What will you see at EXPO 2005?

Experience Nature's Wisdom

EXPO 2005 represents a determined effort by Japan to develop new modalities of life for the 21st century. It is an ambitious attempt to rediscover “Nature's Wisdom” - science and technology inherent in our surroundings that together foster a sound balance between human life and the environment. It is also an amazing showcase of cutting-edge technologies, which give us solutions to myriad global issues and enable the sustainable development of the world economy.

Visitors will experience “ Nature's Wisdom” in the following three contexts:

I. Rediscovering Nature

Learning more about how the earth works is something we should do first. You will feel the dynamism of our planet at the 360-degree spherical Earth Vision. You will see an extinct mammoth just excavated from the frozen soil of Russia, which is a stark reminder of the true meaning of global warming. The Expo site itself is located in unspoiled natural surroundings, where you will feel the mystic forces of breathing trees and flowers.

II. An Eco-Friendly Life with Nature's Wisdom

The history of humankind has been one of learning from nature's wisdom, and there are many examples of ancient wisdom which show how humankind and nature can coexist in harmony. Fused nicely with modern technologies, such traditional wisdom will grab the spotlight again: The outer shell of the Japan Pavilion is made of bamboo, which has long been used as a natural sunshade in Japanese communities.

The roof of the pavilion will be sprinkled with recycled water, which is another traditional method to significantly lower the temperature inside. Of course, you will also see state-of-the-art eco-technologies everywhere around the Expo site: Fuel cell hybrid buses, which will carry visitors to and from the site, produce no carbon dioxide or harmful pollutants.

The tableware used at food courts will consist of earth-friendly utensils made mainly of biomass, derived from plants and other recyclable organic matters. All of the electricity supplied to the Japan Pavilions will be generated through an on-site new energy system, in which even the garbage from visitors is converted into fuel.

III. Visit the Future with Nature's Wisdom

By fully exploiting the infinite potential of science and technology, we can travel forward in time to see earth-friendly communities of the future. You will see a variety of robots moving all around the site; some of them will taking to you like a friend, some of them will be cleaning up the site, and some of them will be playing trumpets. A convoy of three intelligent buses will move automatically-- without any human driver on board - and a smart futuristic vehicle for individual personal use will also be introduced to the public. The Expo' s “ubiquitous” information technology environment, filled with advanced mobile communication technologies, will assist visitors in traveling efficiency within the site.

EXPO 2005 intends to create new prototypes for the future of our children and grandchildren, since it is they who will soon be at the forefront of integrating nature, technology, and culture. It is an ideal opportunity to enable them to experience all the wonder of Nature's Wisdom. Education and entertainment, in particular, are important for young children. To satisfy their curiosity to the greatest extent possible, EXPO 2005 will offer exciting and amusing programs in collaboration with world-famous animation film producers.

A Grand Intercultural Symphony

Nature is a global kaleidoscope. People interact with nature in countless ways, and these interactions generate immense global diversity in lifestyles, cultural traditions, and traditional and modern arts. EXPO 2005 is a place where people of various countries meet together, communicate among each other, exchange and fuse the diverse “wisdom” they have, and create a brand-new tune of global harmony. In this sense, EXPO 2005 is a “grand intercultural symphony”.

Historically, Japan has absorbed a huge volume of wisdom from the world into its domestic culture-from traditional Oriental philosophy to modern Western civilization, and from the cultural heritage derived from ancient Asia to contemporary “hip-hop” fashion. These various cultural assets do not just coexist in harmony; they continuously blend and fuse together to give birth to a totally new product. This is the major driving force of Japan's industrial development, and Japan is proud to play host to this grand intercultural symphony at EXPO 2005 with this background in mind.

In cooperation with more than 120 countries from five continents, a wide range of cultural legacy and artistic beauty of the world will be displayed throughout the Expo site, and numerous world-class performers will appear on stage every day. The “Love the Earth” international music project is just one example.

EXPO 2005 focuses not only on entertainment, but also on promoting dialogue among world intellectuals. This going to be an exposition that addresses issues and asks questions, focusing on environmental, energy, population, urban development, and other areas of global concern. Through various seminars and symposia, EXPO 2005 envisages creation of a global wisdom network and a long-term intellectual heritage.

The Global Loop in the Forests

The venue for experiencing Nature's Wisdom and for joining in the Grand Intercultural Symphony is constructed in a way carefully designed to minimize the environmental load. Existing forests and ponds in the Expo site are utilized in their natural state to the greatest extent possible, so that water and greenery combine in harmony. The Global Loop, a 2.6-kilometer-long elevated corridor connecting all the exhibits of official participants, offers a smooth and barrier-free access to each country's pavilion; at the same time, it has eliminated the necessity of cutting down trees or filling in ponds. Pavilions around the Global Loop are built in full respect for the “3 Rs” (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle), and the Expo site will return to its original conditions after the Expo is over. An extensive environmental assessment has been carried out, with results being regularly reviewed. These eco-friendly efforts are just some of the great challenges that Japan has tackled in connection with this Expo.

Aichi is an ideal place to host this Expo, which showcases the infinite potential for sustainable development with Nature's Wisdom. Aichi, in the heartland of Japan, is a rich agricultural area with fertile farmland. For example, Aichi is the No.1 producer of flowers-such as roses and chrysanthemums-in Japan. At the same time, Aichi is a focus of Japan's industrial development, from crafting traditional porcelain housewares to manufacturing high-tech automobiles. The headquarters of Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. is located in Aichi, so it is no wonder that Aichi is now the engine for the whole Japanese economy.