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JAPAN – Expo Osaka 2025 Officially Inaugurated, 30 Million Visitors Expected
For the first time in history, Italy and the Holy See share the same pavilion. The focus is on the societies of the future, but discussions also include an action plan for exports to non-EU markets.
The Universal Exposition Expo Osaka 2025 officially opened its doors on April 13, marking the third such event hosted in Japan, following the 1970 edition in Osaka and the one held in Aichi twenty years ago. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani inaugurated the Italy Pavilion during his diplomatic mission to the Indo-Pacific region, aimed at strengthening Italian exports in response to international tariff challenges. Tajani described the Expo as a “showcase of excellence” for Made in Italy, calling it “an extraordinary tool for Italy’s political and economic presence in Japan and throughout Asia.” Italy and Japan have already established bilateral strategic partnership agreements, reaffirmed by the visit of President Sergio Mattarella this past March.
Italy and the Holy See Share the Same Pavilion for the First Time
The Italian Pavilion, designed by Mario Cucinella Architects (MCA), is inspired by the Renaissance Ideal City and incorporates elements that reflect key aspects of Italian urban identity—such as the theatre, portico, piazza, and garden. The core theme is “Art Regenerates Life,” aligning with the Expo’s overarching concept of “Designing Future Societies for Our Lives.” According to Ambassador Mario Vattani, Italy’s Commissioner General for Expo 2025 Osaka, “The Italy Pavilion is an opportunity to renew the image of our country in Japan, across Asia, and globally.” For the first time in the history of World Expositions, the Holy See’s pavilion is housed within the Italian one. Among the exhibited masterpieces is Caravaggio’s The Deposition (1604), an exceptional loan from the Vatican Museums.
The Inauguration and Italian Masterpieces at the Expo
The opening ceremony featured a musical performance by Serena Autieri, the pavilion’s ambassador, and the Carabinieri band, returning to Osaka 55 years after the 1970 Expo inauguration. The ceremony also included a special event on sports diplomacy with champion cyclist Vincenzo Nibali. Inside the pavilion, visitors can admire masterpieces such as the Farnese Atlas, Leonardo da Vinci’s Codex Atlanticus, and works by contemporary artists including Mimmo Paladino, Jago, and Francesca Leone.
At a time when East and West are both affected by a growing trade war, the opening event also included the presentation of the “Asia-Pacific Focus” within the action plan for boosting exports to non-EU markets. The presentation featured representatives from Confindustria, Confartigianato, Altagamma, and other major players in the Italian economic landscape.