OSAKA / ANKARA

The Osaka Expo 2025 in Japan has drawn crowds with its immersive and forward-looking pavilions exploring the future of health, technology, transportation, and the evolving bond between humans and robots.

As the fair in Osaka wraps up Monday, visitors from Japan and abroad have shown particular interest in pavilions offering visions and experiences of a world beyond the present.

Featuring participants from 158 countries, the event includes both national showcases and eight signature pavilions designed by leading Japanese artists, architects, and scientists, each presenting a distinct perspective on life.

The signature pavilions -- Better Co-Being, Future of Life, Playground of Life: Jellyfish Pavilion, null², Dynamic Equilibrium of Life, Live Earth Journey, Earth Mart, and Dialogue Theater: Sign of Life -- have become major attractions for attendees.

Future of Life pavilion

Among the most visited is the Future of Life pavilion, where water cascades down sleek black exterior walls. Visitors, who sometimes queue for hours, first encounter a gallery of historical artifacts representing Japan’s evolution from ancient times to today.

A robot named aiai walkie then leads guests to the second section, “50 Years in the Future,” a simulated train journey through a futuristic Japan, where passengers sit across from humanoid robots while landscapes of tomorrow flash past the windows.

Other interactive droids -- Pangie, Petra, and Punica -- greet visitors between exhibits, culminating in a depiction of life 1,000 years ahead, where humans and androids coexist.

A lifelike robot of pavilion designer and robotics scientist Hiroshi Ishiguro also makes an appearance.

Healthcare and ‘rebirth’ experience

Another highlight is the Osaka Healthcare Services: Rebirth pavilion, illuminated by reflected light from the sky. Visitors receive wristbands embedded with chips and enter sleek cabins resembling medical corridors for a health analysis that scans hair, skin, muscles, bones, and more within eight minutes.

Results appear instantly, graded alphabetically, followed by a digital projection showing how each person might look 50 years later based on their health data.

PasonaNatureverse and ‘heart of life’

The PasonaNatureverse pavilion, built in the shape of a spiral shell, centers on the theme Gratitude for Life. Its centerpiece -- a miniature beating human heart inside a glass vessel -- was grown from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, first discovered in 2006 by Nobel laureate Shinya Yamanaka.

The heart, displayed for the first time publicly, symbolizes the potential of regenerative medicine and personalized organ production.

A moving projection inside the pavilion features beloved sci-fi characters Astro Boy and Black Jack, depicting the connection between humans and robots through a series of animated scenes.

Air mobility and the flight of the future

A major draw for technology enthusiasts is the Advanced Air Mobility Station, where visitors can experience a 15-minute simulated flight in an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle.

The exhibit uses visuals, sound, and floor vibrations to recreate the feeling of flight, followed by a close-up look at the SkyDrive aircraft -- powered by electric motors and equipped with dual propellers at each corner.

The concept demonstrates how eVTOL vehicles could transform future air travel, offering faster, more personal alternatives to planes and helicopters.

As the Osaka Expo 2025 nears its conclusion, the fair has become a showcase of imagination, innovation, and the enduring human desire to understand what lies ahead.