Gender-neutral toilets, Hello Kitty and Gundam highlights at the Osaka Expo

What is the Osaka Expo?

The Osaka World Expo opened on April 13, and it is the first post-COVID Expo.  Over 160 countries, regions, and organizations are exhibiting their futuristic displays in over 80 pavilions, each with distinctive architectural designs.

It is the second Expo in Osaka. The last one was in 1970. This year, it is in Yumeshima, or “dream island”, a reclaimed industrial waste burial site in Osaka Bay. The theme is “designing future society for our lives”. Each pavilion is divided into four zones: Connecting Lives, Saving Lives, Empowering Lives and Future Life.

Osaka Expo will run for 184 days until 13 October, 2025.

What is the Grand Ring?

The Grand Ring, designed by Fujimoto Sou, is the largest wooden architectural structure in the world, measuring 20 metres high and having a 2-kilometre circumference. It is constructed using a fusion of modern construction methods and traditional Nuki joints, such as those used in the construction of Japanese shrines and temples.

The Grand Ring cost about 35 billion yen (HK$1.9 million) to build and used around 27,000 cubic metres of wood. 

“You can get such a great view of so many pavilions from the Grand Ring,” said Asa, a 30-year-old visitor from Saga, Japan. 

Asked about the “waste of money” discussion of the Grand Ring, Asa said she does not think there is anything wrong with the spending. “It is a big international event, so these expenses are necessary,” she said.

A Hong Kong visitor, Steven Gong, 40, said the cost of the architecture is not worth it. “It is beautiful, but it is also a waste of resources and money if it cannot be reused,” he said.

The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition will consider recommendations from private enterprises and public organisations on how to best use the Grand Ring once the Expo concludes.

What is special about the toilet?

Organisers installed 112 gender-neutral toilets across 18 of the 46 restrooms throughout the venue.

“It is weird to share the same toilet with an unfamiliar woman,” said Kanny Mong, a 40-year-old visitor from Hong Kong. “I will definitely not use it,” he added.

“I think the gender-neutral toilet is a great idea, although it is my first time using it,” said Mika, a mother of a 6-year-old boy from Osaka.

“There are so many people in the expo, all gender toilets can alleviate the problem of long queues in the ladies' toilets.”

There are also three women-only stalls in the shared washroom area, each with its own sink, but no male-only stalls at the same location. There are signs for male-only toilets.

The Expo organized a competition for architects under 40 to build 20 public facilities including rest areas and toilets in order to showcase up-and-coming Japanese architects. Sou Fujimoto, the architect behind the Grand Ring venue for the event, served on the jury.

Among them is Mirage in Yumeshima by Pondedge, Farm and Nod. They installed a 3D-printed bathroom at the Osaka Expo.

The designers utilised translucent polycarbonate to bring light inside while maintaining user privacy. Grey metallic tones were combined with polished aluminium insulation on the interior.

What are the other highlights?

The highlights include exhibits of cutting-edge technology such as robots and flying drones, as well as pop culture icons including Hello Kitty and Gundam.

The Japan Pavilion is based on the theme of recycling and is divided into three main areas, Plant Area, Farm Area and Factory Area. 

Hello Kitty, the special guest of the Japan Pavilion, is dressed in different types of algae costume to symbolise how “thriving algae can change the future”.

The Japanese animated television series "Mobile Suit Gundam" launched in 1979. With the motto "Fun for All into the Future," Bandai Namco Group hopes to inspire people to consider the "future" and provide GUNDAM as a platform for global connections.

The China pavilion is one of the largest foreign-built pavilions at the Osaka World Expo with an area of approximately 3,500 square metres. It is a yellow building made of bamboo that resembles a Chinese scroll. 

Inside, there is the first exhibit of a global close-up comparison of soil samples from the front and back of the moon collected by China's Chang'e-5 and Chang'e-6 probes and Sanxingdui cultural relics.

The Feng family from the US was impressed by the China Pavilion. “The venue is nicely furnished and features various exhibits.” 

“Apart from the booking system, which is very inconvenient to use, all the pavilions are well worth a visit, especially the China Pavilion, where my son particularly liked the Sanxingdui display,” Feng said.

Marcin Yin, 25, a Chinese staff member, said the theme of the China Pavilion matched the idea of the expo. “They are trying to tell the story of ‘grow and multiply without end and result well’.”

The 10.6 metre diameter sphere symbolises renewable energy drawn from water and a future driven by collaboration and limitless clean energy. Visitors receive a little ball with a sensor device before entering the exhibition, which they can use to light up the ball on contact with the floor. 

It is also a celebration of the 425-year relationship between the Netherlands and Japan since 1600.

What is Myaku-Myaku?

Myaku-Myaku, the mysterious and smiling creature, greets visitors with a blue visage surrounded by red balls, some of which are eyeballs.

The imaginary creature was created through the fusion of cells and water in a small spring in the Kansai region, according to organisers. The affable but odd character can purportedly morph into many shapes and is adept at spotting a rainbow after a rainstorm.