Portugal Pavilion Director Bernardo Amaral attended the Expo 2025 Groundbreaking Ceremony, held today, April 13, at Osaka's Yumeshima artificial island, where the expo site is located, presided over by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
"It is of historical significance to host an expo that focuses on life during the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical uncertainties and energy crisis," said Japanese Prime Minister Kishida.
The venue, within 50 km of the cities of Kyoto and Nara, will cover about 155 hectares on the island of Yumeshima. This island is connected to Osaka's islands of Maishima and Sakishima via the Yumemai bridge and Yumesaki tunnel, respectively.
Ancient construction techniques will merge with modern design to create one of the world's most significant wooden structures on a Japanese island prepared to host Expo 2025 Osaka. This signature ring-shaped structure, with 60,000 square meters, named "the Grand Roof," will be featured at the venue, according to the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition. It will represent the philosophy of unity in diversity as a symbol of the expo.
The venue, divided into three zones, demonstrates three subthemes of saving, empowering, and connecting lives, highlighting topics such as work utilising AI and robots and cross-cultural understanding.
With the construction work kicking off in April, installation of the venue is scheduled to conclude in April 2025, according to the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition.
The expo will run from April 13 to October 13, 2025, and will focus on " Designing the future society of our lives."
