Works#Kansai

We were responsible for the entire process, from design, layout and planning to interiors construction, for Head Office relocation project of Ai Kogyo, a house builder based in Osaka with operations nationwide. Ai Kogyo aims to create a space that allows people to experience their unique character and corporate culture, prioritizing the enhancement of their corporate image and constructing concept design that inspires trust and pride.

The signature pavilion "null²" for the 2025 Japan International Exposition (Osaka-Kansai Expo) is a pavilion produced by media artist Yoichi Ochiai that creates two experiences based on the motif of "mirrors," which were inspired by the theme "Refining Life." The first is architecture that creates an "unknown landscape." The gigantic structure, covered with a special mirror exterior membrane developed from scratch, becomes a sculptural building that distorts the surrounding landscape and people by smoothly deforming itself, creating an unknown landscape. The second is a mirrored experience using digital bodies that creates an "unknown experience." The space inside the pavilion is an experiential theater content where visitors' bodies are digitized, organically deformed, and interact with autonomously operating bodies (digital humans). The experience of encountering a digitized version of oneself is a reinvention of the mirror, something that has not been done since the dawn of history. Our company was in charge of interiors direction and production, interiors concept design, interiors planning, and interiors construction.

NANKAI reconstructed the common meeting room area of Parks Tower, an office building adjacent to Namba Parks in Osaka, as the "PARKS PATIO" lounge for employees. The space is designed as a "special backyard for workers" in response to the lush greenery of Parks Garden, the symbol of Namba Parks. As a place that workers use on a daily basis, we have created an environment that accommodates not only meetings and work, but also various ways of spending time, such as taking a break or changing one's mind. Through a worker-participatory production process, artwork using plants in the garden, and sound effects that incorporate the environmental sounds of the rail line, we aim to enhance the overall value of the office building and the worker experience, while incorporating a space for physical and mental conditioning within the convenience of the city. We were in charge of planning design, layout and production construction.

This café features an AI-powered oven, "Baumkuchen AI Craftsman 'THEO'," which bakes and serves Baumkuchen in real time in a show kitchen. Inspired by the theme of "life" from the 2025 Japan International Exposition (Osaka-Kansai Expo), the café uses "eggs" as its motif. The interior is predominantly white, with rounded chairs and tables, creating a bright space that softly reflects the light streaming in from the windows. Furthermore, the floor, walls, ceiling, and tables are made from recycled eggshells used in Baumkuchen production, expressing a vision of a future confectionery shop that avoids waste and incorporates materials into its architecture. *Opening period: April 13th (Sun) - October 13th (Mon), 2025

Producer Hiroaki Miyata's signature pavilion for the 2025 Japan International Exposition (Osaka-Kansai Expo), "Better Co-Being," is a pavilion without a roof or walls, standing as if blending into the adjacent "Forest of Tranquility." With the theme of "Resonating Lives," visitors are led through a resonant experience consisting of three sequences, starting from the unique connections they make when they gather on that day and at that time. In Sequence 1, visitors reflect on themselves and others, and rediscover "what connects us." By confronting diverse motifs, they become aware of the value of others and their own desires, gaining clues to resonance toward the future. In Sequence 2, they experience a perspective that resonates with nature, culture, and the lives nurtured there. Through the universal motif of "voice," they listen to global values and realize how the customs of distant regions connect to their own lives. In Sequence 3, visitors connect with one another and experience envisioning a better future while engaging with the world. By feeling connected to people and nature and creating a rainbow together, they acknowledge their differences while looking up at the same sky and gain a sense of moving towards the future. In the final epilogue, a unique video is screened that overlays the actions and environmental data experienced by visitors at that moment, providing clues to their connection with the world and their journey towards the future together. In this pavilion, our company was responsible for the production and installation of the art installation that forms the core of the resonant experience, as well as the installation displays work of communication equipment related to "echorb" (sponsored by Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.), a special device that guides visitors through the experience.

The Fukushima Reconstruction displays, sponsored by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, was held for five days from May 20th to 24th at EXPO Messe "WASSE" within the Osaka-Kansai Expo site. The event showcased the activities of people in the Hamadori region of Fukushima Prefecture and other areas who, despite facing a complex disaster involving earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster, have managed to preserve the region's culture and attractions and pass them on to the future. It also introduced new initiatives by various businesses developing cutting-edge robots, rockets, and other technologies.

For the "Wakayama Zone" of the Kansai Pavilion at the 2025 World Exposition in Japan (Osaka-Kansai Expo), we collaborated with Hideki Yoshimoto, the general director of the Wakayama Zone, to express "high-quality Wakayama." The video device "Totem," reminiscent of the giant trees of the Kii Mountains, is finished with Kishu lacquer, and the counter tables and chairs that provide dining experiences are also made of Kishu wood. Wakayama's traditional crafts and materials are utilized in the various elements that make up the space, condensing the charm of Wakayama, which is a source of pride for the world, into the space.

The "Future City" Pavilion at the 2025 World Exposition, Japan (Osaka-Kansai Expo) is a joint exhibit project by the Expo Association and 12 supporting organizations. The Kubota Germination Lab is a research institute that addresses people's aspirations and global issues, and considers future food and agriculture that is friendly to both people and the earth. Life, food, and agriculture are connected from the past to the present and into the future, and we believe that we too play a role in these connections. This was a forum for participants to realize and consider the importance of each individual considering the entire food system, from production to consumption, and the importance of communicating the technology that supports the food system.

The Sumitomo Pavilion at the 2025 Japan International Exposition (Osaka-Kansai Expo) is a pavilion where visitors can experience a grand "story of life" set in the "UNKNOWN FOREST." With lanterns in hand, children and adults alike can freely wander through the forest and experience the interconnectedness of life that is usually unseen. In response to the movements of visitors, light and mist change, and the "story of life" in nature emerges in the forest, depicting trees conversing in the soil, the life cycle of trees spanning hundreds of years, and the animals and fungi lurking in the forest. In a theater deep within the forest, the trajectory and fragments of memories of the Mother Tree, which has watched over this forest, from its birth to its end, are depicted. The wind and mist that drift through the space stir the senses of visitors, and the climax is reached with a powerful performance in which layered images, music, and people merge. After the forest experience, visitors will explore the "Seeds of the Future" area, where over 700 cutting-edge technologies and initiatives from the Sumitomo Group are displays, leading to a platform utilizing generative AI where anyone can create and share ideas for the future. The Sumitomo Pavilion itself was constructed using approximately 1,000 cedar and cypress trees planted in 1970, the year of the Osaka World Expo. In addition to their experience at "UNKNOWN FOREST," visitors can participate in a "tree-planting experience" where they can touch seedlings and soil, and the newly grown seedlings will be returned to the original forest. This "story of life" will continue even after the Expo, and will be passed on to future generations.

The Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Museum Funeshiru, which opened at Osaka South Port ATC where the ferry "Sunflower" connecting Osaka and Kyushu docks, is the first museum project undertaken by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, a company with over 140 years of history and a leader in the shipping industry, with the desire to let many people encounter the world of ships that support people's daily lives. Based on the concept of a museum where visitors can "see," "touch," and "play" with ships that support our lives, the aim is to create a facility where people of all ages, from children to adults, can learn in an enjoyable way that "shipping supports people's daily lives" and "ships are constantly evolving." The museum features a large panoramic theater where visitors can experience the scale of ships and the sea, and interactive displays where children can learn about jobs related to ships and shipping in a fun way, creating a space and experiences that are approachable and exciting for children. In addition, the museum includes a café where visitors can enjoy original curry and a shop selling original goods unique to a ship and shipping museum, inspired by a port where "food transported across the sea" gathers.

The Osaka University of Arts Animal Diorama Museum, "Geidai Zoo," is the world's first animal diorama museum within a university, where students from all departments can use it as teaching material for artistic expression, such as drawing animals or conceptualizing animal characters. Under the direction of Kenji Wakao, Professor and Head of the Liberal Arts Program at Osaka University of Arts and the overall producer, taxidermied animals donated by the Shiga Safari Museum were used to displays each animal in its natural habitat. Three diorama areas were created: "African Grassland," "African Forest," and "Rocky Grassland." In addition, areas were set up to displays taxidermied heads, wapiti fighting, and moose, categorized by species and region. Our company was responsible for everything from design to construction, including taxidermy research and restoration, and applications to the Ministry of the Environment.

Juno Park, which opened in Kizugawa City, Kyoto Prefecture, is a project that renovated Sekisui House's experiential research facility, "Nattoku Kobo," into a "housing education edutainment facility" that nurtures children's sensibilities. It consists of four floors, with the first floor being a cafe and library that can be easily used by local people, and the second to fourth floors being paid experience areas. Our company was in charge of planning, developing, and operating the "Experience Activities," which are approximately 45-minute game-style group workshops linked to six themes related to "housing" based on Sekisui House's concept of "sensibilities nurtured in daily life," and the "Experience Gallery," displays that can be enjoyed by actually touching and thinking. We were also in charge of production of staff scripts and facility operation manuals, as well as the design and construction of interiors and outdoor signage for the entire facility.

Cartier, a brand that has always supported women, will be exhibiting at the Women's Pavilion at the Osaka-Kansai Expo. Based on the concept of "Toward a Future Where We Live Together and Shine Together," the pavilion will call for a fair and sustainable future through the experiences and perspectives of women. Through an artistic and overwhelming spatial concept design and an immersive displays experience using audio guides, the pavilion will highlight the contributions of women in society and invite visitors on a journey to unravel the "power of change."

Located within the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion at the 2025 Japan International Exposition (Osaka-Kansai Expo), this space allows visitors to see a real myocardial sheet made from iPS cells up close. The symbolic sculpture, based on the motif of a "tree" growing from a seed (iPS cell) into a large tree, represents the global progress of research and development since the discovery of iPS cells and the advancement of science and technology. Within the "tree," a giant heart model moves in sync with the beating of displays myocardial sheet, and the resounding heartbeats and video projections throughout the atrium express a future of health through the advancement of regenerative medicine.

The "Cities of the Future" pavilion at the 2025 Japan International Exposition (Osaka-Kansai Expo) is a joint exhibition project by the Expo Association and 12 sponsoring companies. The Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) displays place is based on the concept of "WIND VISION" and consists of a large-scale model of the hydrogen production ship "Wind Hunter," which MOL is developing, and a large screen. Interactive, experiential displays were created to allow visitors to feel the inexhaustible natural energy of "wind" that the Wind Hunter captures, and the "wind" as movement generated by the ship.