From 13 April to 13 October, 2025, Japan is hosting one of the world’s most popular gatherings — Expo 2025, under the theme of “Designing a Future Society for Our Lives.” Situated on the artificial island of Yumeshima in Osaka, the Expo hosts 188 pavilions from countries and organizations, each showcasing their unique characteristics such as innovation, music, technology, tourism, and culture.
The communications officer of the Expo Megumi told me that pavilions of participating countries are located within the world’s largest wooden structure – the Grand Ring, symbolizing global unity and harmony. It spans a total building area of 61,035.55 m² (the size of nine football pitches). I took the escalator to the roof of the ring at a height of 20 meters, where visitors can walk a full loop and look at all the pavilions from the top.
Among these outstanding pavilions is our United Nations Pavilion, which I had the honor to personally visit in May. The pavilion’s theme is “United for a Better Future,” promoting the idea that to have a better and more peaceful future, we all need to work together. The pavilion is like a window, through which visitors, myself included, can glimpse 80 years of the UN’s work at a glance.
The stories of over 30 UN entities and 15 Secretariat departments and offices are featured through a thoughtfully curated and interactive journey.
At the entrance of the UN Pavilion, there is a miniature replica of the Peace Bell. I was invited to ring it and learn about its history. In 1954, Japan donated the Peace Bell to the UN Headquarters in New York as a symbol of hope for peace. The bell is rung twice a year at the UN — once on the first day of spring for Earth Day, and again in September when the UN General Assembly opens, to mark the International Day of Peace.
Upon entering the pavilion, we are greeted by the Timeline Wall, which highlights key milestones of 80 years of UN history and Japan’s engagement with the UN, including peacekeeping, humanitarian aid, development, climate actions, and human rights. The wall reminds us that the UN is closer to us than we might think.
The next stop, the Orb Room, uses everyday objects like luggage tags, globe, airplane, compass, map, etc., to recount stories of the UN´s impact, showing how the UN affects lives on the ground. For example, I noticed a globe held by hands in the top left corner of the wall. This symbolizes the efforts of UN agencies like UNEP and UNDP in promoting sustainability, climate action, and access to clean energy around the world.
Our experience culminates in the Immersive Theater, where a short video is played. In the video, UN Secretary-General António Guterres calls on each of us to work together and imagine a future where people everywhere live in peace, dignity, and equality on a thriving, healthy planet.
Aside from the main displays, the UN Pavilion also hosts special events and exhibitions during the Expo theme weeks. One notable event was “Walk the Talk for SDGs in Expo 2025 UN & YOSHIMOTO.” It allowed visitors to engage with the Sustainable Development Goals through creative workshops and performances. At the Expo, each country celebrates a National Day as its most prominent event during the exhibition period. Similarly, the UN had its own Special Day on August 22 with some extraordinary events.
As a communications professional who has visited dozens of pavilions, I found the UN Pavilion to be both intellectually enriching and truly inspiring. Its exhibits and global stories reaffirmed my belief that, despite many challenges, the UN continues to be an essential organization in building a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world.
Commissioner-General of the UN Pavilion Maher Nasser noted, “This Pavilion is a window into our work around the world… building a better, more peaceful future requires all countries and all people working as one.”
While we walk through its exhibits, we are reminded that the SDGs are not distant ideals, but practical goals that touch every aspect of our daily lives. The visit is not only a great educational experience, but it also invites each of us to imagine how we can help shape a better future. That better future begins with us.