Japan has a long, profound history and a distinctive culture. It is a land of ancient landscapes and traditions as well as the home of anime and some of the world’s most cutting edge technology. No wonder the Japan pavilion at Expo 2020 is attracting people from across the world, just the same as the country does.
At the Japan Pavilion, a facade inspired by origami shapes welcomes me. The design blends traditional arabesque and Japanese Asanoha patterns. This creates an elegant harmony that’s just as impressive from the inside as it is from the outside. After waiting weeks for a coveted spot in the queue, I finally receive my own device for the tour, each one linked to a traditional Japanese flower. As we learn about the symbolic attributes of each flower, our human traits are compared and contrasted, encouraging us to tour as a harmonious group, complementing each other as flowers do. We move forward together, invited to explore the beauty of Japanese scenery and experience the warmth of traditional hospitality.
The tour deepens our journey of discovery by exploring the power of ideas. The theory suggests that when ideas intersect, they can spark meaningful change — change that can drive technological progress and help protect our planet. The experience emphasizes the importance of balance and connection, both among people and with nature. After the tour, I satisfy my appetite with a visit to the pavilion’s restaurant, where chefs serve up authentic sushi and other traditional Japanese dishes. The flavors reflect the same careful balance and artistry found throughout the pavilion, rounding off the experience with a true taste of Japan.
Encountering Japan
In the first exhibit we are able to encounter Japan’s inspiring natural environment. You achieve this by touring the country’s unspoiled landscapes, experiencing the sensibilities cultivated by its people, and exploring the rich cultural heritage woven through its history. Japan has long lived in awe of and in harmony with its natural environment. Encountering Japan in this way is an introduction to the inner workings of its population and sparks an appreciation for its natural beauty. In laying this out, the scene is set to appreciate Japan through the rest of the exhibits.
Starting in the rolling grey seas we are taken on a whimsical journey through Japan. From its coastline of emerging rock formations to forests, waterfalls and the highest of its mountainous snowy peaks. From traditional drums beating to sky rises and flocks of birds, from cartoon cats to space and back down to earth landing amidst the most delicate of origami shapes.
Japan’s Culture and History
Next we choose a season. I select spring and step through Japanese doors into a spring garden. Here I encounter another exhibit depicting Japan’s culture and history with a theme loosely based on the four seasons. Having evolved in its own unique way to incorporate outside knowledge and skills while maintaining its own distinct national identity, this display features Japanese art, pictures of Japanese gardens, snippets of tea ceremonies and ships off to explore foreign lands until the spring blossoms turn into summer flowers.
Innovation
The innovation display focuses on a range of miniature dioramas designed to challenge our ideas of thought and image. The dioramas use a diverse range of concepts, themes and materials creating miniature worlds in a tiny dome. As I gaze into these worlds I am inspired to find new ways to innovate in my everyday. This is visual immersion at its best, demonstrating in the most concentrated of ways, how to think outside the box.
Issues
The next section sees our group standing in front of a large infinity mirror while turtles swim and seaweed sways in the surrounding water. We look back at ourselves, the mirrored images reflecting ourselves in the deep. It is representative of us in the midst of environmental and social challenges. We are surrounded by these problems: climate change, global warming, deforestation, biodiversity loss, distortion by economic development and plastic pollution. The question to reflect on – am I part of the problem or part of the solution?
Where Ideas Meet
Japan believes that new ideas are born when people with different identities and perspectives meet. A huge globe is central to this room, the outside wall once again a large screen. It invites us to come together to create a better future for all. Through our journey in the Japan pavilion, our flowers which represent our different personalities and preferences have been with us on the way. All the different flowers now appear on the screen surrounding the globe. The room fills with mist and the images on the globe and the walls reflect a world of people that are diverse but beautiful in their differences. We need each other, just as we all need the world.
The message is clear – we all live in the same world. Having the opportunity to meet in one place to share experiences will allow us to develop innovative ideas and create solutions to the world’s problems together.
Good To Know
The Japan pavilion at Expo 2020 requires you to pre book entry. The Expo 2020 App facilitates bookings.
Love Japan? Learn about some other Expo 2020 highlights:
Would I Return?
No, not to the Japan pavilion but I hope to get to Expo again before it’s all over.
