Visit to The Ishiguro Pavilion at Expo 2025

On May 20, 2025, the S&T Diplomatic Circle Kansai visited the thought-provoking Ishiguro Pavilion. Titled "Future of Life," this signature pavilion offered diplomatic representatives an immersive exploration of the evolving relationship between humans and androids, challenging conventional perspectives on consciousness, identity, and coexistence.

What makes the Ishiguro Pavilion extraordinary is its comprehensive three-zone narrative spanning millennia of human evolution. Zone 1 traces Japan's historical tradition of imbuing objects with spirit and agency, from ancient haniwa clay figures to contemporary robotics. Zone 2 presents a compelling vision of life 50 years in the future, where humans and androids coexist seamlessly in everyday scenarios. Zone 3, "Mahoroba," envisions humanity 1,000 years from now, evolved beyond physical constraints through technological fusion.

As nations worldwide grapple with the ethical and practical implications of artificial intelligence and robotics, pavilions like Future of Life provide essential frameworks for understanding how humanity might navigate these transformative technologies. The experience demonstrated how cultural perspectives on consciousness and identity can shape our approach to integrating advanced technologies into society.

We extend our special thanks to Laura Barbieri, PhD (Sweden) and Dr. Felix Moesner (Switzerland) for their excellent coordination of this enlightening visit that challenged us to reconsider the boundaries between human and artificial life.