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What kind of world can we leave for future generations. How much impact can we, living in the present, have on the future. The Shape New World Initiative was established to consider — from a long-term perspective — what kind of future we want to choose, act toward, and leave behind. In this program, we will review the 24 sessions of discussions held during the Theme Week, a forum for dialogue on solving global challenges, and hold a panel discussion and declaration on the actions we should take as we move toward 2050.

【Reflection】
The program “Shape New World: Imagining the Future to Create It—The Future of Young People” featured dialogues where young people envisioned the future toward 2050 from their perspective and translated those visions into concrete actions.

During the 24 sessions held throughout the Osaka-Kansai Expo period, discussions centered on young participants explored diverse themes including culture, technology, health, peace, mobility, the environment, learning, and play. A broad consensus emerged on the importance of choosing and shaping one's own future. Participants gained opportunities to experience, through research and dialogue, the potential to create the future through their own actions—moving beyond mere future forecasting.

In sessions on cultural inheritance and reinterpretation, bearers of traditional and regional cultures discussed the challenges of passing on cultural spirit and skills. Through demonstrations and discussions, it was shown that culture becomes alive through participation and engagement. These sessions encouraged a mindset of co-creating a vision for culture's future and highlighted the importance of dialogue that respects minority opinions and region-specific cultural values.

Discussions on technology and social systems introduced initiatives for smart mobility, building a circular society, and achieving a decarbonized society. Using examples like electric tricycles and monorails, it was debated that transportation can become an experience with enjoyment and purpose, not just a means. Challenges in infrastructure development, regional localization, and consensus-building among diverse stakeholders were also shared. In the session on the future of food and living, concrete directions for solving challenges in food distribution and regional circular societies were presented through the fusion of the slow food movement, rooted in local culture, and technology startups.

Discussions on health and well-being highlighted the importance of culturally and linguistically sensitive, nuanced mental health care. It was also noted that addressing social isolation and deteriorating mental health requires cross-cutting policies spanning education, labor, and other sectors. The peace and human rights session introduced bottom-up approaches to building peace starting from individual actions, discussing grassroots peacebuilding methods informed by experiences of refugees and conflict zones. The learning and play theme highlighted the importance of self-directed growth and intrinsic motivation, demonstrating how learning processes are enriched through serendipitous discoveries and the diversification of values.

Finally, the application of AI and digital technology to harmonize individual and collective well-being and enhance the sustainability of social systems was addressed. The message that the future is not something to be passively awaited, but rather shaped through personal choice and action, resonated strongly with participants. Through the collaboration of diverse partners and supporting organizations, the quality of the sessions and the depth of learning were elevated, making this a highly significant forum offering insights for future creation across all generations.

【Post EXPO Initiatives】
The speakers identified the following key perspectives for their activities and collaborations moving forward:

(1)Culture and Tradition
Greater attention is being paid to the preservation and contemporary reinterpretation of traditional and regional cultures. Participatory workshops and demonstrations are expanding opportunities for young people to engage with culture. Beyond redesigning materials, techniques and systems, initiatives are under way to archive and utilise cultural resources through AI and digital technologies, enabling culture to be passed on not only through preservation but through dialogue and co-creation.

(2)Technology and Social Systems
Efforts are progressing in implementing smart mobility solutions, urban design innovations, decarbonisation initiatives and the development of services tailored to regional needs. These endeavours aim to enhance the value of mobility and urban spaces while promoting consensus-building among diverse stakeholders.

(3)Food and Daily Life
Through the integration of locally rooted slow-food movements and technological innovation, initiatives are advancing to address issues such as circularity and food distribution. Regional communities, producers and consumers are collaborating to promote inclusive development through dialogue and co-creation.

(4)Health and Well-being
Work is progressing on mental health care that is sensitive to cultural and linguistic backgrounds, along with measures to prevent social isolation. Cross-sectoral approaches spanning education, employment and healthcare are being explored. In the field of peace and human rights, bottom-up peacebuilding at individual and community levels continues, with growing initiatives that draw on the experiences of refugees and those from conflict-affected areas.

(5)Learning and Education
New learning environments that encourage self-directed growth and intrinsic motivation are being developed, alongside educational programmes integrating learning with play. In relation to the SDGs and technology, growing attention is being given to the use of AI and data to build sustainable societies and promote harmony between individual and collective well-being.

*Part or all of this report was generated by AI.