Harnessing the power of dreams

愛知万博開幕

    Aichi Expo demonstrates how far Japan has come in dealing with environmental issues. In 1970, Japan hosted its first world exposition in Osaka under the theme "Human Progress and Harmony." It was a landmark year in which Japanese citizens, including local administrations, began thinking seriously about how to balance economic development and environmental conservation. Aichi Expo, with its emphasis on nature, is a tribute to the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, which took effect earlier this year.

    The Nagoya City Pavilion, located at the center of the fairgrounds, features a dome that seems to symbolize Mother Nature. It is called Daichi no Tou (Tower of the Earth), a brown, modest-looking structure that sets itself apart from Osaka Expo's gorgeous Taiyo no Tou (Tower of the Sun).

    The Japan Pavilion Nagakute, its roof covered with a huge bamboo basket, creates a gentler impression. It incorporates experimental eco-friendly power-generating systems, such as those using solar and wind power.

    Indeed, attention to the environment is very much in evidence. Hybrid shuttle buses use fuel cells that do not produce carbon dioxide. Transportation is provided by magnetically levitated linear motor cars, the first to run in Japan on a commercial basis. Restaurants use dishes and bags made from recycled materials.

    One of the biggest attractions — a frozen 18,000-year-old Siberian mammoth head — is a reminder that climate change might have been responsible for the extinction of certain animals. It thus serves as a sobering warning against humanity's arrogance toward the environment.

    Exhibitions feature, among other things, robots that would replace humans in a variety of daily activities. Among them are ones that guide guests in the daytime and stand guard at night. There are more humanlike machines that clean rooms, sing lullabies and play music. With Japanese society aging rapidly, the role of robots is likely to increase.

    Imagery is another prominent feature. A notable example is the brilliant image of a gigantic sunflower projected on a superhigh-vision screen measuring 7 meters by 13 meters.

    A world exposition is a technology fair, a place to showcase pioneering technologies and products. This was true for the first exposition held in London, in 1851, as it is for the one in Aichi Prefecture. The leading corporate participants are automotive companies and electronics makers.

    A world exposition displays diverse cultures. The Aichi Expo brings together 120 countries and four international organizations. Although some pavilions are devoted to science and technology, others focus on cultural heritage or present a combination of traditional cultures, natural systems and advanced technologies. Overall, exhibitions and displays offer a bird's-eye view of how nations of the world are dealing with the demands of the global environment.

    Aichi Expo, like previous expositions, is a pleasure land. To many visitors, including children, that is probably what counts the most. Music, dancing, eating, shopping — all these are part of what the fair is about.

    The expo is not wrinkle-free. Visitors may find their freedom constricted by security measures. Congestion is another likely problem. At Osaka Expo, visitors waited in line for hours just to take a brief look at the "moon stone" brought back by the Apollo spacecraft. That kind of overcrowding can be avoided through effective use of the ticket subscription system (which includes online sales) for pavilions and events.

    Organizers expect 15 million people to visit Aichi Expo during its 185-day run. That's a far cry from the 64 million who turned out for Osaka Expo. Yet it is not necessarily the number of visitors that truly measure the success of an expo, but the kind of dreams it inspires about the future of mankind. The most salient dream of Aichi Expo is a world free of pollution.

The Japan Times Weekly
April 2, 2005
(C) All rights reserved

      自然との共存を強調するこの万博は、気候変動に関する京都議定書への賛歌でもある。

      名古屋市パビリオンの「大地の塔」は母なる自然を象徴し、 長久手日本館は環境に優しい太陽光、風力発電設備で使用電力をまかなっている。

      場内移動用のハイブリッド・バスは燃料電池を用いており、二酸化酸素を排出しない。会場アクセス用にはリニアモーターカーを国内初の実用化路線で運行させ、場内のレストランでは、リサイクル原料で作った食器が使われている。

      人気の展示のひとつは、1万8000年前の冷凍マンモスの頭部だ。マンモスなどが絶滅したのは気候変動の影響であると言われており、この展示は環境保護についての厳しい警告を発するものだ。

      多機能ロボットの展示も見所の一つだ。会場には日中は入場者に応対し、夜間は警備を行うロボットが配備されている。今後の高齢化社会でロボットは大きな役割を果たすと期待される。

      万博は技術の見本市だ。愛知万博の主な参加企業は、自動車、電機メーカーである。

      愛知万博には120ヵ国と4国際機関が参加している。科学技術専門の展示もあるが、伝統文化、自然体系、先端技術などを組み合わせた展示もある。全体的には、各国が世界環境問題にいかに対処しているかが分かるつくりになっている。

      また、音楽、食事、ショッピングなどの娯楽要素も多く、大人も子供も楽しめる博覧会だ。

      愛知万博の6ヵ月間の会期中の入場者は1500万人と予想されている。大阪万博の6400万人（実績）には遠く及ばないが、万博の成功は入場者数だけで測れるものでなく、人類の将来についてどんな夢を抱かせるかで決まる。愛知万博の最も重要な夢は環境汚染のない世界である。