„Wa! Germany” opened at Expo 2025 in Osaka

05.05.2025

The German Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka in Japan opened its doors in mid-April. The focus is on the principle of circularity.

At the symbolic red ribbon-cutting ceremony, Michael Kellner, parliamentary state secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), and Petra Sigmund, German ambassador to Japan, officially opened Germany’s pavilion to the public. Inspired by the Japanese word that means “harmony”, “circle” and “Wow“ – Germany invites visitors from all over the world to discover innovative solutions for a sustainable circular economy at its “Wa! Germany” themed pavilion. The focus is on forward-looking concepts that promote the responsible use of natural resources – showcased in a multisensory exhibition with a strong edutainment component. At the opening ceremony, parliamentary state secretary Kellner emphasised: “Our goal with ‘Wa! Germany‘ is to show the world how the innovative, ‚Made in Germany‘ circular economy is not only an ecological mandate, but also socially exciting. We are delighted to present this place of exchange, education and transformation to the global public.“ 

Featuring seven cylindrical buildings, the German Pavilion is designed and constructed in line with circular principles. As a symbol of sustainable construction, the cylinders and building materials can all be reused after the Expo. The charming „Circulars“ are digital guides that accompany visitors throughout the interactive, informative and emotionally engaging exhibition. As audio guides, the “Circulars“ make the visitor experience truly special thanks to their clear language and identifiable characters. 

Expo 2025 Osaka takes place from 13 April to 13 October 2025. With the overarching theme of “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”, 150 countries present their visions for the future. Japan is hosting the World Expo for the third time, following Osaka (1970) and Aichi (2005). The organiser expects around 28 million visitors. Koelnmesse is responsible for organising and running the German Pavilion on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. The concept, planning and implementation of the German Pavilion are the responsibility of the “German Pavilion Expo 2025 Osaka Consortium”, consisting of the companies facts and fiction (content, exhibition and media design) and GL events Live (building and construction) with the support of the Japanese branch. The architectural concept was designed by Lava Architects (Berlin). The advertising agency Voss+Fischer together with Mike P. Heisel are responsible for the cultural programme. The pavilion’s restaurant and shop are run by the catering expert 78degrees (www.expo2025germany.de).