The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition is pleased to announce that UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has decided to grant its patronage to the Signature Pavilion “to exist” (theme: Embracing Lives) created by Thematic Project Producer KAWASE Naomi at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan (hereinafter referred to as “the Expo”).
The buildings of two disused schools (former Oritachi Junior High School, Totsukawa Village, Nara Prefecture, and former Nakade Branch of Hosomi Elementary School, Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture) will be utilised for the Signature Pavilion “to exist” (theme: Embracing Lives). The aim of the pavilion is to understand and overcome mutual differences in race, religion, culture, etc. through dialogue.
(From the left: Thematic Project Producer KAWASE Naomi, Ernesto Ottone, Assistant Director-General for Culture, UNESCO)
On January 31, 2024, Thematic Project Producer KAWASE Naomi visited UNESCO Headquarters in Paris to meet Ernesto Ottone, Assistant Director-General for Culture, UNESCO. Producer KAWASE was also appointed as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in 2021 in recognition of her efforts to promote international exchange and gender equality through film.
＊About UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors
The UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors programme was established to increase public awareness of UNESCO. There are currently 98 appointees, including celebrities from various fields, royalty, artists, and scholars from around the world who support UNESCO’s activities. As of date, there have been five Japanese nationals appointed as UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors and Artists for Peace. The current Japanese UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors are Producer KAWASE Naomi and SEN Genshitsu, former Grand Master of the Urasenke school of Japanese tea ceremony (appointed in 2012).
“We are pleased to support the pavilion by Naomi Kawase, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Cultural and Creative Industries, which serves as a place of open, intergenerational exchanges. This initiative resonates with UNESCO’s enduring belief that culture is the pillar of peaceful, empathetic and nurturing societies.”
© LESLIE KEE
Transforming the world’s divisions into tolerance is a next-to-impossible task. But perhaps a little comfort in people’s hearts could be the first step towards a kinder world. When a glass of water soaks into a parched body and heart, it will turn into warm tears. I am delighted to have the support of UNESCO, an international organisation that works to create a society in which people around the world can live in mutual understanding and enrichment, and to be able to collaborate for peace through dialogue at the Kawase Pavilion ”to exist”.
■ Thematic Project Producer KAWASE Naomi: Signature Pavilion “to exist”
At Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, the buildings of two disused schools in Nara and Kyoto (former Oritachi Junior High School, Totsukawa Village, Nara Prefecture, and former Nakade Branch of Hosomi Elementary School, Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture) will be utilised for the Signature Pavilion “to exist” (theme: Embracing Lives).
The concept of the pavilion is “A dialogue for the first time in human history is born every day”. The Signature Pavilion “to exist” is a pavilion that aims to understand and overcome mutual differences in race, religion, culture, etc. through dialogue conducted by people of different nationalities, races, and cultures who are completely unknown to each other. Thousands of dialogues are expected to take place during the 184-day Expo period, and “speakers” for the dialogues will be invited from the public.
・Overview of the Signature Pavilion “to exist”
https://www.expo2025.or.jp/wp/wp-content/themes/expo2025orjp_2022/assets/pdf/project/pav_kawase_202311.pdf.jp (Japanese)
・“Thematic Project Producer KAWASE Naomi”, Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, Signature Pavilion “to exist”, Ground-Breaking Ceremony Held (Hosted by Muramoto Corporation) (Press release dated November 6, 2023)
https://www.expo2025.or.jp/en/news/news-20231106-03/
・“Thematic Project Producer KAWASE Naomi”, Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, Signature Pavilion “to exist”, Construction Safety Prayer Ceremony Held (Press release dated October 18, 2023)
https://www.expo2025.or.jp/en/news/news-20231018-04/
・“Thematic Project Producer KAWASE Naomi”, Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, Signature Pavilion “to exist”, Closed School Building Departure Ceremony Held for Hosomi Elementary School Nakade Branch, Fukuchiyama City (Press release dated October 18, 2023)
https://www.expo2025.or.jp/en/news/news-20231018-05/
・Thematic Project Producer KAWASE Naomi, Utilizing Closed School Buildings for Signature Pavilion “to exist” (Press release dated May 30, 2023)
https://www.expo2025.or.jp/en/news/news-20230530-02/
・ 10 Producers Selected for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan (Activity report dated September 8, 2020)
https://www.expo2025.or.jp/report/report-20200908/ (Japanese)
Public Relations Department, Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition
Email: media@expo2025.or.jp
Under the patronage of
