Showcasing with “Light” and “Analytical and Measurement” - Sponsorship at the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025

The Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025 will open on April 13.
HORIBA is sponsoring the Signature Pavilion “Future of Life,” produced by Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro of Osaka University, a pioneer in android development and robotics, as a Bronze Partner.
In conjunction with our sponsorship of the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025 (hereinafter referred to as the Expo), we established the “HAKARU MIRAI EXPO 2025 PROJECT”^*1 within our company in July 2022 to promote the Expo initiatives. Since then, we have been working on co-creating the pavilion's exhibits and performances. Members of the “HAKARU MIRAI EXPO 2025 PROJECT” shared their thoughts on HORIBA's initiatives and their dedication to the Expo.　

Ueoka: The Pavilion “Future of Life” is enveloped in water, symbolizing life that flows from the past to the future, and is surrounded by a water landscape. The pavilion itself is a living entity that sensitively responds to environmental changes and expresses the expansion of life through “light.” HORIBA's “Analytical and Measurement” technologies are utilized in the light installations.

Ueoka: The architectural concept of the Pavilion “Future of Life,” “Shores: Edge of Water,” was decided early on, making water an indispensable element. It was also decided that light would be used. Based on these two elements, we listed what we could provide for the pavilion and discussed how to align HORIBA's technologies with the pavilion's concept within the company. Amid these discussions, we came up with the idea of capturing human movement through atmospheric fluctuations. From there, we extended the concept to connect the changes in both the air and water environments to “light.”

This idea aligned with Professor Ishiguro's theme of a “living pavilion.” However, while we aim to express the future 50 years from now, the products delivered must be feasible in the present. Bridging this gap was our biggest challenge, which led to the creation of HORIBA's unique concept, "Shores: Edge of Evolution."

Haneda: The term “shore” can be articulated as the boundary between the sea and the land, but it is abstract and difficult to visualize. We repeatedly exchanged opinions with the project members about what we wanted to convey in the Pavilion “Future of Life.” We interpreted the “shore” as an ambiguous area where life boundaries are unclear, hypothesizing it as an unmeasurable domain. By “Analytical and Measurement,” we aim to unravel this ambiguous “shore” and build a narrative around it. 

Ueoka: There was already an expression of the “shore” as a place where soil, water, and air mix. The boundary is ambiguous, where diversity is nurtured, and life expands from this point. We viewed the “shore” as a place that generates diversity and fleshed it out into HORIBA's unique concept of “Shores: Edge of Evolution.” 

Haneda: HORIBA's vision, “Joy and Fun for All,” aims to create a world where all living beings shines and a better future. We believe that our analytical and measurement technologies contribute to the creation of a prosperous future society.
Through “Analytical and Measurement,” we can understand what was previously unknown. It leads to new discoveries that solve social issues.
We believe that the challenge of “Analytical and Measurement” in the inherently immeasurable, ambiguous domain will lead to realizing a world where all life shines.
The “Shores: Edge of Evolution” enhances the synergy between HORIBA's vision, “Joy and Fun for All,” and the pavilion's concept, “Life flourishes,” linking our message with the light installations.

Ueoka: Even in an age where IT connects us with people around the world at any time, why the Expo now? While you can connect with anyone anywhere, you need a common theme to connect meaningfully. The Expo continues to be a place that produces such vitality. I find it fascinating to be involved in such a place that generates vitality. The Expo creates an opportunity for people to be inspired and generate something new.

Haneda: There were many situations where it was difficult to come up with answers or ideas with only the project members. In such cases, interacting with various people and ideas related to the pavilion helped create the excellent Pavilion "Future of Life." The Expo is one of those places where people connect and generate something new.

Ueoka: Personally, participating in the project has been an opportunity to imagine the future society. Professor Ishiguro also said, “You can't create what you don't imagine. Imagining the future leads to actually making it.” Through the project activities, I felt this to be true. I hope the Expo becomes a place to talk about such things and create something exciting for the future through the Expo experience.

Ueoka & Haneda: We hope you visit the Expo and enjoy the light installation at the Pavilion “Future of Life,” utilizing HORIBA's “Analytical and Measurement” technology.

(Interview date: March 2025)
*All content and names of organizations, affiliations, positions, etc. mentioned in the text are those at the time the interview was conducted.

 *1 “HAKARU MIRAI EXPO 2025 PROJECT”
This project was formed by open recruitment across HORIBA group's companies in Japan (HORIBA, Ltd., HORIBA STEC, Co., Ltd. HORIBA Advanced Techno, Co.,Ltd. HORIBA TECHNO SERVICE, Co., Ltd.). It comprises 27 volunteers, regardless of age or company tenure, who wanted to be involved in the Expo. The project team was launched in July 2022, starting activities to envision a future society 50 years from now. In co-creation meetings with other sponsor companies, we discussed the “urban environment” of 2075 and considered HORIBA's future role in society.

[Right side of photo] 
Mako Ueoka, Distribution & DX Division, HORIBA, Ltd.
Joined HORIBA in 2005. Acts as a planner in the HAKARU MIRAI EXPO 2025 PROJECT, coordinating with the Pavilion “Future of Life.” Leads the project organized across various departments.

[Left side of photo] 
Arisa Haneda, Sales Promotion Department, HORIBA STEC Co., Ltd.
Joined HORIBA in 2022. Acts as the concept and PR leader in the HAKARU MIRAI EXPO 2025 PROJECT, mainly creating concepts that connect the Pavilion “Future of Life” and HORIBA.

HORIBA EXPO2025｜HAKARU MIRAI