One of the participants of the ORA Gaishoku Pavilion “UTAGE” is food manufacturer Tamanoi Vinegar, known for producing and selling vinegar-based products. On the first floor, the company has set up a sales booth offering “Kōhaku Sushi” (Red and White Sushi), featuring wagyu beef sushi made with rice using red vinegar and white vinegar. Visitors can also enjoy two side dishes seasoned with Tamanoi’s signature product Sushinoko (powdered sushi vinegar seasoning), along with a variety of vinegar-based drinks.

The second floor features an experience booth themed “Suu~ Sugoiyan – NO VINEGAR, NO LIFE.”

Visitors can take part in a sushi-making experience (reservation required), where they, using Sushinoko, will learn easy, at-home sushi techniques from a certified Sushi Advisor—an employee who holds the official AJSA (All Japan Sushi Association) sushi hygiene instructor qualification.

Additionally, a fun and interactive event teaches the basics and health benefits of vinegar through quizzes and a “Health & Beauty Check.” All quiz participants will receive a small gift, and those who answer every question correctly will be awarded a special bonus as certified “Vinegar Masters.”

Major food processing manufacturer Itoham is showcasing the “UTAGE BURGER” booth at the ORA Gaishoku Pavilion “UTAGE.” The booth offers hamburgers and wrapped pizzas featuring soy meat, with a focus on "Osaka flavors" and traditional Japanese ingredients.

The patty of the Soy Meat Okonomiyaki-style Burger uses soy protein and incorporates elements of Osaka’s famous okonomiyaki dish. It’s topped with a soft, omelette-style egg, pickled ginger, and tempura bits for an authentic twist.

The Wrapped Pizza (Soy Meat Sauce) also uses soy protein in place of meat for the sauce, making it a delicious snack, easy to eat with one hand.

At the Sumitomo Pavilion, one of Japan’s private sector pavilions, visitors can take part in interactive experiences designed to spark ongoing interest in social and environmental issues. Highlights include the "UNKNOWN FOREST", where guests encounter diverse “stories of life” within a forest setting, as well as a hands-on tree planting activity.

In UNKNOWN FOREST, visitors journey through a recreated forest with "Lantern"—an interactive companion that carries the power of the wind. As guests explore with their fellow adventurers, they encounter various “stories of life.” The lantern speaks to visitors, responds to the forest’s lifeforms by changing colors, and even draws out hidden creatures from the shadows, creating a deeply immersive and interactive experience.

The finale takes place in the Performing Theater, a space approximately 20 meters wide and 7.5 meters tall. Here, wind and mist stir the senses, while layered projection screens, music, and live performers come together in a powerful and moving spectacle.

At Ringside Marketplace West 2nd Floor, amusement company Wide Leisure will open an interactive entertainment zone called Asobundekan?. Centered on the theme of “the possibilities of play beyond language barriers,” the space features a variety of playful and creative attractions.

Highlights include the Mega Crane, an original crane game standing over 3 meters tall; the Slime Factory, where guests can make and toss slime; and Q Café, serving Kyushu-inspired dishes like gelato and pasta. There’s also Future Picture, a collaborative art space where visitors can imagine and draw what play might look like 100 years from now.

Inside the Tottori Zone of the Kansai Pavilion, visitors can explore the Tottori Infinite Sand Dunes—an immersive installation inspired by one of Tottori Prefecture’s most iconic landscapes. The space features a hexagonal room covered in mirrors, with real sand from the Tottori Sand Dunes spread across the floor to recreate the vast scenery.

Guests use a magnifying glass-shaped device to walk through the dunes, searching for characters from popular works set in Tottori, as well as local sightseeing spots and regional specialties in a fun, exploratory experience. Projection mapping adds to the atmosphere with visual displays themed around Tottori’s natural beauty, culture, and cuisine.

Tottori Prefecture is also known as the birthplace of several celebrated manga artists, including Shigeru Mizuki (GeGeGe no Kitaro), Jiro Taniguchi (A Distant Neighborhood), and Gosho Aoyama (Detective Conan). At the entrance, visitors will be welcomed by life-sized figures of Kitaro, Hiroshi Nakahara, and Conan Edogawa. The Manga Kingdom Tottori Corner features exhibits introducing these artists, along with internationally published editions of their works and rare merchandise.

The Chile Pavilion will feature 20 themed weeks showcasing the charm of Chile and its industries. On May 12 (Monday), during Chile's National Day, special events and presentations will highlight the richness of Chilean culture. The following day, the Chile Fest will offer music, dance, and cultural experience events that visitors can participate in. Other themed weeks include Seafood Week, where guests can enjoy Chilean seafood such as salmon and sea urchins, and Indigenous Culture Week, which introduces the rich traditions of Chile's indigenous peoples.

Starting in May, visitors can enjoy daily tastings of various alcoholic beverages, including wine, pisco (a distilled grape spirit), and beer, available for a limited one-hour period in the afternoon.

Additionally, a massive handwoven textile piece, "Makün: A Chilean Textile Embracing People" (spanning 242 square meters), will be displayed. Inside the pavilion, a 40-meter screen spanning three walls will showcase videos that express Chile's culture and initiatives.

The "Beyond 5G Ready Showcase," hosted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, lets you experience the future of society and cutting-edge technologies. The showcase has three main zones: the "Prologue Theater," which shows the history of communications and the future of Beyond 5G; the "Future City Experience Area + Technology Booth," where you can explore life in a Beyond 5G world; and the "Technology Exhibit," which displays the latest technologies being developed for Beyond 5G.

The "Future City Experience Area + Technology Booth" by Beyond 5G lets you experience an interesting world through five booths. Activities include "Remote Moon Operation," where you control a robot on the moon from Earth, and "Ocean Cleaning," where you remotely control an underwater robot to help maintain the ocean environment.

The "Technology Exhibit" showcases ten advanced technologies, such as research on creating a 3D space communication network using radio waves and light, and using flying base stations (HAPS) to provide mobile communication in areas like remote islands and mountains.

The Signature Pavilion "EARTH MART," themed around "Considering Life Through Food," is directed by screenwriter and TV writer Kaoru Koyama, with architecture and design by the world-renowned architect Kengo Kuma.

In the "Life Floor," visitors can explore new ways of eating and reflect on the connection between food and life, much like shopping in a supermarket. "A Lifetime's Worth of Eggs" recreates the 28,000 eggs an average Japanese person consumes in their lifetime. "The Cart of Life" features a cart filled with about 10 years' worth of food, made using the traditional nebuta technique. On the Future Floor, unique exhibits like "Evolving Frozen Foods," where ingredients are freeze-dried into powders, and "UMEBOSHI 〜BANPAKU-ZUKE〜2025→2050," which showcases umeboshi aged until 2050, offer a glimpse into new food experiences.

Also being held during the Expo is The RED U-35 cooking competition, aimed at supporting young chefs under 35. The final round will be held at a venue in Osaka on October 4, where chefs will compete in a tasting session. The winner will be crowned at the awards ceremony the following day, during "EARTH MART DAY."

The expected number of visitors for the Osaka-Kansai Expo is around 28.2 million, with over 160 countries and regions participating. The pavilions and experiences introduced here are just a glimpse of what’s to come.
With a wide range of companies, organizations, and country pavilions, visitors can look forward to many new insights and discoveries. You can experience the latest technologies, savor cuisines from around the world, and enjoy countless other activities. Be sure to check it out!

*The information in this article is current as of April 2025. For the latest updates, please refer to the official website and other sources.