The “Night Pavilion” project is organized by the general incorporated association demoexpo (hereafter, demo!expo), which has focused on interesting projects and people whose activities were sparked by the Expo, under the slogan “Demo, yarou” (“But let’s do it”). They have planned projects and events to make the most of the Expo in the city. “Night Pavilion” was created by demo!expo as a place to connect international visitors to Japan and Osaka, staff working at the venue, tourists, and local people.

The main project, “EXPO Sakaba Main Branch,” will have main stores in both Kita and Minami, and will be open for six months during the Expo as a place for food, music, talks, and shopping! Weekly events such as “City Theme Weeks” and “City National Weeks” are planned, and the bars will be enlivened with various partners from overseas countries, domestic regions, companies, and more. It’s a project unique to Osaka, the city of “eat till you drop” and “drink till you drop.” What will it really be like!?

It’s almost time! The “Night Pavilion,” born in the city, is having its pre-opening.

The pre-event was held on a certain cold day in March. The event started at the Kita Main Branch and later moved to the Minami Main Branch, crossing the city.

EXPO Sakaba Kita Main Branch is located by the escalator atrium on the second basement floor of Lucua. Umeda became Osaka’s transportation hub when the first Osaka Station was built in 1874. It flourished as the city’s business center, known as a “working town.” In Umeda, people who worked hard during the day would use the city as a place to relax and talk about the future with various people at night. This contributed to the city’s evolution. Based on this idea, the concept of the Kita Main Branch is “a place of relaxation for the working city.” During the Expo, “EXPO RADIO” will also be recorded live at the permanent EXPO Sakaba store.

To commemorate the pre-event, there was a talk session by Expo officials on stage. The theme was “The Expo and Osaka’s City,” and the discussion expanded on the possibilities of the Night Pavilion.

Mr. SAOTOME, noting the characteristic of Osakans who “spend money actively on food,” said, “Making the city of eating and drinking the venue for the Night Pavilion makes use of Osaka’s strengths.”

Consul General Mark, who has lived in Osaka for three and a half years, has experienced many drinking spots, from izakayas to small bars. He believes that to overcome challenges together across countries, it’s important to build relaxed communication in Osaka at night, and he has high hopes for EXPO Sakaba.

Mr. TORII delivered the message, “The Night Pavilion is the place where Osakans’ ability to overcome barriers between people can truly shine.” He sent a passionate cheer to demo!expo for creating a place to showcase the real charm of Osaka.

Experience the mood that quickly brings people together through one of Osaka’s nighttime cultures: the “Snack Bar Experience.”

A toast to success! Today, as a special event, the “Snack Bar Experience,” which is planned for EXPO Sakaba after its official opening, began.

In fact, there are said to be 4,000 snack bars in Osaka. Recently, guided tours for inbound tourists to enjoy snack bars have been held in the city. Even those who have never been to a snack bar can get a taste of snack bar culture—enjoying drinks together with the person next to you—just by coming to EXPO Sakaba.

The long-awaited full reveal of the Netherlands Pavilion! You can also try the national dish, “haring.”

Another highlight of this pre-event was the first exclusive preview of the Netherlands Pavilion. At the venue, you could even spot Miffy, the beloved character born in the Netherlands, and you could almost hear the excitement in the hearts of those present, wondering what kind of announcements would be made…

Mr. NOGUCHI and Mr. MARTIJN from the Netherlands Consulate-General spoke about the concept and content of the pavilion as goodwill ambassadors. The Netherlands Pavilion, themed “Common Ground,” aims to be a space where people gather, learn from each other, and inspire one another to create new value together. They also revealed secrets behind the pavilion’s design—such as its wave-inspired exterior and the use of fully recyclable materials—showcasing the Netherlands’ national commitment to circular economy architecture.

And what drew the most enthusiastic attention from everyone at the venue was… food, of course. Dutch specialties and dishes, including cheese, were introduced, and today one of the country’s national dishes, “haring,” was served. Haring, described as “the Dutch equivalent of sashimi,” is salted herring. In the Netherlands, haring food stands can be found all over the city. You can also eat it at fish shops—some people eat it as is, while others enjoy it in a sandwich, just like on today’s menu.

Everyone’s faces were full of curiosity as they tried haring for the first time. The soft, fatty salted herring combined with the fresh taste of onions made for a dish that pairs perfectly with beer. The room was filled with exclamations of “Delicious!” as the haring experience brought the first half of the event to a close.

In the second half, head to the Minami Main Branch! It’s a moment where everyone can enjoy drinks and Dutch culture in a casual, friendly atmosphere.

The scene then shifted to EXPO Sakaba Minami Main Store. The Minami Main Store, located in the basement level 2 of Shinsaibashi PARCO inside TANK Sakaba/Café, is set to open with the concept of “a playground where people and cultures mix.” Compared to Kita, which is frequented by businesspeople, Minami attracts an even more diverse crowd, giving the EXPO Sakaba an even more relaxed atmosphere. Mr. Martijn, who had been interpreting and explaining the pavilion with a serious expression earlier, was now seen joining the talk in a much more laid-back mood.

In the Netherlands, a country at the forefront of culture, being a DJ ranks as the 8th most desired profession. Mr. MARTIJN spoke about the music scene, including DJs and JAZZ festivals, as part of Dutch culture.

Finally, the entire venue transformed into a comfortable space where everyone could relax and enjoy the music while sipping Heineken. Conversations naturally sprang up even between people meeting for the first time—a scene unique to the nightlife of Osaka.

A dialogue, free from titles and positions, is possible in Osaka, where people can truly connect. The future created by the “Night Pavilion.”

Both the Kita Main Store and Minami Main Store were a huge success, and the pre-event for the EXPO Bar ended safely. We took the opportunity to once again share our expectations for this project, with Ms. HANAOKA from demo!expo and Mr. TORII from the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry!

-What are your expectations for the “Night Pavilion” that will spread from the Yumeshima venue into the streets of Osaka?

The Osaka-Kansai Expo is a large-scale event with participation from over 158 countries. It would be a real waste if this opportunity passed by without any interaction. Through dialogue at this EXPO Bar, it would be great to make friends or even start new projects. I hope to make Osaka that kind of city.

After all, the greatest charm of Osaka is that people can communicate openly, without feeling any barriers between them. I think the best place to showcase Osaka’s strengths is at night in the bars.

At night, regardless of status, everyone can shed their titles and speak on equal footing.

People start to show their true selves, gradually. I believe it’s Osaka’s unique atmosphere that makes this possible. Just recently, when Chairman Ren of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade visited Japan, he said, “Osaka and Tokyo are worlds apart.”

Really? Is that so!?

Yes, yes. People from abroad often say that Osaka is far more welcoming and homey. That’s exactly what the “Night Pavilion” can convey. While Osaka is undergoing redevelopment and starting to feel a bit like a mini-Tokyo, I think its greatest appeal lies elsewhere. Osaka’s true charm is its substance.

Not just the infrastructure, but the interesting character of the people—people themselves are the tourism resource in Osaka. Human interaction is really simple, but whether or not you create those opportunities can greatly influence the outcome of the Expo. I think doing things independently is cool. Osaka has the soil to allow that. Tokyo probably doesn’t. That’s because Osaka has had a culture of merchants building up the city since the Edo period.

Ms. HANAOKA and your team are inheriting that Osaka culture.

It’s more about the people, not the government.

In Tokyo, the basic structure is a pyramid society with bureaucrats, politicians, and big corporations. Of course, Osaka has that too, but ordinary people don’t see it that way.

They don’t care about that! That’s why doing things independently is more important! That’s what we want to express.

EXPO Sakaba is a place where genuine interaction is possible, free from formalities.

To be extreme, I think the idea of “nation” is just a formality. So rather than interaction between nations, I believe true exchange happens between people.

Even countries at war might not be able to interact at the Expo venue, but at the EXPO Bar, they can toast together. If they just show up on their own, no one will even notice (laughs).

Exactly (laughs). So this is a place where foreigners, pavilion staff, and locals can all interact honestly. I hope people will gather here as a meeting point, and then venture out into the city of Osaka.

Especially for those under 40, I think they’ll never forget the people they meet or the experiences they have here. Memories from youth really stick with you. As for me, I barely remember anything recent (laughs).

Do you remember me? (laughs)

Of course (laughs). It’d be interesting if this became a place where couples are born, transcending countries and races.

That’s great. A place with intense moments where even romance can happen.

That’s only possible because people can interact honestly, right? Just saying “Say Hello!” during the day isn’t enough.

Exactly. That’s why I see the “Night Pavilion” as a six-month experimental trial full of possibilities. If this project succeeds, that’s great, but even if it fails, that’s fine too. Whatever is born here should be left behind as a “soft legacy,” spreading throughout the city and ourselves. Otherwise, there’s no real meaning to holding the Expo. After all, we’ve invested billions, so instead of expecting the government to produce good results, we should create something ourselves. Since teams like ours, with about ten people, are doing this, I hope big companies will join in too.

But, you know, it’s only possible because it’s just ten people.

– What a 10-person company is doing might inspire others to take action and try something themselves.

If more people like us start acting on their own, that would really be a kind of “soft legacy.”

I think this is exactly the point being questioned in today’s capitalist economy.

—So, is this a demonstration experiment for that purpose?

Well, it’s not like we’re setting out with such a grand objective.

But in that sense, I really think the Expo is a great opportunity. Even having the chance to talk with Mr. TORII like this wouldn’t have happened without the Expo (laughs).

No, no, no (laughs). But I believe whether teams and movements like Mr. HANAOKA’s keep emerging will be the key for the future of Japan’s economy, and even the world’s economy.

While it’s the foundation for moving things forward, “people to people” is something we tend to forget. The “Night Pavilion” teaches us the importance of that.

The Osaka-Kansai Expo, with over 158 countries participating. The word “Expo” often gives the impression of experiencing the cutting edge of each country through displays of future and technological prowess, but in the end, what creates something new is the encounters and exchanges between people. That’s what I felt at the pre-event.

As various technologies develop and our world becomes more convenient, perhaps analog and simple things are actually the hardest. With the Expo being held here in Osaka, new encounters will surely happen, and I have an exciting feeling that it will become nourishment for myself, expanding my dreams at the EXPO Sakaba. Whether you go all the way to Yumeshima or not, I hope you’ll enjoy unknown encounters here at the “Night Pavilion” and make the most of the big opportunities the Expo brings.

Interview & Text: KOJIMA Tomoyo
Photography: YASUDA Shinnosuke
Planning & Editing: Ningen Editorial Team