What Osaka World Expo 2025 Has to Offer for Anime Fans

Photo by Crystalyn Hodgkins

The Osaka World Expo 2025 kicked off officially on the new artificial island of Yumeshima on April 13. The event will run for six months, through October 13. This is the second time a World Expo is being held in Osaka, after being held there previously in 1970.

Overseas tourists to Japan hit a record high in 2024 with 36 million, and hit a monthly record in February of more than 3.2 million visitors. The Expo is expected to bring in a lot of tourists, and 10 million advance tickets to the expo have already been sold (although that is about 70% of the organizers’ target).

So for anime fans who are planning on coming to the Expo in the next six months, or who are just interested in such a large-scale event, what does the event have in store for anime fans? From grand pavilions to food and merch galore, the event has a lot for anime fans to enjoy!

The Pavilions

There are three main pavilions at the Expo that anime fans won’t want to miss: the “Gundam Next Future” Pavilion, the “Live Earth Journey produced by Shōji Kawamori” Pavilion, and the “Pasona Natureverse” Pavilion. There are a few more that also have some interest for anime fans, but those are the major ones.

Gundam Next Future Pavilion

Photo by Crystalyn Hodgkins

By far the biggest appeal of the Osaka World Expo 2025 for anime fans (both figuratively and literally) is the Gundam Next Future Pavilion. The Pavilion is one of the farthest away from the main East entrance, but it is so worth it, with the life-size RX-78F00/E Gundam on display outside the Pavilion building. The Gundam is 16.72 meters (54.8 feet) tall to its finger tips, with a weight of 49.1 tons.

Materials for this Gundam were reused from the moving life-size Gundam in Yokohama. That Gundam had its farewell ceremony in March 2024.

Reservations are necessary on top of an Expo ticket to experience the Gundam Next Future Pavilion tour, but you only need an Expo ticket to see the life-size Gundam. While the Gundam this time does not move, it does light up at night and periodically shoots out mist in the front and back.

The actual Pavilion building is modeled after “a space airport of the future.” The building tour features an interactive experience similar to a walking theme park experience. There are seven “Phases” to the tour, with each Phase taking between two to 10 minutes (the overall experience takes about 35-40 minutes).

In the story, visitors travel from the Yumeshima Island Terminal to the space station Star Jaburo via an orbital elevator, to experience a future where humans live alongside mobile suits. The “tour” to visit Star Jaburo is operated by the Gundam Open Innovation Consortium (GOIC), an organization that “advocates for the peaceful use of mobile suits and uses GOI technology for space colonies and Earth restoration.” However, during the visit to Star Jaburo, an unexpected incident occurs.

There are English subtitles in the videos in Phase 0 and Phase 1 of the walkthrough experience, but after that all the videos and voices you see and hear have no English subtitles or English voiceover. The experience is still mostly understandable though even if you cannot understand Japanese, you just won’t get the minutiae of what’s happening around you.

There is some shaking during some of the latter Phases. Overall, the experience is immersive, interesting, and fun, and presents a “new Universal Century” where humans live alongside Gundam mobile suits in space during peacetime — beam sabers are repurposed to help fertilize crops, and Gundams are used to farm and build instead of being weapons of war.

“Live Earth Journey Produced by Shōji Kawamori” Pavilion

Photo by Crystalyn Hodgkins

©Shoji Kawamori / Vector Vision, Photo © Anime News Network LLC

Self-described “vision creator” and Macross and Aquarion creator Shōji Kawamori is one of the 10 “co-producers” of the Osaka World Expo. His Pavilion “expresses the connection of all life that dwells in the universe, the ocean, and land,” and aims to emphasize “the importance of protecting and nurturing life.” The structure of the Pavilion features an assembly of cubic cells consisting of concrete panels made from the seawater in Osaka Bay. The tour of the Pavilion consists of two areas: “ANIMA” and “Deep Vision 499 Seconds My Gattai.”

The “ANIMA” experience brings visitors into a dark room with mirrors on all the walls, and mesh curtains hanging throughout the space. The experience involves projecting images on the mesh curtains, walls, and ceiling, with music playing. Additionally, the floor vibrates at certain points to enhance the experience, allowing visitors to also jump and move in time with the projections and music. The aim of the experience is for visitors to “experience the feeling of being a part of the vast interconnectedness of life through stereophonic sound, interactive floor vibrations, and translucent screen projections all synchronized together.” The experience is about eight minutes long.

In “Deep Vision,” visitors are taken to a white circular room with VR goggle stations on benches along the walls. The group virtual reality and mixed reality experience has visitors witnessing “the circulation of air and water, the food chain, and the chains of life [playing] out on a planetary scale extending to outer space.” The experience is about 20-30 minutes long with instructions explained beforehand.

It is important to note both experiences feature music from prolific anime composer Yōko Kanno. Additionally, “Deep Vision” features singers Megumi Nakajima and Haoto.

In addition to these two interactive experiences, there are exhibits outside the Pavilion including the “Window to the Universe” that features near-real-time images of the Earth and Sun, along with other images. The outside also features a spherical structure “Inochi Dama” (pictured above), designed by Kawamori.

Reservations are necessary to do the “ANIMA” and “Deep Vision” experiences. Everything at the Pavilion and in the experiences features either English and Japanese audio together, or English subtitles and instructions. It’s very English friendly.

“Pasona Natureverse” Pavilion

A Pavilion from the Tokyo-based Pasona Group, a corporation focused on Japanese employment and staffing solutions, might not be on anime fans’ radar. But take just one look at the Pavilion itself, and you’ll understand its draw.

Photo by Crystalyn Hodgkins
Photo by Crystalyn Hodgkins

The concept of the Pavilion is “Thank You, Life.” The shape of the Pavilion is based on the spiral shape of ammonites “as a ‘symbol of life’.” The navigators of the Pavilion are “Neo Astro Boy” (Neo Atom in Japanese) and Black Jack. In the story of the new character “Neo Astro Boy,” Astro Boy has made a choice to protect Earth at the cost of his own life. He is then discovered floating in space in the 22nd century, and due to the advances in medicine and technology and the use of iPS stem cells, is brought back to life.

The Pavilion features some truly remarkable exhibits, and a new short 3DCG anime titled “The Birth of Neo Astro Boy” that outlines the story of how Neo Astro Boy was born. Tezuka Productions produced the anime, and Satoshi Kuwahara directed it with scripts by Mayumi Morita and music by Akira Senju. The anime and Pavilion feature the voices of Makoto Tsumura as Astro Boy and Neo Astro Boy, and Akio Ōtsuka as Black Jack.

Photo by Crystalyn Hodgkins

It is worth noting the entire Pavilion features full English and English subtitles throughout. Aside from the new anime being shown, the Pavilion features an exhibition about an iPS Heart cultivated with iPS cells and iPS myocardial sheet technology, and exhibits on the future of medical care, the future of sleep, and the future of society “in which humans and cyber physical spaces are integrated.”

But easily the most impressive part of the Pavilion is the “NATUREVERSE Show” featuring Neo Astro Boy and Black Jack showing the story of the creation of the “NATUREVERSE.” The five-minute presentation features 27 LED cubes (each 2 meters/6.5 feet cubed, stacked three cubes high) that move vertically, horizontally, and rotationally.

Photo by Crystalyn Hodgkins

The Pavilion also has a gift shop with lots of Astro Boy and Black Jack goods.

Photo by Crystalyn Hodgkins

Astro Boy, sitting on top of the Pavilion, actually points to Awaji Island in Hyogo Prefecture, where Pasona Group has developed the Hello Kitty Apple Land and the Nijigen no Mori theme park attractions (you can read Jacki Jing’s report from both attractions in 2023 here). Pasona Group is actually offering a high-speed ferry from the site of the World Expo to Awaji island throughout the Expo.

Osaka Healthcare Pavilion

Photo by Crystalyn Hodgkins

Again, a healthcare pavilion doesn’t necessarily scream as a must for anime fans, but the Pavilion hosts “Monster Hunter Bridge,” which is inspired by the Pavilion’s concept of “Reborn” and takes place in the Pavilion’s “XD Hall.”

Visitors wear an AR device and have an immersive experience in a 360-degree theater with surround sound and floor-shaking. The experience is also by reservation only.

The Osaka Healthcare Pavilion is also where the “SPY x FAMILY Dining” collaboration café is (more on that later).

The overall Pavilion also has a body analysis pod, an area where you can “meet yourself” (an avatar of yourself) 25 years in the future, and an area about healthcare in the future.

Panasonic Group Pavilion: The Land of Nomo

Panasonic produced a 34-minute anime for their “Land of Nomo” Pavilion. The Pavilion itself “is based on the idea that ‘how you perceive something changes considerably based on your mindset’.”

The Pavilion has two areas: Unlock Experience area and the Earth area. The former features behavior analysis and facial expression analysis. The Earth area is an exhibition that uses in-development technologies “to give shape to ideas for a future society in which the activities of people and nature are cyclical in nature.”

The Food

There are many different food stalls, food courts, and restaurants at the Osaka World Expo, but for anime fans, there is one clear standout: Spy x Family food trucks and a SPY x FAMILY Dining area.

Photo by Crystalyn Hodgkins

Photo by Crystalyn Hodgkins © Anime News Network LLC

The SPY x FAMILY Dining area is located at the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion (first floor food booth), and the food trucks are located at the Inochi Park Area where there is a food truck area.

Image via Spy x Family anime’s website

The SPY x FAMILY Dining menu includes “Anya’s Omurice,” “Yor’s Black Curry,” Lloyd’s Rice Malt Matcha Soft Cream,” and character-themed drinks. Bonuses include random can badges.

The menu at the food trucks includes character-themed burgers, chicken legs with character-themed dips, popcorn, themed drinks, and more. Bonuses include random can badges and stickers.

The Merchandise
Official Goods Stores

There are several official merchandise stores scattered throughout the Expo, with the Maruzen Junkudo store by the East entrance being a standout for those who want to shop for anime goods. There’s Gundam goods and Monster Hunter goods, as well as Hello Kitty and other Sanrio merchandise collaborations with the Expo’s bizarre mascot Myaku Myaku (which has its own anime that aired earlier this year).

But Maruzen Junkudo also has merchandise for Dragon Ball, The Seven Deadly Sins, Urusei Yatsura, Ranma 1/2, and Inuyasha, all featuring Myaku Myaku. So the real question is, how much do you like this weird creature, and are you OK with having what is eerily reminiscent of deconstructed parts of the Yip Yip Martians from Sesame Street on your anime merchandise? If you’re good with that, then you’re set.

animate

There’s an animate store inside the Expo! It’s located in the West Ringside Marketplace. It has lots of anime merch, with a focus on the retail chain’s mascot Anime Tenchou.

Photo by Crystalyn Hodgkins

There’s also a rotating pop-up shop in the back, which changes every two weeks. For the first two weeks of the Expo its a BONES pop-up shop, and the next shop is themed after BanG Dream!

Photo by Crystalyn Hodgkins

animate also just opened a new major chain store in the “NU Chayamachi” building in Umeda in Osaka city, with the grand opening being held just the other day on April 24. The new store is huge, and it has an entire balcony area with a café. Highly recommended to check out while in the area visiting the Expo! Those who have a receipt from the Expo store can get an Evangelion postcard for free by presenting it to the animate stores in Umeda, Osaka Nipponbashi, or in Kyoto. The free postcard campaign lasts until May 11.

If you’re an anime fan looking to attend the Osaka World Expo sometime in the next six months, there’s definitely a lot of interesting things to see! But beware: all five of the Pavilions mentioned in this article are accessible by reservation only. You can visit the websites for each Pavilion (luckily all the Pavilions mentioned here have websites in English) and look through the Osaka World Expo 2025 website to figure out how to make those reservations. Sometimes you also must apply via lottery as well.

That said, of course a World Expo is just a fascinating place to walk around in general. You never know what you might bump into, like this giant Snorlax statue that didn’t actually have a connection to any Pavilion but was just adorably hanging out.

Photo by Crystalyn Hodgkins

Did we miss any anime-themed attractions at the event? Let us know in the comments!