Japan Welcomes the World to Osaka

The theme of the World Expo 2025 to be held between April 13 and October 13, 2025 in Osaka is ‘Designing Future Society for Our Lives’. As to how this theme reflects Japan's vision for addressing global challenges and shaping the future, Ambassador Ono highlights to Diplomacy&Trade that world expositions are places where wisdom from around the world is gathered to tackle various global issues. “It is our great honor to host the World Exposition in Osaka this year, following the Osaka Expo in 1970 and the Aichi Expo in 2005.”

In line with its theme, the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo aims to provide a place where visitors can experience ‘People's Living Lab’. “We also aim to create new values for multiple global challenges and build a sustainable future through contributing to the achievement of the sustainable development goals and realizing Japan’s national strategy called ‘Society 5.0’,” she adds.

The ’Society 5.0’ she mentions is also known as the Super Smart Society. It is a concept for a designed society introduced by the Japanese government in 2016, a human-centered one in which economic development and the resolution of social issues are compatible with each other through a highly integrates system of cyberspace and physical space.

First Hungarian pavilion at an Expo in Japan
Hungary, which has a rich cultural and innovation heritage, is one of the participating countries at this year’s world exposition. When asked about how she sees Hungary’s contribution to the Expo's theme and what role she expects the Hungarian pavilion to play in showcasing this, Ambassador Hikariko Ono stresses that “we are very excited to learn that for the first time, Hungary has its own pavilion, designed by a Hungarian architect, at an Expo in Japan. I heard that the Hungarian pavilion aims not only to promote tourism, but also to strengthen diplomacy, business and investment between our two countries. I have also been informed that Hungarian folk music will be performed live, underscoring the fact that music is a universal language that unites us all. I believe these Hungarian initiatives align well with the Expo’s theme of respecting diverse cultures and ideas. Personally, I am really looking forward to seeing the exhibition of the traditional Hungarian craft of Miska and its characters.”

Expo, a tool to strengthen bilateral ties
The 2025 world exposition in Osaka also has the potential for further strengthening cultural, economic or technological ties between Japan and Hungary. As the ambassador notes, “for over 150 years, Japan and Hungary have built a friendly cooperative relationship. At present, around 180 Japanese companies have established operations in Hungary, providing employment for over 30,000 people. The Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025 will be a valuable opportunity not only to promote cultural exchange, but also to further strengthen the economic ties between our two countries. In the future, I hope to see Japanese companies from various industries expanding in Hungary, investing in research and development as well as Hungarian companies, including start-ups, expanding their operations into Japan.”

Technologies for a greener world
Sustainability and green technologies are critical topics for global collaboration. Expo 2025 plans to highlight innovations in these areas as well and there are specific Hungarian technologies and ideas aligning with this focus.
Ambassador Ono points out that at the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025, “one can experience advanced technologies that will help us move towards a carbon-neutral society, such as the creation of roads using CO₂ and direct CO₂ capture from the air. In addition, we will focus on Reducing, Reusing and Recycling (3Rs) waste generated during and after the Expo to achieve a sustainable society.”
She adds that “at the Japan Pavilion, we will demonstrate a biogas power generation cycle that utilizes food waste from the Expo site, along with other advanced Japanese technologies. I sincerely hope that the people of Hungary will have the firsthand opportunity to experience these technologies. I understand that renewable energy usage is progressing in Hungary. It is our hope that countries can work together to create a better future through friendly competition and cooperation.”

A glimpse into the future
Visitors from Hungary and around the world can expect a wide range of experiences at Expo 2025 and there will be specific features and events here that might particularly resonate with Hungarian visitors. As the Ambassador puts it, sustainability initiatives will be one of the key attractions, but there are also many other experiences for visitors to enjoy. The venue will feature pavilions and exhibitions from over 160 countries and international organizations. Throughout the Expo, nearly every day will be designated for a national day or a special day for an international organization, offering visitors the opportunity to experience a diverse range of cultures and traditions through various ceremonies and cultural events. Hungary’s national day at the Expo is scheduled for May 24th.
At the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025, the Future Society Showcase project will present demonstrations of next-generation technologies and social systems that offer a glimpse into the future, including hydrogen fuel cell ships, cutting-edge EV buses and flying cars. “Moreover, at the Virtual Expo, you can explore the virtual venue as an avatar from Hungary, so, please take this special opportunity for you to experience the EXPO even virtually,” she says.

For the benefit of future generations
World expositions often leave a lasting legacy. Regarding the long-term impact Expo 2025 may have for Japan and how it might influence future collaboration between Japan and Hungary, the Japanese ambassador to Hungary reminds that the 1970 Osaka Expo attracted around 64 million visitors and showcased many technologies that were later put to practical use, such as wireless telephones, district heating and cooling systems or electric vehicles. More than 50 years later, the site of the Expo remains a place for citizens to relax, very much like Budapest’s City Park, which has served as a recreational space for over 100 years since the Hungarian Millennium Exhibition, commemorating the 1000th anniversary of the founding of the country.
“I am confident that the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo will also feature many technologies that will benefit future generations. Further, I hope that the Hungarian Pavilion will become a new starting point for deepening mutual understanding and cooperation between Japan and Hungary. This will be a precious opportunity for many Japanese people to experience Hungarian cuisine and culture, and for Japanese and Hungarian companies to connect in the business-dedicated areas,” Ambassador Hikariko Ono concludes.