Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan ran for 184 days, from April 13 to October 13, 2025, at Yumeshima in Osaka. The Sumitomo Pavilion, a showcase of the Sumitomo Group’s collective strengths, proved a major draw. Long lines formed daily—including many repeat visitors eager to discover new surprises inside the pavilion.
At “Mushrooms Hill,” visitors can learn about the
role of fungi that return fallen leaves, branches,
and the bodies of animals to the earth,
and form underground networks that connect plants.
It was my first visit to Expo 2025. Entering through the East Gate, I found the Sumitomo Pavilion standing right in front of me. With walls and roof made entirely of wood, what first caught my eye was the graceful curve of the roofline. I learned it represents the silhouette of the Besshi Mountains in Shikoku, the foundation of Sumitomo’s development. Gazing at the pavilion’s striking exterior, I felt my excitement rise.
“The wood used in the pavilion comes from Sumitomo forests, including cypress and cedar. The cedar near the entrance is from trees planted in 1970, when the previous Osaka Expo took place. The saplings that children planted during this Expo will be grown in Sumitomo forests, including at the site of the previous Expo. Some of the wood used in the pavilion will be repurposed for signs at the new plantation. I hope visitors can feel the connection from past to present to future through the Sumitomo Pavilion, which embodies the concept of ‘Sumitomo Pavilion beyond time and around again,’” says Mr. Hirofumi Saijo, Director of the Sumitomo Pavilion. I was then given a tour of the pavilion by Mr. Tomoshi Kurauchi, staff of the Sumitomo Pavilion.
Inside the pavilion, we were first handed lanterns and given instructions about the forest we were about to explore. Then, it was time to enter the “UNKNOWN FOREST.” Various creatures were hidden throughout areas with such names as “Cave of Water” “Memory of the Den,” “Insects’ Path.” Placing a lantern on a glowing tree stump triggered projections showing the creatures’ behaviors. A deer being chased and caught by a wolf was depicted—but the wolf, too, had cubs of her own to raise. It was a striking way to experience the “stories of life” that make the forest such a special place.
There is no set route, so each visitor explores freely with a lantern in hand. The glowing eyes in the darkness make you instinctively step back. You can feel the wind blowing through the forest, the light filtering in, and the mist swirling around. As Mr. Saijo said, “Adults, too, can enjoy the adventure as if they were children again,” and indeed, every visitor looks excited as they explore the forest. At the end of a narrow path that could easily be missed lies a collaboration area with leaf cutout artist Lito, called “Beneath the Sunlit Leaves.” This bright, whimsical space made entirely of white leaves invites visitors to search for Lito’s hidden artworks. When the pavilion first opened, only about 20% of visitors discovered this area, sparking social media buzz as a hidden room. “We didn’t intend to hide it,” says Mr. Kurauchi, “but thanks to the publicity, more visitors are finding it now.”
In the forest, I would never have noticed the insects on the tree trunks if Mr. Kurauchi hadn’t said, “Look, there.” I found myself wondering just how many creatures might be hiding here. The pavilion is full of clever touches— during the Expo, new features were even added, like mechanisms that made the animals rustle as if they were moving about.
Returning our lanterns, we entrusted the “stories of life” we had collected to the Mother Tree, which has watched over the forest for centuries. Next came the Performing Theater, 20 meters wide and 7.5 meters high. A stage was set between a large LED screen and a mesh screen, where performers danced. Here, the “stories of life” of the Mother Tree— beginning from a tiny seed— unfolded through enchanting visuals, music, and the performers dynamic dances that even expressed the wind. The audience, seated on tiered steps, could sit back and fully immerse themselves. “I actually recommend the edge seats, because the double-screen projection gives a better sense of depth,” Mr. Kurauchi advised.
The final exhibit, “Seeds for The Future,” showcased 500 of roughly 700 ideas—developed by generative AI and Sumitomo Group employees—aimed at creating a prosperous future society, based on the advanced technologies of the various Group companies. The ideas were rotated throughout the Expo period. Visitors could enter this exhibition space without a reservation.
The entire 65-minute experience passed in the blink of an eye. It’s easy to see why this popular pavilion is so hard to reserve. “I hope that, at some point, visitors will recall their experience at the Sumitomo Pavilion and be inspired to reflect on nature and the workings of life,” says Mr. Saijo. I promised myself that I would never forget the excitement of today.
The “Seeds for The Future” showcased cutting-edge technologies and initiatives from 34 Sumitomo Group companies. At the pavilion shop, T-shirts made from Conforma®, a temperature-regulating resin developed by Sumitomo Chemical, and parasols made from SOLAMENT®, a solar-smart material invented by Sumitomo Metal Mining, were so popular that they quickly sold out. Volunteer roles were oversubscribed, and participants enjoyed lively interactions across the Sumitomo Group.
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