pavilion’s theme of what lies “between” by connecting the outside and inside. Divided into 3 zones, the Plant, Farm and Factory, the Japan Pavilion embodies the cycle of life, and visitors can walk in a circle through all 3 zones to experience this massive pavilion which is equipped with a working biogas plant on the first floor, and exhibition spaces on the second floor. The pavilion has 3 separate entrances and exits, each beginning with an hourglass that symbolises an endless cycle.

The exhibition starts off at the Plant zone, with a large conveyor belt that brings a variety of organic waste into the pavilion’s biogas plants. They include food waste, disposable cutlery and packaging and paper waste from the expo, which are then broken down by microorganisms into water, heat, electricity, carbon dioxide and nitrogen. In the exhibit, genetic renditions of koji mold, which are used to make Japanese staples like sake, soy sauce and miso are put on display. In the same exhibit, visitors can even see the water purifying equipment on the ground floor, which then feeds the pond located in the centre of the pavilion. 

Entering the Farm zone, visitors have the once in a lifetime opportunity to see one of the largest Martian meteorites in the world. Nicknamed Yamato 000593, this rugby ball-sized meteorite provides further evidence of water on Mars, inspiring hope of future human exploration and habitation. The Farm zone also illustrates how water, heat, electricity and other elements extracted from organic waste can be combined to make different things, and how the full potential of algae can be unlocked to further benefit the environment. One highlight of the pavilion is the 32 Hello Kitty statues mounted on the walls, each one representing a different type of algae. 

The next room has an impressive-looking Algae Curtain visitors can walk through before entering the Factory zone.  Visitors can walk across a walkway that looks down upon the machinery below, which includes robotic arms and 3D printing of biodegradable bioplastic resin stools. These stunning stools can be found throughout the pavilion, including the gallery that showcases the traditional Japanese approach to making things.

Instead of making something as indestructible as possible, the Japanese approach of using ‘soft elements’ is apparent in most aspects of their way of life, from the furoshiki cloth used for wrapping to the flexible pillar in the Tokyo Skytree that counteracts Japan’s frequent earthquakes. The final exhibit in the pavilion is the large rotating disk made of diatomaceous earth, which is fossilised algae that can absorb and disperse moisture. 

The Japan Pavilion is located at the East Gate area outside the Grand Ring, and is open 9.30AM to 9PM. Reservations are not required between 9.30 – 10.30AM and after 7PM. To know more about the Japan Pavilion, check out https://2025-japan-pavilion.go.jp/en/