Osaka Expo Visit #12: June 10, 2025 - Part 1

Scenes from the day...

We are in the middle of the rainy season, but that doesn't stop us!

A Waterfall of Words and Wonder – Inside the CHINA PAVILION

From the outside, the China Pavilion commands attention—its towering presence, adorned with bold black characters across wooden slats, hints at the power of what lies within. And it delivers.

Step inside, and you’re immersed in a breathtaking blend of ancient heritage and cutting-edge digital art. Vivid colors burst across massive digital displays, while glowing poems cascade down walls and spill onto the floor—a “waterfall of words,” as one attendant described it.

Each level of the pavilion offers a new chapter in China’s cultural narrative:

• Bronze sculptures and ancient murals bring to life the rhythm of rural village life.

• A zodiac wheel bursts with motion and symbolism, connecting visitors to the seasons and celestial traditions.

• Intricate wood carvings line the wall as you walk to the next level, telling the story of China and Japan’s shared history.

• A stunning 8-minute film captures a day in the life of everyday Chinese citizens, with each hour named and highlighting the activities and meaning for that moment in time.

  
  

The China Pavilion is a wonderful visual experience—a poetic journey through time and tradition as the foundation for its drive and innovations for the future.

Innovation and a Healthier Tomorrow – Exploring the OSAKA HEALTHCARE PAVILION

I haven’t yet been able to secure a reservation for the full “Reborn” experience at this pavilion, but what I did see was inspiring.

The pavilion’s theme of Reborn, reflects both Osaka’s participation in the Osaka-Kansai Expo as a chance of new growth and new opportunities, and for each of us to take steps in our lives to move forward in new and better, healthier ways.

For me, the grand tech advances for the future, like flying cars etc. are nice, but it's the smaller, personal innovations that will improve our daily lives and health that excite me.

Here are just a few that stood out:

• At-home oral care test kits that can detect early signs of systemic diseases through gum health.

• Smart skin analysis mirrors that scan your face and recommend care solutions based on real-time skin condition.

• Transforming beds for the bedridden that scan the user and shift into mobile chairs to transport them from room to room.

• Earthquake safety pod prototype equipped with refrigeration and even karaoke—I tested it out and sang one of my favorite Japanese songs inside!

• A recycling system that merges hydroponic farming and land-based aquaculture to promote sustainable food production.

  
  

One particularly memorable display was a prototype for the “Human Washing Machine”—first ideated at the 1970 Osaka Expo. 50 years later, this updated version is a pod-like shower chair that aims to cleanse the body, with the future possibility of the mind and spirit as well.

These innovations serve real people, solve real problems, and bring technology closer to the heart of human care. I plan to visit this pavilion again to participate in the full Reborn experience.

Part 2 of this visit: The Japan Pavilion.

Stay tuned...More visits come.

NOTE: I am writing about my Expo visits to share the wonders, innovations, inspiration, and cultural richness of EXPO Osaka 2025 with those who are interested, but unable to attend.

*All pictures and videos by Yvonne Burton.