At the World Expo in Osaka, 158 countries and 7 institutions are presenting themselves.
The theme of Expo 2025 is “Designing Future Society for Our Lives” – a call to develop practical solutions for a sustainable, forward-looking society that improves everyday life. Central to this year’s focus is the circular economy: making use of existing materials in ways that allow them to be reused or recycled.
Many national pavilions are embracing sustainability as a guiding principle, not only in their architecture but also in the messages they convey. Others are choosing to showcase their visions of the future more broadly.
Germany
Germany has fully committed to the idea of the circle – in the name of its pavilion, in its shape, its concept, and its exhibition content.
Titled “Wa! Germany”, the pavilion draws on the Japanese word “Wa”, which carries three meanings: circle, harmony, and wow. Each of these reflects a key element of the pavilion’s identity. The circle symbolises the closed-loop thinking behind the circular economy; harmony represents the alignment of nature and technology; and “wow” speaks to Germany’s aim to captivate its visitors.
Sustainability Concept
In keeping with the theme, the German Pavilion has been conceived as a showcase for circular construction. Seven circular structures, made from pinewood, form the architectural backbone. These wooden elements and panels are produced from locally sourced, reused materials and have been assembled in a modular, easily dismantled manner – allowing them to be reused or recycled after the Expo.
Surrounding the structures is a small park planted with native vegetation, all of which will be replanted after the exhibition. The site itself features permeable surfaces that allow rainwater to seep into the ground and flow into basins, enabling a natural irrigation system.
To minimise energy use, the pavilion employs passive climate regulation methods based on sunlight and natural airflow.
Detailed studies and climate modelling have allowed Germany to design both its buildings and surrounding areas to adapt to the weather conditions expected during the Expo. As a result, the need for artificial heating and cooling has been significantly reduced.
Through this careful integration of design, sustainability, and innovation, Germany’s “Wa!” pavilion offers not only an architectural statement but also a tangible vision of a circular, climate-conscious future.
Visitor Experience
Upon entry, each visitor receives their own “Circular” – a small mascot character, cleverly tailored to appeal to Japan’s love of cute and animated figures. This friendly guide accompanies guests throughout the exhibition, explaining the pavilion's themes in German, English or Japanese. Simply hold the mascot up to one of several designated circles featuring its image, and it begins to narrate what you're seeing.
Much of the pavilion’s layout follows a circular structure, with corridors winding around corners and offering insights into German projects contributing to a more sustainable future.
Sustainability is also at the heart of the first two exhibition rooms. One features an AI that continuously generates new visuals around key future themes, while the other showcases innovative projects from German companies and institutions already committed to sustainable solutions.
The third room provides a space for both reflection and interaction. Visitors can take a break on large circular cushions atop a rotating platform, while looking up at a ceiling-sized screen that displays striking imagery of polluted oceans, industrial waste, droughts, and technology – accompanied by provocative questions like “How did it come to this?” and “Can technology and nature ever become one?” Interactive touchscreens allow visitors to design their own personalised “Circular” and submit messages such as “Protect Biodiversity” or “From Trash to Treasure,” which are later displayed on the central screen.
The final room invites hands-on participation through a range of sustainability-themed games. Activities include building a future-friendly city by collecting and using sustainable materials, using drones to detect and remove invasive weeds, and learning about sustainable fabrics for fashion and furniture.
The exhibition concludes on a terrace where Germany’s 16 federal states present their sustainability initiatives and connections to Japan – naturally, through interactive installations.
The German pavilion stands as a tangible and imaginative showcase of circular, sustainable thinking – both serious and delightfully accessible.
Luxembourg
“Doki Doki – The Luxembourg Heartbeat” is the name of Luxembourg’s pavilion, designed to create an emotional connection between visitors and the Grand Duchy. At the same time, Luxembourg is also placing a strong emphasis on sustainability in the pavilion’s construction.
Sustainability Concept
From design and construction through to post-Expo use in Osaka, the pavilion has been developed in line with circular economy principles. It is built from Japanese construction components specifically designed for disassembly and reuse. This means that all materials – from the cladding panels and steel beams to the membrane used for the roof – can be reused or recycled after the Expo.
To ensure better oversight of the materials used and to facilitate straightforward communication between numerous suppliers and buyers, Luxembourg-based company Terra Matters developed a Product Circularity Data Sheet (PCDS). These simple, user-friendly documents are intended to give companies a clear overview of the various materials and products used in a project. The goal is to ensure that every aspect – from raw materials to production and eventual end-of-life – is as sustainable as possible.
Visitor Experience
Inside the pavilion, visitors are invited to immerse themselves in Luxembourg’s heartbeat. Across three rooms, the Grand Duchy is presented through a series of interactive and immersive experiences that highlight its diverse population, innovative spirit, landscapes, and traditions.
The experience begins even before entering the pavilion. While waiting in the queue, visitors can scan one of six QR codes to explore 3D models of iconic Luxembourg landmarks – including the Gëlle Fra, the Grand Ducal Palace, the Bock Casemates, the Melusina statue, the Koeppchen in Wormeldange, and Vianden Castle.
The first room serves as a meeting point, where visitors encounter Luxembourg residents in familiar, everyday surroundings. The exhibition blends physical spaces – such as tram seats, the setting of the Café des Artistes, and a refrigerator stocked with local products – with video portraits that unfold gradually. The aim is to offer a personal glimpse into the lives and homes of people in Luxembourg, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
The second room presents the Grand Duchy as a testbed for future technologies and innovative ideas. Here, visitors are invited to engage with the “instruments of sustainability” – a hands-on, arcade-style installation that educates in a playful way. Through this interactive approach, Luxembourg raises awareness that even small actions can have a meaningful impact.
The third space appeals to all the senses. Visitors are drawn into the landscapes of Luxembourg while seated or lying on a suspended net. From this unique perspective, they experience the country's nature, activities, and cultural highlights in an immersive way.
To round off the visit, guests are invited to enjoy a taste of Luxembourgish hospitality in the pavilion’s inner courtyard. Welcomed by a team from the hospitality school, they can relax with a Wäffel or a local beer – and even try their hand at traditional nine-pin bowling. Luxembourg’s traditional cuisine, it turns out, is especially well received by Japanese visitors.
Japan
Japan’s pavilion at Expo 2025 carries the title “Between Lives”, presenting sustainable solutions for coexisting in harmony.
Sustainability Concept
Constructed from modular wooden panels in a circular layout, the pavilion is designed for easy disassembly and reuse after the Expo. But its sustainable approach goes far beyond architecture – the pavilion also functions as a biogas plant. Microorganisms inside break down waste generated during the Expo and convert it into biogas. Visitors can observe this process through an on-site installation, experiencing a “living pavilion” that generates its own electricity.
In addition, the staff uniforms, packaging, and furniture are all made from recyclable materials.
Visitor Experience
In the “Water to Materials” zone, visitors learn how wastewater and organic waste – such as algae – are transformed into base materials like bioplastics. Interactive installations featuring Hello Kitty as an algae-inspired character bring together advanced technology and Japanese pop culture. A shallow reflecting pool symbolises water as a visible product of circular processes.
The “Materials to Products” section showcases practical examples of what can be made from these biobased materials. Furniture, design objects, and packaging created with 3D printing from bioplastics are on display. Robots and digital installations further demonstrate sustainable products. Traditional Japanese crafts such as furoshiki wrapping cloths, kioke barrels, and kimonos are also presented as everyday items rooted in sustainable practices.
In the “Waste to Water/Energy” zone, the focus shifts to biogas, water recycling, and the reintegration of waste into the energy and water cycle. Here, visitors can see the pavilion’s own biogas plant in operation – processing around one tonne of food waste per day. Microorganisms convert the waste into methane gas used to power the pavilion itself.
To conclude the visit, guests are treated to one final highlight: the world’s largest Mars rock fragment on Earth.
Portugal
Under the title “Ocean, The Blue Dialogue”, the Portuguese Pavilion focuses on the interplay between the ocean, history, and a sustainable future. The exhibition connects nearly 500 years of Portuguese–Japanese relations with forward-looking solutions in the blue economy.
Sustainability Concept
Designed by renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, the pavilion’s façade features recycled fishing nets and ropes that move with light and wind – a poetic representation of the ocean’s constant motion.
To embrace the principles of the circular economy, Portugal opted for reduced material usage, minimal CO₂ emissions, and a modular structure.
Visitor Experience
The pavilion’s exhibition is divided into two parts. The first, titled “Sharing Knowledge”, presents the long-standing maritime relationship between Portugal and Japan in an interactive format. Visitors learn about the historical connections shaped by centuries of seafaring exchange.
The second part, “Partnering for a Sustainable Future”, offers a five-minute immersive multimedia experience in a 200 m² room. A video creates the sensation that the ocean itself is speaking – highlighting both its benefits for humans and nature, and the threats posed by climate change.
Switzerland
The Swiss Pavilion operates under the motto “From Heidi to High-Tech”, blending tradition (represented by the character Heidi) with modern innovation. Over the course of the six-month World Expo in Osaka, the exhibition will focus on three themes, each showcased for two months:
- Augmented Human – robotics and artificial intelligence (13 April – 10 June)
- Life Sciences – education, health, and nutrition (11 June – 12 August)
- Planet – sustainability, climate, and energy (13 August – 13 October
Sustainability Concept
The Swiss Pavilion is among the most sustainable at Expo 2025. Its four dome-like structures are made of a lightweight membrane supported by a minimal frame. Weighing just 450 kilograms, the entire pavilion can be transported using only two to three cargo bicycles. After the Expo, the membrane will be repurposed into designer furniture.
Visitor Experience
Inside the four spherical spaces, visitors explore a range of experiences – from an artistic installation and scenes of Swiss traditions and landscapes, to an interactive AI exhibit and visions of the future. The story of the Japanese manga character Heidi serves as a cultural link between Switzerland and Japan.
United States
The American Pavilion – developed under the Biden administration – is titled “Imagine What We Can Create Together”. The United States presents itself as a global leader in technology, space exploration, entrepreneurship, and creative culture.
Sustainability Concept
Constructed from recycled steel and wood, the structure is modular and designed for reuse after the Expo. Integrated photovoltaic panels, rainwater systems, and native planting further reduce its ecological footprint.
Visitor Experience
The pavilion also has a mascot – a star named Sprinkle – who guides visitors through the exhibition while singing the pavilion’s theme song “Together”.
Each exhibition space explores a specific topic, such as Space and Technology, Education and Entrepreneurship, and Culture and Innovation. A central cube simulates a rocket launch, while the final highlight includes a genuine moon rock on display.
