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The event will particularly focus on fostering exchanges and interactions between the cities of Shanghai and Osaka. The plan involves inviting renowned architects, curators, planners, from China and Japan to deliberate on strategies and methods for promoting sustainable urban regeneration in the complex and evolving future society through urban comparative studies and the sharing of practical cases.

【Reflection】

On October 9, 2025, the World Expo Museum and the Shanghai Urban Planning & Design Research Institute (Shanghai Urban Space Art Season, SUSAS) jointly hosted the Expo Theme Week programme titled “Greater Intelligence, Enhanced Artistry, and Stronger Compassion: The Future of Urban Regeneration.”

The event brought together renowned architects, curators, and planners from China and Japan to explore strategies and approaches for promoting sustainable urban regeneration in a complex and ever-changing future society through comparative urban studies and real-world case sharing.
In her opening remarks, Ms. LIU Wentao, Director of the World Expo Museum, noted that the Expo and the city are deeply intertwined, with the hosting of each Expo often exerting a direct influence on urban planning. She emphasized that Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai, with its mission to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals, serves as an ideal platform for such dialogue and exchange.

Mr. WU Jiang, Professor of Architecture and Urban Planning, Former Executive Vice President of Tongji University and Chair of Academic Committee of SUSAS, delivered a keynote speech titled “Opening Waterfront Entirely to the Public”, showing how Shanghai has transformed the industrial areas along the Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek into vibrant public spaces for everyone to enjoy.

From a perspective of cross-border collaboration, Mr. SUNADA Tetsumasa, Global Design Group Director of Design Supervision Division at Nikken Sekkei, shared insights from the company’s participation in the project of the West Bund Media Port in Shanghai.

Artist and curator Mr. GAO Youjun (Tango) delivered a speech titled “The Urban Lubricant: Smooth Connections Between People and Cities,” in which he shared how art can make cities feel warmer and more human, showcasing his creative projects that bring people and urban spaces closer together.

Mr. MASUI Shinichiro, President of Code-a-Machine and Director of “Osaka Art & Design,” shared his experience participating in projects of the SUSAS, and through the examples of the city-wide roaming-style event “Osaka Art & Design”, presented Osaka’s unique approach to revitalizing communities through culture in urban regeneration.

Mr. GAO Changjun, Curator of the 2025 Shanghai Urban Space Art Season and Executive Curator of the 2023 edition, took the SUSAS as an example to analyze the differences and similarities between Chinese and Japanese approaches to urban renewal from an “event-driven regeneration” perspective.

During the interactive panel discussion moderated by Ms. Deng Yuanye, Editor-in-Chief of Wallpaper*China, the speakers engaged in a lively exchange on topics such as the sustainable design inspirations drawn from Expo 2025 Osaka pavilions and the most valuable shared experiences between China and Japan in urban regeneration.

This cross-national dialogue brought together diverse insights on sustainable urban development and built a bridge for mutual learning and future collaboration in global urban regeneration. It allowed the spirit of the Expo to continue inspiring cities as they work together toward a more sustainable and vibrant future.

【Post EXPO Initiatives】

Building on the success of this event, the organizers would like to further expand global collaboration and exchange on sustainable urban regeneration beyond Expo 2025 Osaka. The World Expo Museum will continue to explore the close relationship between World Expos and urban development by collecting, documenting, and promoting outstanding cases and innovative practices from around the world.

These achievements will be shared in future Expos through various formats, highlighting how the spirit of the Expo continues to inspire cities toward a more sustainable, inclusive, and creative future.

Shanghai Urban Planning & Design Research Institute (Shanghai Urban Space Art Season)