The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition (hereinafter referred to as “the Association”) had invited proposals for the “Co-Design Challenge”, a special program of Expo site operation participation for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan (hereinafter referred to as “the Expo”), featuring: 1) the creation of something new taking the Expo as an opportunity, 2) co-creation initiatives, 3) initiatives from a design perspective, and 4) initiatives that do not require large capital. The Association has announced the selected operators and their projects, as well as the launch of this program toward implementation of the projects at the Expo Site.
The selected projects will be developed with the advisory cooperation by members of the Expo Outcome Design Committee, established by the Association to study future society that should be implemented at the Expo from a design perspective, with the aim of implementing the projects at the Expo.
A call for proposals for the “Co-Design Challenge” program ran from July 26 to September 16, 2022.
A total of 79 proposals were posted from 58 companies and organizations, and 12 were selected by the selection committee. (Underlined are small and medium-sized enterprises)
■ ① A Bench That Reminds Us – The Circle of Life
Representative companies and organizations: H2O RETAILING CORPORATION (Osaka)
Cooperating companies and organizations: Osaka Prefectural Corporation for Agricultural Land Development and Greenery-Environment Promotion, SOUQ COMPANY CO.LTD
■ ② Playful Bench Out of Wood Thinning Leftovers
Representative companies and organizations: AceJapan Co., Ltd. (Kyoto)
Cooperating companies and organizations: DOUBLECLUTCH CORP., Fortmarei Inc.
■ ③ Upcycling Waste Textiles by Colour Separation
~ Challenge to bench design contributing to circular economy ~
Representative companies and organizations: colourloop Co., Ltd. (Kyoto)
Cooperating companies and organizations: abode Co., Ltd., NAKANO & CO., LTD.
■ ④ Sustainable Helmets Made From Garbage
Representative Companies and Organizations: Koushi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. (Osaka)
■ ⑤ Wooden Benches for Utilizing Domestic and Regional Timber
Representative companies and organizations: KOKUYO Co.,Ltd.(Osaka)
Cooperating companies and organizations: VUILD, inc
■ ⑥ Designing the Future Use of My Own Bottle; Proposal for a Washing Machine to Serve Beverages in My Own Bottle
Representative companies and organizations: Zojirushi Corporation (Osaka)
Cooperating companies and organizations: Nakano Manufacturing Co.,Ltd.
■ ⑦ Designing New Water Around the World With Circular Bio-toilets
Representative companies and organizations: W TOKYO Inc. (Tokyo)
■ ⑧ Designing the Future Waste Separation and Recycling Bins
Representative companies and organizations: TerraCycle Japan, Inc. (Kanagawa)
Cooperating companies and organizations: Aeon Co., Ltd.
■ ⑨ Sustainable Stock Plan (Sustainable disaster preparedness planning, and towards zero waste of disaster preparedness food through diverse cooperation)
Representative companies and organizations: Japan Emergency Food Organization (Mie)
Cooperating companies and organizations: Onisi Foods Co.,Ltd., NPO Japan SELP Center, Plaza Osaka
■ ⑩ Smart Collection Boxes and Smartphone Applications That Encourage You To Contribute to Resource Recycling
Representative companies and organizations: Hitachi Zosen Corporation (Osaka)
Cooperating companies and organizations: Daiei Kankyo Co., Ltd., Daiei Kankyo Research Institute Co., Ltd.
■ ⑪ Recyclable Tableware “edish”
Representative companies and organizations: Marubeni Corporation (Tokyo)
Cooperating companies and organizations: PURASU INDUSTRIAL Co,.Ltd.
■ ⑫ Sustainable Life With Trees; Benches Made of Yoshino Wood That Exist in the Cycle of Sustainable Life With Trees
Representative companies and organizations: General Incorporated Association Living with Yoshino
Cooperating companies and organizations: Greenforest Enterprise Co.,Ltd, Marushouten Co.,Ltd, Yumeshima New Industry and Urban Creation Organization, Yoshino Chuo Mokuzai Co.,Ltd
※Please refer to the following documents for an overview of the selected operators and each selected project
“Co-Design Challenges” program selected operators and outlines of their projects
https://www.expo2025.or.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/0307_siryou.pdf
(Japanese only)
※ Specific implementation of each project at the Expo site is still under discussion. The details of the projects may be subject to change as a result of further discussions.
“Co-Design Challenge” Selection Committee
■ Selection committee members (title of honor omitted, in alphabetical order)
FUJIMOTO Sou （Expo Site Design Producer）
HATTORI Shigeki（CEO, decorative mode no.3 design products Inc.）
ISHIKAWA Masaru（Expo Site Operation Producer）
KOHASHI Kenji （Event Planning Producer）
KURAMOTO Jin （CEO, JIN KURAMOTO STUDIO INC.）
SAITO Seiichi （Expo Co-creation Program Director）
SHIBATA Fumie（Representative, Design Studio S）
① A Bench That Reminds Us – The Circle of Life
Committee member: HATTORI Shigeki
This proposal was unique and appealing in that it involved a short-cycle supply chain that utilized a group of forests in the suburbs of Osaka and installed them locally via green mileage, as well as that it can extract information on production processes, industries, and specialties by embedding a QR code on the bench that links information on the people, natural attractions, and specialties of the timber production area. We expect this system to spread as well.
② Playful Bench Out of Wood Thinning Leftovers
Committee member: FUJIMOTO Sou
We would like to actively introduce thinned wood to make benches as part of the site design, and we appreciated this proposal in regard to the whole philosophy of the Expo and its attitude toward future standards. In addition, the design quality of the objects presented through the bench is high. We expect that it will contribute highly to the landscape and function of the Expo Site.
③ Upcycling Waste Textiles by Colour Separation
~ Challenge to bench design contributing to circular economy ~
Committee member: KURAMOTO Jin
We found that the recycling and upcycling of waste textiles, which are social issues, is presented in an attractive way as beautiful materials. We also appreciated the fact that the companies propose new possibilities for textile recycling. We look forward to collaborating with young designers.
④ Sustainable Helmets Made From Garbage
Committee member: KOHASHI Kenji
This is an initiative where “things that protect human life” are created in the cycle of the natural environment, and the design, idea, and naming are very unique and eye-catching. We evaluated this project because we found interesting the concept and focus on creating something new out of something that is discarded in large quantities.
⑤ Wooden Benches for Utilizing Domestic and Regional Timber
Committee member: SHIBATA Fumie
I can imagine how the city will change after the Expo.
I found this proposal appealing because making benches from bent wood and other materials that have not been used up until now and its initiative is visible and it seems to be easier to communicate to the public with this content.
⑥ Designing the Future Use of My Own Bottle; Proposal for a Washing Machine to Serve Beverages in My Own Bottle
Committee member: ISHIKAWA Masaru
I think it would be convenient to have a device in this world, which can rationally clean and even sterilize my own bottles with a machine. We also appreciated the possibility of using the device in outdoor events such as festivals if it can be used in places where there is no water supply and drainage system.
⑦ Designing New Water Around the World With Circular Bio-toilets
Committee member: KOHASHI Kenji
I evaluated this project with my hope that it could create a new cycle for the problem of water, which is indispensable and important for human life. If we could regenerate water to a drinkable level, it would help solve the world’s water and sanitation problems, and I thought it would be attractive from the perspective of sustainability.
⑧ Designing the Future Waste Separation and Recycling Bins
Committee member: SAITO Seiichi
I think it is important to note that the city will have changed after the Expo and that the way of sorting garbage will have changed. This proposal was attractive in that it involves citizens outside the Expo Site even before the opening period of the Expo, and the process of manufacturing dust bins from recycled materials.
⑨ Sustainable Stock Plan (Sustainable disaster preparedness planning, and towards zero waste of disaster preparedness food through diverse cooperation)
Committee member: ISHIKAWA Masaru
Disaster preparedness food is often discarded when its expiration date comes and that leads to food loss. We evaluated this proposal because it is a social model that prevents the disposal of stockpiled disaster preparedness food and also contributes to the employment of people with disabilities, and because we can expect its widespread popularization on the occasion of the Expo.
⑩ Smart Collection Boxes and Smartphone Applications That Encourage You To Contribute to Resource Recycling
Committee member: ISHIKAWA Masaru
If the amount of garbage in dust bins can be monitored in real time by the supervisor and the frequency of garbage collection can be reduced, a considerable amount of labor savings can be expected. We evaluated this with the hope that in the Expo, “People’s Living Lab”, this could be implemented and be spread throughout the world.
⑪ Recyclable Tableware “edish”
Committee member: FUJIMOTO Sou
We thought this proposal would contribute to “Japan’s Unique Expo” with food. We also appreciated the feasibility of the environmentally friendly concept and the products with excellent designs created in this proposal.
⑫ Sustainable Life With Trees; Benches Made of Yoshino Wood That Exist in the Cycle of Sustainable Life With Trees
Committee member: SAITO Seiichi
One of the features of this proposal is that the drying, harvesting, and reforestation of the trees will be done locally. We evaluated the implementation of the circular concept in the region as a good example of future forestry and crafts in the region, and thought it was a good initiative that should be developed nationwide. We placed importance not only on the product, but also on its own approach and process.
■ Press release
・Expo outcome design committee established to study the future society that should be implemented at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan from a design perspective.
https://www.expo2025.or.jp/news/news-20211202-02/
・Expo outcome design committee’s “EODC Report” released
https://www.expo2025.or.jp/en/news/news-20220725-01/
・Expo site operation participation of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan (2nd round) and recruitment of proposals for the “Co-Design Challenge” program started
https://www.expo2025.or.jp/en/news/news-20220726-05/
Public Relations Department, Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition
e-mail: media@expo2025.or.jp