Scheduled to kick off on 13 April 2025, the World Expo will run until 13 October 2025, hosted on Yumeshima, an artificial island in Osaka Bay. This Saturday marks the beginning of the final phase of preparations for Expo 2025 Osaka, centred around the theme “Designing the society of the future, imagining our life of tomorrow.” A total of 160 countries and regions, along with nine international organisations, have confirmed their participation, with an estimated 28 million visitors anticipated.
According to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, preparations for the Luxembourg Pavilion, dubbed “Doki Doki” (Japanese for heartbeat) and designed by the Luxembourg architecture firm STDM, are well underway. Construction work started in February following a ground-breaking ceremony held on 25 January 2024 at the Japanese site, attended by Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Xavier Bettel. The Ministry reports that construction, undertaken by the Japanese company Naito House, is progressing as scheduled.
“The interior design of the Pavilion and the development of the scenographic content are also underway, in close collaboration with scenographers from jangled nerves,” the Ministry added.
The Luxembourg Pavilion stands out for its commitment to circularity, with its design incorporating principles of the circular economy right from the outset. This approach ensures that components of the pavilion can be partially re-used, emphasising sustainability and resource efficiency, as highlighted by the Ministry.
In a significant step towards promoting sustainability, André Hansen, the general commissioner for the Luxembourg Pavilion, finalised a letter of intent with Katano City, home to over 76,000 residents. This agreement formalises Katano City’s commitment to reclaiming materials used in constructing the Luxembourg Pavilion once the Expo concludes.
Continuing the tradition of previous Universal Exhibitions, each participating country will have a dedicated day to celebrate its national identity. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that “Luxembourg Day” is slated for 30 May 2025 at the Expo site in Osaka, Japan.
The Ministry promises a vibrant programme of festivities to mark the occasion, including high-quality cultural events. Plans for the celebrations will be developed in the coming months.
Additionally, Luxembourg@Expo2025Osaka, the economic interest grouping managing Luxembourg’s participation in the Expo, signed an initial partnership agreement with Cargolux this month. The grouping extends an invitation to other interested companies to explore collaboration opportunities for this landmark event.
As Expo 2025 approaches its official opening, organisers have initiated two calls for applications pertaining to the Luxembourg Pavilion.
The first call invites individuals interested in working as staff or volunteering at the Luxembourg Pavilion to step forward. Simultaneously, a call for furniture has been launched to showcase Luxembourg’s design expertise and promote innovative concepts of circularity and resource efficiency. Designers and craftspeople are encouraged to submit models of their creations for consideration.
For those interested in participating or contributing, detailed information and application guidelines are available at www.expopavilion.lu.
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