Japan Pavilion At Expo 2025 Osaka | Full Guided Tour & Review [ENGLISH + SUB]

Japan Pavilion At Expo 2025 Osaka | Full Guided Tour & Review [ENGLISH + SUB]

The theme of the Japan Pavilion is “Between 
Lives.” It conveys the idea that when one life ends, another begins. A continuous cycle 
of life. Through its architecture and exhibits, the pavilion reflects the Japanese philosophy of 
living in harmony with nature. The pavilion has three areas: The Plant Area, themed “From Waste to Water”. The Farm Area, themed “From Water to Material”. The Factory Area, themed “From Material to Object”. By experiencing the Japan Pavilion,
we hope visitors will feel that they’re part of this big cycle of life. We hope to inspire all visitors to realize what they do, to 
help in achieving a sustainable society. Alright! Let’s explore together.
We walk up to the Pavilion and right away, the shape and those noble materials 
hit us. A giant circle in dominoes, built from endless wooden planks. After the 
Expo, all that wood gets reused across Japan! What we understood that it’s not just an 
exhibition. The Pavilion is alive. Expo trash gets broken down and turned into energy right here!
You actually walk through that process: three zones, in a loop, showing what circulation really 
means! First stop: It’s minimal, but it hits. This massive hourglass, glowing in a dark room. 
One side crumbles, the other stretches upward. Now we walk into a narrow tunnel, dimly lit.
On our left, a futuristic conveyor belt carries Expo food waste: peels, cups, 
packaging. All this is collected each day and brought here to generate energy. 
Robots are rolling around in a playful way. Above the belt, floating lights trace the 
start of the transformation. It’s clean, minimalist and immersive, and feels part of 
a bigger whole. It looks already like 2050. It’s obviously a demo… But it’s really 
happening here, outside of the Pavilion! This next room is stunning. It opens up 
into this glowing field. About 700 lights scattered like fireflies. And underneath? Giant 
fermentation tanks where microbes break down the food waste into methane gas. That gas 
powers the Pavilion. What I love here is: they don’t over-explain. They 
just let the space do the work. You’re watching invisible organisms… turned 
into this massive visual installation. After walking through the crowd around the 
Expo site, it’s very peaceful. Thoughtful. Now this wall is all about Koji. You know, 
this the mould who produce soy sauce, miso, sake… all the essentials of the Japanese 
cuisine. The way it’s presented? 12 colourful, almost crystal-like shapes — based on 
the actual dna of the mould strains. Who would’ve thought… micro organism can actually 
be presented as nice, even as design, a very Japanese way of making it cute and curated. It’s 
a really smart way to present things. You know, the Expo attracts a wide audience, people 
from everywhere. If the setup feels dull, you lose their focus fast. But here, it’s clever, 
poetic, interactive, and it keeps you hooked. Here, we’ve got five water tanks. Inside each 
one, you can observe the different steps of a biodegradable object, slowly breaking down. As it 
dissolves, cherry blossoms appear. It’s subtle, but poetic. That’s next-level sustainable tech.
You were wondering about those little sounds? Well, here they are the Bearbricks bouncing 
around. Each one represents a resource produced from waste: electricity, heat, water, CO₂ 
and nutrients. Again, they found a smart way to catch attention! Even the toy choice feels 
perfectly tuned. Pop culture meets clean tech! We cross a bridge over the water purification 
setup leading outside. The result? Clear, usable water. And now.. Majestic. 
Probably my favorite part of this visit. Right in the center heart of the Pavilion stands 
a huge circular basin, water totally still, sky reflecting on the surface. Cross-laminated timber 
walls surround you in quiet harmony. From waste… to this pond of tranquility. It’s silent. Open.
The structure doesn’t just hold meaning. Through the architecture it becomes it. That’s the result. 
Nothing else to add. To conclude this area, a meteorite from Mars, found in Antarctica. You can 
feel it, touch it. They analyzed it and confirmed: it contains minerals that form only in water. So 
yeah, turns out Mars had water. Maybe still does? It’s a surprising way to close this area, but 
thematically, it fits. Because it reminds us: the cycle isn’t just Japanese, or 
even global, it might be universal? We often think of recycling as just plastic 
bottles turning into more plastic. But here I discovered, it could be way bigger! 
In this new area, food waste will become water and CO₂. Microorganisms will grab 
them and turn them into fuel, clothes, even food. The invisible will suddenly take 
form right in front of us. What we really seen is actually incredible—you will see that 
recycling is not just reuse, it’s creation. Hello again BE@RBRICKS ! Tiny, clumsy, 
adorable—wandering around like they own the place. I love those cute characters, showcased 
in a ludic way to explain! Born from food waste, have arrived at a crossroads… Here, 
they must each choose their next path! Depending on how they combine with other 
substances, these materials and energies will be reborn in a wide array of new forms.
Now we enter the lab of tomorrow. Rows of green cylinders filled with CO₂ …from food waste. 
It feels industrial futuristic, like stepping backstage at some sci-fi factory! Microbes 
feed on it, creating from CO₂ new materials like plastic that can break down naturally….
Inside these tanks, microalgae. Botryococcus, producing energy! Hydrocarbons, basically 
like oil. Hello you…. So cute, it’s Hello Kitty everywhere! But each one… Is algae!
Thirty-two different versions, each shaped like a real algae species.
It’s a playful way to show how diverse algae really are.
You want to know more about each of them… Some are microscopic, others 
are seaweed we eat like wakame or hijiki. This room shows numbers that are quite 
interesting! Did you know that Algae make 36 times more protein than soybeans? They 
also produce 14 times more oil than sunflowers! They can absorb CO₂ better than forests, and they 
use way less water than beef. Basically…. They outperform almost everything in nature.
Here is another crazy… Very instagrammable, part of this journey. We step into what feels 
like a forest of glass tubes. Inside it’s not just an art installation: Spirulina grows—tiny 
blue-green algae packed with nutrients. They photosynthesise better than plants, turning 
light and CO₂ into energy-rich compounds. This setup is called a 
photobioreactor. And one day, we could see them on buildings in 
cities, producing food and fuel. At the end, they gave us the product of this 
kind of a farm: miso soup from this process! Spirulina’s a superfood. It’s been part 
of Japanese food culture for centuries, and now it’s being served to the world.
In the Factory Area, waste will find new life. Japanese innovation quietly transforms it into 
everyday objects. It’s creativity in motion. Blending craft, care, and future thinking. 
Here, it really feels like stepping into the factory of the future.
Machines move with slow precision, printing layer by layer.
What they’re building isn’t just a stool. It’s proof that design and ecology can work together.
The material comes from algae mixed with plant-based plastic, the same 
algae grown back in the Farm Area. Even the green tones come naturally, just 
by changing the amount of algae in the mix. Everything here is made to last, but 
also to come apart easily when it’s done. 3D printing like this creates almost no scrap. The guide told us that it takes one day to 
complete a stool. It’s clean, flexible, and it redefines how we produce things.
Imagine your daily objects : chairs, toys, maybe even dishes, made from algae. It’s 
not sci-fi anymore. It’s real, right here. This gallery is all about softness.
Objects made to bend, repair, and start again. In Japan, that mindset runs deep. Things aren’t 
made to last forever, but to live many lives. Like this wooden tub showcased by 
our dear cute Doraemon. No glue, no nails, just parts you can fix.
Built soft also means reusable. Like the kimono, made from one piece of glued 
fabric you can undo and remake. Nothing wasted, everything ready for its next life.
Built soft means flexible. By not resisting, it stays strong. Like old Japanese 
nails that bend instead of breaking, protecting the wood. Or the Tokyo Skytree. Its 
core sways opposite the tower during earthquakes. Built soft means absorptive. Sometimes, 
parts are made to break, to protect what matters. Like Japan’s lunar lander, whose 
legs snap on landing to keep the core safe. Built soft means versatile. It’s all about 
adaptability, a core of Japanese creativity. Like the furoshiki, one cloth that becomes a bag, 
a wrap, a gift. Or Transformers, cars turning into robots, born from the same idea. One thing, 
many lives. Feels right for the world we’re in. Built soft means resilient. Growing 
stronger by breaking down, sounds strange, but it works. Like Yakisugi wood. Cedar that’s 
burned to last longer against time and weather. Built soft means transmittable. Have you heard of 
Shikinen Sengu at Ise Jingu? Every 20 years, the entire shrine is rebuilt from scratch. It’s not 
waste, it’s renewal. Each generation of artisans learns, builds, and passes the craft on. That’s 
tokowaka : tradition that stays forever young. Built soft means renewable. What will happen 
to the Japan Pavilion after the Expo? It’s all been planned as one global smart idea and 
I love this part! Everything can live again. The walls use timber that can be taken 
apart and reused. Uniforms, packaging, even the algae stools, all designed to start a new 
cycle. Nothing ends here. It just begins again. This artwork is about time and how beauty never 
stands still. A giant stone disc turns slowly as drops of water draw shapes that fade in seconds. 
Its surface comes from ancient fossilised algae, once alive in the sea. Each pattern appears, 
like cherry blossoms falling, disappears, and begins again. It’s fragile and 
soft. It’s quiet but powerful. It’s actually deeply Japanese. And here again, as 
conclusion, this global idea that the Japan Pavilion wants to send to the world: a reminder 
that nothing lasts, yet everything continues. This video was brought to you by the Expo67.museum 
team. We hope you enjoyed it! Our sincerest thanks to the wonderful team of the Japan Pavilion 
for their warm welcome and collaboration! What will you take away from this pavilion? If 
you liked this visit, leave a comment, and share your thoughts. And don’t forget to subscribe for 
more videos about Expo 2025 and more Expo news!

Step inside the Japan Pavilion 🇯🇵 at Expo 2025 Osaka! 🌍✨

In this video, we guide you through the pavilion, from the reusable timber façade to immersive spaces that explore a continuous cycle of life. The core theme is “Between Lives,” with a focus on living in harmony with nature across three interlinked areas: the Plant Area, the Farm Area, and the Factory Area. We met members of the Japan Pavilion team and appreciated their kind generosity and collaboration for this video.

💬 VERSION EN FRANÇAIS : https://youtu.be/91TN9-W3U_s
💬 VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL : https://youtu.be/Fk3qb-wvY4s

You’ll see poetic installations. From waste-to-water transformations and algae photobioreactors to a circular water basin and a mesmerizing artwork where images drawn in water appear and fade in moments. And keep an eye out for pop-culture cameos: playful BE@RBRICK® figures, cheerful algae Hello Kitty® silhouettes, and the ever-curious Doraemon® make brief appearances that connect design, memory, and sustainability with a light, welcoming touch.

📌 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more @Expo2025Japan pavilion tours and reviews!
#Expo2025 #OsakaExpo #JapanPavilion #WorldExpo
#PavillonJapon #ExpositionUniverselle
#BEARBRICK #HelloKitty #Doraemon
#大阪万博 #大阪エキスポ #日本館 #万国博覧会

〰️ Réalisation · Production · 制作
Anthony Plagnes Payá

〰️ Assistant réalisation · Assistant Production · 助監督
Lei Zheng
Felipe Orozco Morales

〰️ Un film de · A film by · Expo67.museum 製作映画
Our heartfelt thanks to the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition
Nous adressons nos plus sincères remerciements à l’Association japonaise pour l’Exposition universelle de 2025
2025年日本国際博覧会協会に心より感謝申し上げます

Hello Kitty® is a registered trademark of SANRIO CO., LTD. © 2025
Doraemon® is a registered trademark of Fujiko-Pro. © 2025
BE@RBRICK® is a registered trademark of MEDICOM TOY CORPORATION. © 2025
Itokawa Sample, Ryugu Sample, and Hayabusa Re-entry Capsule: property of JAXA. © JAXA
Some images were provided by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Shot on August 28, 2025
Tourné le 28 août 2025
撮影日：2025年8月28日
ISAN 0000-0007-9F17-0000-G-0000-0000-Q