Preparations for the Osaka and Kansai Expo are growing intense as the countdown to the opening day begins. With just 100 days to go until the grand event scheduled for January 3, 2025, excitement is palpable across the region. One of the standout attractions is the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion, which promises to showcase the latest advancements within the healthcare and technology sectors.
On December 20, 2024, the city of Osaka hosted a presentation for the pavilion's exhibition content, themed "REBORN"—signifying rebirth and the significant strides being made in health and wellness. The healthcare pavilion's agenda is to blend the contributions of industry, government, and academia to present groundbreaking innovations to the public.
The highlight of the pavilion will be the renowned "Body Measurement Pod," where visitors can engage with cutting-edge technology to analyze their health across seven different parameters, including vascular health, skin condition, hair quality, and brain function. After undergoing these analyses, attendees will receive insights via their avatars, visualizing themselves 25 years older as part of the interactive experience dubbed the "REBORN Experience Route," ranking insights from A to E.
Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura, during the event, expressed his personal reflections on the significance of futuristic self-meetings, stating, "Meeting my 74-year-old self is a strange sensation. While the past cannot be altered, I feel the future can be changed." This connection to the future has sparked discussions among attendees.
Child actress Yuno Nagao shared her captivating experience upon observing her avatar aged 33, exclaiming, "I felt like I had come to the future! It's incredible! I was filled with excitement and anticipation throughout the experience." This sentiment encapsulated the atmosphere of hope and transformation at the event.
Further engaging the audience, Governor Yoshimura posed the question, "What would you tell your future self?" to which Nagao responded with wisdom, "I hope I cherish each day and avoid regrets 25 years from now." Such weighty reflections encouraged spectators to ponder their own futures.
Meanwhile, Ann Mika, a model who participated, noted how this experience reshapes perspectives on aging. She stated, "I no longer fear growing older. The Expo brings visibility and enjoyment to this process. Aging felt heavy, but now it seems much lighter, and it gives me hope for the future." This newfound perspective resonates with the event's vision for attendees.
The Osaka Healthcare Pavilion will not merely be defined by participation from local authorities and stakeholders; over 400 companies will exhibit throughout the event, offering unique experiential displays. Noteworthy among these is the booth from Science, featuring the "Future Human Washing Machine," evolved from the popular "Ultrasonic Bath" showcased at the 1970 Osaka Expo hosted by Sanyo Electric.
Rohto Pharmaceutical, located in Ikuno Ward of Osaka, will present cutting-edge eye care technology, utilizing AI to analyze images around the eyes to calculate the "eye age" of participants, accompanied by presentations on regenerative medicine and ocular care technologies.
Rokkō Butter from Kobe will feature their plant-based "QBB Kitchen," focusing on future staple dishes derived entirely from plant ingredients—offering satisfying textures and delicious taste, skillfully crafted to appeal to dairy fans.
Morinaga Milk Industry from Minato, Tokyo, will offer visitors the exciting experience of "Superhuman with Bifidobacteria," allowing them to hear their intestinal health through stethoscope-like devices, transforming sound analysis of bowel movements to engage participants interactively about digestive health.
With the Expo just around the corner, the combination of innovative pavilion themes and inspiring testimonies marks Osaka as not just the host city but as the front-runner for health and technological exploration. Attendees are anticipated to depart the event enriched with knowledge about their health, invigorated by visions of future selves, and excited for what lies at the intersection of technology and wellbeing.
Through dynamic programming and interactive components, the upcoming Osaka Healthcare Pavilion aims not merely to inform but to engage and inspire individuals of all ages to take agency over their health—a timely message as the world grapples with increasing health challenges.