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Shanghai World Expo: JAPAN PAVILION

The Japan Pavilion is a semi-circular structure, covered by a purple membrane material. Several antennae and caves make the pavilion a “breathing organism,” which will express the harmony between the human heart and technology. The pavilion has been dubbed “Purple Silkworm Island” by Chinese people […]

The Japan Pavilion is a semi-circular structure, covered by a purple membrane material. Several antennae and caves make the pavilion a “breathing organism,” which will express the harmony between the human heart and technology. The pavilion has been dubbed “Purple Silkworm Island” by Chinese people.

Interior of Japan Pavilion at Shanghai World Expo
Interior of Japan Pavilion at Shanghai World Expo

Exhibits: Tea Ceremony

Ride up the escalator and find yourself in the Japanese springtime, with the sakura (cherry trees) in full bloom. Beneath the cherry trees is a tea ceremony room. The scene offers a glimpse at the traditional life of the Japanese, enjoying nature through the four seasons. Here you can feel the Japanese sense of beauty.

Sakura in the Japan Pavilion at Shanghai World Expo
Sakura in the Japan Pavilion at Shanghai World Expo
Tea Ceremony in the Japan Pavilion at Shanghai World Expo
Tea Ceremony in the Japan Pavilion at Shanghai World Expo

Exhibits: Glimpses of Urban Life

You will encounter the lifestyles, activities, and fashion of today’s Japanese city-dwellers. Photographs and videos combine to illustrate the attractions of contemporary urban life.

Glimpses of Urban Life in the Japan Pavilion at Shanghai World Expo
Glimpses of Urban Life in the Japan Pavilion at Shanghai World Expo

Exhibits: Connections between People

Technology alone cannot solve all environmental problems. Cooperation based on connections between people is also essential. “Connections between People” uses special image compositions and systems to show cases highlighting the need for such cooperation.

Connections between People in the Japan Pavilion at Shanghai World Expo
Connections between People in the Japan Pavilion at Shanghai World Expo

Exhibits: Zero-emission Town

futuristic “zero-emission town” – a municipality that emits no carbon dioxide at all – as of the year 2020, presented through a photo diorama, physical exhibits, and video media.

Several kinds of environmental technology to realize zero emissions are showcased here, such as Eco car (Electric vehicle), Power-generating floor ( Flooring that produces electricity from the pressure of footsteps), Household fuel cell unit (Using hydrogen and oxygen to supply electricity and hot water to the home), Power-generating window (Window glass covered with clear, thin solar cells), Organic EL lights (Electro-luminescent panels consuming less energy than fluorescent bulbs), Steel-making with hydrogen (New process to reduce CO2 emissions by 30%), CO2 capture and storage technology (Recovers CO2 from factories and power stations and buries it underground).

Photo Diaorama of the Zero Emissions Town in the Japan Pavilion at Shanghai World Expo
Zero-emission Town Photo Diorama in the Japan Pavilion at Shanghai World Expo
Zero-emissions Town in the Japan Pavilion at Shanghai World Expo
Zero-emission Town Photo Diorama in the Japan Pavilion at Shanghai World Expo
Eco Car in the Japan Pavilion at Shanghai World Expo
Eco Car in the Japan Pavilion at Shanghai World Expo

Exhibits: Life Wall

Panasonic Corporation has developed a futuristic television built into a living room wall. Viewers can operate the TV and enjoy a variety of different programming through gestural interfaces. You won’t want to miss the display of this advanced technology that lets you watch TV wherever you like and that moves the imagery according to wherever you happen to be sitting. The wall TV combines three 152-inch super-high-definition plasma displays—the largest in the world—and measures 10 meters across. Vividly realistic images create the sense of another world opening up before your eyes.

Japan Pavilion at Shanghai World Expo: Life Wall Exhibit
Japan Pavilion at Shanghai World Expo: Life Wall Exhibit

By Itamar Medeiros

Originally from Brazil, Itamar Medeiros currently lives in Germany, where he works as VP of Design Strategy at SAP and lecturer of Project Management for UX at the M.Sc. Usability Engineering at the Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences .

Working in the Information Technology industry since 1998, Itamar has helped truly global companies in multiple continents create great user experience through advocating Design and Innovation principles. During his 7 years in China, he promoted the User Experience Design discipline as User Experience Manager at Autodesk and Local Coordinator of the Interaction Design Association (IxDA) in Shanghai.

Itamar holds a MA in Design Practice from Northumbria University (Newcastle, UK), for which he received a Distinction Award for his thesis Creating Innovative Design Software Solutions within Collaborative/Distributed Design Environments.

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