In line with the overall Expo theme of food, we felt we needed to present Japanese solutions to various global food issues shared by all humanity – population explosion and food crisis, the global imbalance of food distribution (malnutrition and hunger on one hand and overeating and obesity on the other), food waste, and food production insecurity worsened by global warming. With that in mind, we aimed to make full use of this festive, real-world occasion of Expo in order to introduce international visitors to Japanese food and agriculture, traditional knowledge and techniques behind our unique food culture, and to present the possibility of solutions that we offer. And we wanted to make people feel more familiar to Japan, become “fans” of Japan. Our aim was for visitors to take home with them a hope for the global future.

The first zone presents a farm landscape that symbolizes the longstanding Japanese relationship to food. Images inspired from calligraphies, drawings, and painted screens are digitally projected to create an immersive space. Next comes a giant virtual waterfall where informative contents about various Japanese food culture float on the surface. These contents are also designed to be relevant to other cultures, and visitors can save them in smartphones to take home. Next, countless miniature food models provide a sense of diversity of Japanese food. Having gained basic understanding of Japanese food, in the next zone, the visitors see various food crises facing the Earth. A sense of emergency is shared, and Japanese solutions are explained. Lastly, the live performance theater: visitors sit around virtual Japanese dishes served at media tables, and chant “itadakimasu” to the theme tune, expressing thanks for the food. The smiles spread across the room.