The Future of Earth and Biodiversity Week
Circular Economy Research Lab - Learn About the Circular Economy in a Fun Way Through Collaboration with the “Science Manga Survival ” Series
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Innovation and Environment Policy Bureau GX Policy Group Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Division
*This program will be held in the South Hall of EXPO
Messe.
At the Circular Economy Research Lab , there will be
interactive areas where participants can experience the
circular economy in a fun way, a presentation space
featuring guest speakers and hands-on activities, and
educational events that allow everyone from children to
adults to learn while having fun.
Specifically, visitors can learn through hands-on
experiences about what choices they can make in daily
situations, such as what to buy and what to use, to
facilitate a circular economy, as well as how to properly
sort items after use and how used items circulate through
the system.
Additionally, you can learn about the latest research and
initiatives aimed at achieving the “Osaka Blue Ocean
Vision,” which seeks to eliminate additional pollution
caused by marine plastic waste by 2050.
Recorded video available
Discussion
- Circular economy
- Decarbonisation
- Marine pollution
| Transmission of simultaneous interpretation | Provided |
|---|---|
| Language of interpretation | Japanese and English |
-
Track Programme
-
Time and
Date of
the event -
-
2025.09.23[Tue]
2025.09.28[Sun]
10:00 ～ 20:00
(Venue Open 10:00)
-
2025.09.29[Mon]
10:00 ～ 19:00
(Venue Open 10:00)
-
- Venue
- EXPO Exhibition Centre
Programme details
Name: Circular Economy Research Institute - Learn About the
Circular Economy in a Fun Way Through Collaboration with the
“Science Manga Survival ” Series
Dates: September 23 (Tue.) to September 29 (Mon.), 2025; 10
a.m. - 8 p.m.
Organizer: Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry
Partner: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. (Science Manga
Survival series)
Venue: EXPO Exhibition Center WASSE , South Hall, Expo 2025
Osaka, Kansai, Japan in Yumeshima, Osaka
Official site:
https://www.meti.go.jp/policy/energy_environment/shigenjunkan/circular_economy/action/expo2025/index.html
*While no advance reservation is required, you must have an
admission ticket for the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan .
Please purchase tickets through the official Expo ticket
website.
*Event details are subject to change without notice.
Reports
【Reflection】
From September 23 to 29, 2025, the “Circular Economy
Laboratory” was held at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, offering a
fun way for visitors to learn about the circular economy.
Visitors received an original educational booklet created in
collaboration with the Survival Science Manga Series.
[Opening Ceremony]
Christel Takigawa, and the comedian and garbage collector
Shuichi Takizawa of Machine Guns took the stage at the opening
ceremony held the day before the “Circular Economy
Laboratory”. They participated in the “Good Choice Mission”
quiz, selecting a circular economy product from three choices,
and also made a “Circular Economy Declaration.” Regarding
circular economy actions they would like to take in the
future, Christel Takigawa declared, “Reduce food loss,” and
Shuichi Takizawa declared, “Make things last longer.”
[Exhibitions and Stage Program]
During the Exhibitions, we presented a total of 29 pieces of
content in collaboration with over 100 partners (including 25
companies and organizations selected via a public call for
exhibitors) featuring guest talks by businesses and experts in
the circular economy, as well as participatory projects. The
exhibitions attracted approximately 58,000 visitors. In the
visitor survey, many declared that they would circulate
resources through actions such as “eating locally grown food”
and “buying reused products.”
Additionally, the exhibition fixtures were designed with a
system for resource circulation. With reuse as the top
priority, the design utilized materials that are easy to
materially recycle. In collaboration with resource recovery
companies, we achieved our goal of a resource circulation rate
of approximately 99.6%*.
*Resource circulation rate = total recycled weight ÷ total
discarded weight.
[Closing Ceremony]
On the final day, the closing ceremony was held to present
seven elementary school students, who will be the future
leaders of Japan, with an original educational booklet,
"Survival with the Circular Economy," created in
collaboration with the popular manga series "Survival
Science Manga Series." The ceremony was attended by
MYAKU-MYAKU, the official mascot of Expo 2025 and Geo from the
Survival Science Manga Series. The closing ceremony concluded
on a high note, with a student representative telling the
audience, “This experience gave me understanding of the
circular economy and became an unforgettable memory.”
【Post EXPO Initiatives】
After the Expo, we will build on this legacy to expand
awareness of the circular economy and promote actions for
resource recycling. To this end, we will launch the “Circular
Economy School” in October 2025 as an educational initiative.
The event is scheduled to be held in Toyama, in Kyoto, in
Tokyo and in Saitama as well.
Through the Asahi Shogakusei Shimbun, we will also expand
learning opportunities for the circular economy. We will be
held on-site classes at Idagawa Elementary School in Kameyama
City, Mie Prefecture, and Shinho Elementary School in
Higashikurume City, Tokyo, and distribute educational booklet
and card game that make learning about resource recycling
enjoyable, to elementary schools nationwide that request
them.
Please visit the website below, where we will be providing
regular updates. You can read articles on the exhibitions,
programs, and speaker presentations at Expo 2025 and find
information on learning activities in some regions.
https://www.meti.go.jp/policy/energy_environment/shigenjunkan/circular_economy/action/
Co-organiser
Ministry of Economy,Trede and Industry Industrial Science, Technology and Environment Policy Bureau GX Investment Promotion Officefice Takahiro NAGAI, Akihiro OHIRA
Office of Policies against Marine Plastics Pollution, Environment Management Bureau, Ministry of the Environment, Japan
Office for Plastic and Packaging Resource Circulation, Environmental Regeneration and Material Cycles Bureau, Ministry of the Environment, Japan
The Future of Earth and Biodiversity Week
Circular Economy Research Lab - Learn About the Circular Economy in a Fun Way Through Collaboration with the “Science Manga Survival ” Series
*This program will be held in the South Hall of EXPO Messe.
At the Circular Economy Research Lab , there will be
interactive areas where participants can experience the
circular economy in a fun way, a presentation space featuring
guest speakers and hands-on activities, and educational events
that allow everyone from children to adults to learn while
having fun.
Specifically, visitors can learn through hands-on experiences
about what choices they can make in daily situations, such as
what to buy and what to use, to facilitate a circular economy,
as well as how to properly sort items after use and how used
items circulate through the system.
Additionally, you can learn about the latest research and
initiatives aimed at achieving the “Osaka Blue Ocean Vision,”
which seeks to eliminate additional pollution caused by marine
plastic waste by 2050.
-
2025.09.23[Tue]
10:00～20:00
(Venue Open 10:00)
-
2025.09.29[Mon]
10:00～19:00
(Venue Open 10:00)
- EXPO Exhibition Centre
Han Hyun-Dong/Mirae N
OTHER PROGRAM
The Future of Earth and Biodiversity Week
