BY THE TIME YOU READ THIS WORLD EXPO 2005 WILL BE HISTORY -- nonetheless I have a story to share about my visit to this most illustrious of carnivals in Aichi, Japan, and some of you may be interested in reading about it. I have said it before that Japan has a tradition of bringing the best of the rest of the world, and reproducing it in miniature form, as a Baudillardian type Simulcra, in the Homeland. For example, there is this place in Nagasaki which is a complete and perfect copy of an Old World Dutch city, complete with bars serving Dutch beers, and Dutch cheese aplenty. Tokyo Disneyland takes the simulation business even further -- it is a perfect replica of the original LA Disneyland, which in itself is a simulation of the real world (as seen through the filter of Disney's imagination.) I don't know why it is, but there is something about simulations and Simulcra which appeal to the Japanese mind. No wonder then that so many Japanese flocked to the World Expo, which was held in 2005 in Aichi, near Nagoya. For about six months or so a shrinkwrapped pod-sized bonsai-ified replica of the world bloomed in the balmy Aichi hills. On September 1 I was able to spend a day with the crowds cruising this small and very crowded little world, trying to cram as much internationalism as possible into my being. It was like travelling around the world in a day, and made for a very exhilerating experience. On my way to the Expo, which involved a nightlong trip by train, I had expected to encounter some kind of Disneyland experience. Once through the gates on that sweltering September 1, however, a new analogy came to mind -- Expo 2005 was not so much a Disneyland as a Human Zoo. People from all over the world were working in their national pavilions, and they seemed authentically foreign down to their national B.O.'s. There was a Mexican cop working in the Mexican pavilion who looked so much like such a Mexican cop cliche -- fat, sleazy, twirling his moustache -- that I knew he had to be real. He was no Mexican gaijin foreigner living in Japan. He was the real deal, exported for the Carnival. And for me that was the coolest part of attending Expo 2005 -- it was like a Human Zoo, and you could see all the races of the world, and hear them speaking their languages. The Uzbekistani language was the strangest one I heard spoken when I was there, and I fell in love with it!
s i m u l a t e d + f o r e s t
I HAD A COUPLE OF GOALS WHICH I WANTED TO ACHIEVE AT WORLD EXPO 2005. I wanted to eat one of the Wani Crocodile Burgers at the Australian Pavilion. I wanted to see the Nordic Pavilion to get some inspiration and encouragement for my trip to Iceland next year. I wanted to see the frozen mammoths representing Mankind's Ancient Past, and ponder Man's Imminent Future at the corporate Japan pavilions. As so happens in life my expectations let me down -- the Wani burger sucked and the Nordic Pavilion was a waste of space, and the mammoths were nothing special either. Nonetheless, I discovered new things about the world at Expo 2005, and developed new interests. Did you know for example that there is a thriving and very interesting pop music scene in Uzbekistan, melding modern and traditional styles into a very original and intoxicating mix? I didn't know that, until I visited the Central Asian Pavilion. Did you know that when you look at maps of Argentina made for Argentinians, the map includes not only the South American territory we all know as Argentina, but also a huge chunk of Antarctica? Did you know that Ethiopia is perhaps the most exotic and fascinating country in the whole world? I never knew all this, until I went to World Expo 2005. And now I can expect to make trips to Ethiopia and Uzbekistan in the not-too-distant future!
The 2005 World Exposition (official name) was held between March 25 and September 25 in the Nagoya Eastern Hills, the area which comprises Nagakute Town, Toyota City and Seto City. Toyota City is in itself an interesting and Utopian place -- you guessed it it is the home of the Toyota Car Corporation, a city literally run by Big Capitalism. You could see a glimpse of this -- or more than a glimpse -- in the strongly corporate themed exhibits at the Expo (while it lasted). For while the Sponsors would like you to think that the World Expo theme was "Nature's Wisdom" and respect for the environment, the bottom line (in my view) was all about Big Business. Big Business and Technology, to be more precise. More than 15 million visitors were expected to see the World Expo, and for many of them, the science and technology exhibits were the big drawcards. I don't think many of them went there for the trees!
This is what Wikipedia had to say about the so-called "environmental credentials" of the Expo: "Great care has been taken to build the pavilions out of recycled or recyclable materials and to provide environmentally friendly transportation in the Expo area, but some have still questioned the ecological sense of razing vast tracts of virgin forest for the site and spending 340 billion yen ($3.3 billion) on a six-month extravaganza that will be dismantled after it is over."
Another example: the Expo's Hitachi Pavilion featured a virtual reality safari of endangered species, in which visitors wore 3D headsets and hand sensors to interact with their virtual prey. But what was the message this attraction was tyring to convey: that we ought to feel sorry for disappearing wildlife and fight for their survival? Or that we shouldn't worry too much: in the near future Nintendo will design a VR game called AFRICAN SAFARI which will be so lifelike, we could satisfy our nature-communion instincts through this game alone. A virtual lion will never tear your arm off. We can all go off to live in Virtual Reality and let the real world go to hell, because the real world is too scary and dirty.
The official philosophy of the Expo was written thus, in typical modern Japan feelgood babble (and bad English): "In 2005, the world will gather together in Aichi Prefecture. There, we can weave together a fabric for a new global society; we can stand together, exchange smiles and share the wisdom of the world-felt and enjoyed with all our senses and experienced with our whole being.
Let us do this for all life and the future of our planet!"
It is all rather lame, but cute in a way that only Japan can pull off! Anyway, I don't want to be too negative -- the Expo was a grand affair, and I loved it. Here were some of the highlights, from what I was able to see on the day of my visit, and from other sources.
t h e + p a v i l i o n s (j a p a n e s e)
THE JAPANESE PAVILIONS COMPRISED THE BIGGEST DRAWCARDS AT WORLD EXPO 2005, EVEN THOUGH I AM NOT CONVINCED THEY WERE THE BEST ATTRACTIONS. The waiting time for the Japan Pavilion Nagakute was three hours when I was there, for example, and this was on a day of searing temperatures, strong sunshine and near 100 per cent humidity. It didn't seem to deter the crowds of patriotic Japanese, fanning themselves and queueing patiently. Because I had managed to reserve a ticket earlier, I got in straight away and I would have to say, I found the contents average at best. For more details, read the review below:
Global House: Central Zone.
Home to the 18,000-year-old Yukagir Mammoth. They also had some cool stuff like models of the Mars Rover and the Voyager crafts which crashed out of the Solar System some years back, laden with a gold record for aliens to play (and listen to the Soundz of Earth.) This was considered the second most popular exhibit after Toyota but I was able to reserve a place beforehand, so I didn't have to wait too long.
Hitachi Group Pavilion: Zone B.
This was one of the more sensational looking structures at the World Expo, at least from the outside. Situated close to the North Gate, the pavilion was built in a typical corporate block style -- except that half the side had been eroded away into a gorge, with what looked like a real waterfall cascading out of it! Talk about Corporate Man and Nature becoming one, at this pavilion at least. The theme of the pavilion was: "Nature Contact -- Contact with Endangered Species, Revived by Hitachi IT." This does not mean that Hitachi, one of the Japan's corporate giants, wants revive dying endangered species or use their technological clout to pull them back from the brink. Rather, at the World Expo Hitachi Pavilion visitors were able to interact with simulations of rare animals such as the hawksbill turtle and the black rhinoceros. Imagine if you will an interactive, Disney style mock-up of the Discovery Channel. It sounds crass, and perhaps it was, but the crowds lapped it up.
For example, on the Ubiquitous Entertainment Ride, visitors wore a VR style AdventureScope and a sensor on their right hand, which served as an input device. At the beginning the of the show the MC, Dr Owl, surprised the hell out of everyone by greeting them all by name (that information was evidently culled by Hitachi surveillance technology.) The electronically tagged ecotourists were then free throw a bunch of virtual bananas (which miraculously appeared in their right hands) towards some monkeys, whereupon the primates picked them up and gobbled them. Of course, as any happy camper knows it is irresponsible to feed the wildlife but it doesn't matter here, this is a Virtual Safari, and the monkeys aren't real. Other stars of the show included a huge Orinoco crocodile which attempted to eat our intrepid safari goers, a charging black rhinoceros, and on a more placcid note, a frienfly giant manta ray and dolphins. According to organizers: "There will probably be many who will be left with the impression that they want to prevent, by all means, the extinction of such animals." That may be so, but there might also be some people who think: with all of these animals synthesized into a computerized Virtual Reality, why do we need to preserve them in the wild? And Virtual Animals are so much cuter than the real thing!
At the end of the journey, visitors were again surprised to see, before their eyes, a picture of themselves surrounded by animals.
The Japan Pavilion Nagakute: Japan Zone.
The Japanese Government hosted three pavilions at Expo 2005 -- the Japan Pavilion Nagakute, the Japan Pavilion Seto and a totally online Japan Pavilion on the Web (it was at http://www.nippon-kan.jp). The Nagakute Pavilion, the only one of the three I was able to inspect, had been built inside a massive bamboo basketwork cocoon, to highlight the environmental, green-friendly theme of the Expo. The displays were similarly green and theme-friendly, emphasising the "Let's Be One With Nature" philisophy which can so easily descend to mawkishness. The highlight of the whole pavilion, the one they are standing in line for hours in the sun to see, was the Earth Vision room. This room is actually a 1:1 million scale model of the Earth, but the difference is you get to be INSIDE, looking up at the all the continents and oceans on the high curved ceiling above. Apparently it was the world's first 360-degree all-sky video system, which sounds impressive (another first that I experienced at Expo), but the uses to which it was put to use was a little sentimental, to say the least: a kind of Disney-style cartoon was shown, complete with jumping fish and waterfalls and birds. All at once, standing in the molten core of the Earth, my fears were confirmed. The philosophical theme of the Expo had descended -- Mawkishness had been reached!
Nonetheless, imagine how cool it would be to have a good display in that kind of spherical theatre -- an immersive Drum'n'Bass set or tribal trance party. Perhaps the clubs of the future will be like this, but for now, this kind of technology is strictly reserved for lame mainstream feel-good exhibitions!
Actually, there was one good attraction inside the Japan Pavilion Nagakute.
In Zone 3 (forget about Zones 1/2) of the structure can be found a surreal dark brooding forest, complete with soft sponge erractically sloping floor and hissing vapour waterfalls. As with many aspects of World Expo, however, the remarkable thing about this forest is not that it looks so green-friendly and so real, but it seems and is so fake. Expo 2005 said it was all about the need to protect the environment, but it is almost as if the Environment doesn't exist here -- the only thing that exists and needs protecting is The Simulation. Since the natural world is dead in so many parts of Japan this pseudoforest represents a replacement to Nature, rather than a call to arms to defend Nature. It is a new PseudoNature all squeaky clean, safe and patented by Toyota or Nissan... but nonetheless mysterious and wild enough to satisfy Man's need for wilderness. The surreal forest in Zone 3 of the Japan Pavilion Nagakute epitomized in its own small way the great deception of the whole Expo -- it is not about the Environment which is dying anyway, but about the Simulation which has already taken over the Earth.
And it is utterly psuedo and contrived, this forest. That aforementioned waterfall seems to be spurting steam, for example, but run your hands through it and they won't even get wet. It is like they have genetically modified good old plain water to the extent it won't even give you a wet sensation. According to Expo planners, this kind of non-wet water was used extensively across the site:
"Dry mist being sprayed under canopies at the Global Loop provides comfortable coolness for visitors traveling on the elevated corridor that goes around the venue," the planners tell us. "Set up at a total of about a quarter of the Global Loop, the dry mist is sprayed from 1,824 nozzles at each location. However, because the mist's particle size is only 16/1000th of a millimeter, it evaporates before it can wet the faces or clothes of visitors passing underneath. Furthermore, it is superior in that its energy consumption is extremely low. It is technology said to have been put to practical use for the first time at EXPO 2005."
The Japan Pavilion Seto: Seto Zone.
Of the many pavilions at EXPO 2005 Aichi, Japan, one of the popular pavilions that are highly regarded by visitors was the Japan Pavilion Seto located in the Seto Area. Under the theme "The Wisdom, Skills and Spirit of Japanese People Living with Nature -- Let｡ﾇs Recover Our Sensibilities toward Being Connected with Nature", the Japan Pavilion Seto was comprised of three parts. On the first floor was an imagery space where a 7 minute prologue was shown. The second and third floors were essentially a circular theater where the 15 minute "Gundoku" group recitation of an epic poetic drama entitled "One Seed" took place. On the fourth floor was an art gallery exhibiting works by two artists.
JR Central Linear Pavilion: Zone A.
In December 2003 a "Superconducting Maglev Train" owned by the Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) set a new world speed record of 581 km/h for a manned railway car on the Yamanashi Test Line. The train is the MLX01-1, and the leading car of this astounding train was featured for all the world to see at the World Expo of 2005, at the JR Central Linear Pavilion.
Split in three separately entered sections, the main draw of this pavilion (apart from the train bursting out of the facade) was a 3D movie showing the world's fastest maglev train zipping about at 581 km/h (half real footage, half CG), set to Star Wars-type orchestral music. Visitors to the pavilion could also visit a superconductivity laboratory and walk through the actual MLX-01 train that set that aforementioned world record. Whether maglev trains will become a regular feature of Japanese life remains to be seen, however.
t h e & p a v i l i o n s (f o r e i g n)
THE FOREIGN PAVILIONS AT WORLD EXPO WERE THE REAL PULL FOR ME, AS OPPOSED TO THE OVERRATED JAPAVILIONS DETAILED ABOVE, AND I COULD HAVE SPENT A WEEK REALLY GETTING TO KNOW THEM ALL. As it was I only had one day -- as opposed to some Japanese ladies I met in the early morning queue who were on their 15th visit (due to the Pensioner's Season Pass in their possession.) Here are some of the best pavilions I was able to visit, in the limited time that I had:
The African Pavilion: Zone 5.
I wasn't expecting it to be that great in the lead-up to my trip, but this turned out to be the best pavilion I saw at World Expo 2005. What made it so great was the sense of authenticity, and the lack of pretension. While other nations (such as the United Kingdom) used plenty of complex symbols and architectural motifs to make their rather abstract points, the African Pavilion dispensed with all such artsy-fartsy nonsense. In this pavilion it was what you see, what you get. In fact, there wasn't any abstract point to make it all -- the whole place was just about selling and making money. That's right, the African Pavilion was a huge covered bazaar selling the full range of jewelry, masks, drums and statues, and manned with some of the finest street salesmen and women from the Dark Continent. I have never been to Africa (only Egypt), but this pavilion gave me a sense of what Africa is really like -- the smells and the ambience were dead authentic, as were the throngs of black-skinned hawkers.
My personal highlight of the African Pavilion, and perhaps the whole Expo of 2005, was visiting the small Ethopian room contained inside -- where Lucy was waiting for me. At long last, I have met Lucy in the flesh -- or in the bones at least! And milling around that Ethopian room, I found a profound sense of something -- a memory forgotten but almost at the point of rememberance, a sense of deja-vu... had I lived in Ethopia in a past life! It seems like such an ancient land, it was old when Ancient Egypt was young. I have to go there in the flesh and really see it, then I will know if I have lived there before. In the meantime, Expo 2005 provided me my first real meaningful encounter with the Ethopian Experience.
If you want to get to know about Africa as the cradle of the human race, begin by going to the exhibit of replicas, displayed at the Symbol Zone situated at the center of the joint pavilion, of what are said to be the oldest known fossilized skulls, from a village called Herto, of modern humans. Discovered in Ethiopia in 1997, experts consider these remains to be of primitive modern humans from about 160,000 years ago and important materials that back up the theory that modern humans originated in Africa and spread to other parts of the world. Furthermore, "Lucy", a 3.5 million year-old fossil of a female hominid is also a must-see. Discovered in 1974, the replica of the fairly complete skeletal remains of this Australopithecus afarensis was transported to Japan for exhibit at EXPO 2005 Aichi, Japan. Neighboring Kenya is also exhibiting various specimens, etc. of manlike apes and the human species that show the evolution of humankind, which date back to 25 million years ago.
If you needed to learn about the daily lives of the people of Africa, the Mauritanian exhibit would have been perfect for you. Recreated as a tent of the nomads living in the desert, it boasted such environmental delights as a natural refrigerator built out of an animal body. Now that's what I call African technology!
The Australian Pavilion: Zone 6.
Takes visitors on a journey through time. There are three "stages" representing Australia's past, present and future. The first stage comprises a short audio visual presentation about the native Aboriginal "Fire Dreaming" dreamtime legend (stand in the back right corner of the room for English). In the next stage is a "data forest" complete with eighty plasma screens on 12 "totems". The show in this spherical room is lively and impressive, with four themed videos representing the elements fire, water, wind and earth. Kids and adults alike will love the giant platypus waiting in the third stage - great for taking photos and chatting to the staff, most of whom are Australian. According to Wikipedia's travel arm: "Despite all this, it still felt like a let down compared to many other pavilions." I don't necessarily agree, but I will say one thing -- this pavilion does follow and rely too much on the standard Australian cliches of the 21st century, such as playing the Aboriginal music and so on. And the food is pretty bad -- then again the food in Australia can sometimes be bad, but at least it is cheaper there than it was here!
The Bhutan Pavilion: Zone 1.
Back in my old Geography class with Mr Noonan, some of the bullies used to love threatening me: "I will be booting you to Bhutan if you don't watch out." With its capital Thimpu (which was so easily vularized to "Thin Poo" by my bully friends), Bhutan was the joke of our school. This was probably unfair and I am sure Bhutan would make a great place for a holiday -- I loved Nepal and Bhutan is probably similar in many ways to this fabulous Himalayan kingdom. The majority of the Bhutanese population are farmers, and thus the lives of this nation's people are always linked with nature.
Visitors to the Bhutan Pavilion at Aichi were introduced to the daily lives of these people nestled in the Himalayas through the depictions shown on the layers of cloth that are hung from the ceiling, as well as the numerous photographs on exhibit. Also of interest are exhibits of rare herbs (although I never had a chance to see them, I am a rare herb enthusiast and amateur stoner), as well as those of bamboo and wooden living ware, such as those for enjoying salted butter tea called Suja.
The Canadian Pavilion: Zone 2.
I didn't actually have time to go inside this pavilion, but I heard that it boasted some special gimmicks. The lives of six ordinary Canadians were portrayed in a two-layered video show, while interactive kiosks introduced you to various Canadian cities. To make the long wait in the sun more bearable, real Canadian hosts prowled around outside the pavilion with the flatscreen-topped rucksacks and remotes. If they handed you one of the remote controls you could have watched movies "on their back" while you waited. But anyway, it is ancient history now, and the Canadian Pavilion is no more.
The Chinese Pavilion: Zone 1.
The Chinese city of Shanghai will host the World Expo of 2010. Consequently, the Chinese needed to make a good impression at the Aichi Japan Expo of 2005. Whether they suceeded or not is an open question: some visitors to the Chinese Pavilion called it a waste of space. When I visited it was rather late in the day, and I was worn out -- and I though I took some pretty pictures of the wall coverings and flags and stuff, it didn't really hit me on a profound level (unlike the Ethopian or Uzbekistan exhibitions, for example.) Nonetheless, China is a happening country these days, and I am sure the Shanghai 2010 Expo will be a smash. Coming two years after the Beijing Olympics, it will be an exciting announcement of China as a major economic, political and cultural superpower.
The theme of the 2010 Expo will be "Better City, Better Life". Some of the sub-themes will include: the prosperity of urban economies, innovation in science and technology (naturally), how to create a harmonious community (the Chinese have been doing this for thousands of years, so they have a little to say on this matter), and the interaction between cities and villages (a contentious issue in the Middle Kingdom at present.) If you want to attend the Expo will be held on the banks of the Huangpu River, the "Mother River of Shanghai", between the Lupu Bridge and the Nanpu Bridge. More than 70 million punters are expected to attend.
If you couldn't wait until 2010 to see what the Shanghai World Expo will be like, a sneak preview was on view at the Aichi Expo. Next to the China Pavilion's Sandalwood Study was the Crystal Cinema, which doubled as an introduction to EXPO 2010 Shanghai. A three-sided screen displayed majestic scenes of nature as well as cityscapes of Shanghai, one after another. The question is: do they really care about the environment in China? Or maybe they have a different concept of Nature than we do in the West?
The French Pavilion: Zone 3.
This was the first foreign pavilion I entered at World Expo 2005. It had an excellently made 360 degree movie theatre showing how humans treat their planet today. Impressive, but also depressing. It Also let you walk on a sensor-enabled area where a light spot followed your movements and let you trigger various short clips and quotes by moving towards them. One of the few pavilions that actually took the Expo's theme seriously and as such, was highly recommended!
The Indian Pavilion: Zone 1.
According to the Wikipedia travel site: "A rich visual spectacle of Indian arts and culture. Art performances on the second floor daily.
I just want to add that the day I visited, it was so hot that I soon as I entered the super-air-conditioned halls of this Little India, I fell asleep on the floor next to one of the air-con vents. That was my response to the mystically motivated displays and Hindu music which surrounded me -- my entrance to Nirvana! Seriously, this was a good pavilion, very authentic and true to form -- very Indian and Hindu. Maybe too Hindu -- why didn't they represent the other religions of India, such as Islam, Jainism, the Parsi faith, Buddhism, Xtianity, and so on. There is more to India than Hinduism, although this pavilion seemed to be 100 per cent Hindu.
The Italian Pavilion (Il Padiglione Italia):Zone 3.
This was one the first pavilions that I entered at Expo, and the place evoked its Italian homelandness with typical Gucci/Prada finesse. One of the centerpieces was the torso of an old Roman statue (hitherto referred to as the Dancing Satyr) whose shadow seemed to dance in the glare of an orbiting light display. There was also a fullsize car made entirely of chocolate.
The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had this to say about the dancing statue: "The main room, which is long and majestic, has a strong emotional impact due to its size, sensorial involvement, perspective and symbolic references: a glass floor rises softly, while a suspended ceiling works as a counterpoint, sloping depth-wise and emphasising the view of the backdrop: a large iridescent pearl (hitherto referred to as The Sphere). The transparent floor allows one to see a strip of water below: it is the Mediterranean transported to Japan; one can imagine brushing the waves of the sea and seeing the shape of our peninsula amid the bubbles of air...
"The Dancing Satyr dates from the 4th century BC and it was fished out of the Sicilian channel in 1998 and completely restored. Before entering The Sphere, the visitor is informed of the story behind its discovery and restoration. In the darkened hollow of The Great Sphere, one can pass around the work on a suspended course which gives the visitor the chance to appreciate it at different heights, underlining also its grace and harmony. Upon leaving, one finds oneself in another venue that operates as a filter and allows one to assimilate the experience of The Satyr and prepare oneself to encounter a new space, entirely dedicated to the Italian regions. This new space takes on the labyrinthine spatiality of the Italian garden, where every region can present its identity to the public. The walls bear enlarged images of pleasure linked to the sinuosities of the body, the softness of its lines. Here one can see film clips, consult books, and taste desserts and wine that all represent the Italian way of life..."
It is worth noting that a new United Colors of Benetton franchise opened in Nagoya in September 2005. Representing the Italian company's first foray into the Tokai region of Japan, the Benetton Mega Store boasts a 1000 square meter floor size (give or take). This makes it the third largest Benetton shop in Japan. It is at 3-17-12 Sakae, Central ward. Phone: 052 269 9951.
The Jordanian Pavilion: Zone 3.
I have been able in my time to have swum in the Dead Sea -- well in actuality I just dived into it and dived right out, because it was the middle of winter and the water was absolutely freezing. That was in the Israel of 1993, but in the Aichi of 2005 Expo visitors were able to experience the amazing Dead Sea for themselves, in miniature. The Jordan Pavilion in Zone 3 featured a long swimming pool filled with real Dead Sea water -- the kind of water that it is impossible to sink in -- the kind of water you can float around in reading a newspaper, with no fear of drowning. The pool was not only stunningly beautiful to look at, but if you were lucky and made a reservation early enough, it was possible for you to float in it. Japanese are nuts about immersing themselves in water which is supposed to be good for you, and you don't get water any more therapeutic than this: the Dead Sea contains more than 35 minerals including magnesium, calcium, bromine and potassium; some of these minerals are not found in any ocean. Additionally, it is well known for implanting a relaxing feeling, nourishing the skin, activating the circulatory system and for easing rheumatic discomfort and metabolic disorders. The mineral concentration in the Dead Sea is about ten times the salinity of the oceans -- that's why you can float in it without ever sinking. One piece of advice -- don't put your head under the surface of the water, if you ever get a chance to bathe in the Dead Sea (or a travelling swimming pool of Dead Sea water.) My South African buddy James did that once -- read about it here.
The Korean Pavilion: Zone 1.
I visited the Korean Pavilion rather late in the day and was so exhausted from a whole day of standing in lines, roasting in the sun, and dealing with crowds, that I lost some of the my Expo zeal. Nonetheless, I perked up as soon as I got inside the Korean Pavilion, for this was sure one classy pavilion. Perhaps the classiest in the whole Expo of 2005 -- it doesn't mean it was the best or the most interesting, but you could tell they spent a lot of time and money making it good.
The theme of the Korea Pavilion was "Light of the Life", a typically Asian bad English feel-good slogan which on closer inspection, means absolutely nothing. The exhibition space was composed of exhibit corners in five colors that have symbolic meaning in Korea: blue, red, yellow, black and white. There was also a big poster of the Korean TV star who has become a star in Japan -- Yon-sama. I was privileged to get my photo taken with his holy presence.
The sleek blend of traditional Korean culture, sophisticated modern art and state-of-the-art technology at each exhibit awed many visitors to the Korea Pavilion. For example, place your hands over a screen of water in the Blue corner and you could have seen animated fish swimming towards your fingertips -- more Virtual Animals here, waiting for the age when real fish become extinct. If you had have stood in front of a screen in the Black corner, you could have watched your shadows transformed into an Old School Oriental ink-brush tree before your very eyes.
In the White corner, thousands of pressed flowers on walls softly lit by the many Korean paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling were reflected on a mysterious mirrored floor.
The best thing about the Korean Pavilion was the 13-minute-long 3D movie screened there, which was called "TREE ROBO". This high-quality animation that tells the story of a boy who loves nature and a robot, who restore nature which has been destroyed through their friendship. According to some reports, tears were often seen in the eyes of visitors at the end of this video. Don't think too badly of me, but I almost shed a tear too, watching this inspirational film.
The Singapore Pavilion: Zone 6.
I mentioned up above under the Japan Pavilion Nagakute entry that all over the Expo site, a mistlike water spray was pumped into the air in an attempt to keep the temperature down -- because the mist's particle size was only 16/1000th of a millimeter, it evaporated before it could wet the faces or clothes of visitors passing underneath. To my mind this super-fine spray technology seemed a perfect invention for Japan, where many people have a morbid fear of dirt and contamination. There were was no such prudishness about getting wet at the Singapore Pavilion, however! Although I didn't venture inside (I did inspect the outdoors Singaporean restaurant however, and the spread there looked divine) -- although I didn't have time to see the Singapore Pavilion from the inside this is what I heard about it, from various sources:
"Visitors could experience a day in the life of Singapore in the Urban Nature zone. A screen on a wall shows, in fast motion, a day of the lives of Singaporeans, from people doing Tai Chi in the morning mist to the nightscape of high rises in the city. While visitors are engrossed in the realism of the footage depicting people's daily lives, they begin to hear thunder in the distance. A squall dumping 17 liters of water per second suddenly begins to rain upon visitors and they will find puddles beneath their feet. It is a surprising 30-second experience, but not to worry; visitors are handed an umbrella at the entrance so there is no fear of becoming drenched."
The Sri Lankan Pavilion: Zone 1.
A fairly small pavilion this one, but dazzling on the eye with its exotic range of wall coverings and art. According to one of the official Expo websites: "Upon entering the Sri Lanka Pavilion, one of the striking features that visitors will notice is the colorful batik that covers the entire ceiling. Roughly 900 pieces of 1-meter-square batik have been joined together to create this huge work of art that is 1,000 square meters in size. The various designs dyed in rich hues such as red, yellow, orange and black depict many traditional motifs including plants, animals and the sun.
The Theravada Buddhist temple recreated within the pavilion is decorated with Buddhist murals depicting the birth of Buddha and events related to Buddha｡ﾇs life. It contains a statue of Buddha within.
Other attractive features of the Sri Lanka Pavilion include demonstrations of Sri Lankan handcrafts where visitors can watch the making of brass craftwork and cotton textiles or the cutting of precious stones from a close distance. In this country where vocations are often hereditary, the legacy of masterful techniques is passed down from generation to generation, as can be seen in the expert skills of the craftsmen displaying their techniques in demonstrations."
Uzbeki Pop: Zone 1.
EXPO 2005 WAS FULL OF SURPRISES FOR ME -- and one fo the most unexpected and amazing was my brief traipse through the Central Asian Pavilion. Central Asia to me sounds like the end of the world, a hauntingly exotic place -- thus was it depicted in Thomas Pynchon's GRAVITY'S RAINBOW. Of the Central Asian republics, Uzbekistan is the most populous, potentially the richest, and certainly the most culturally interesting of the Central Asian republics that proverbially "threw off the Soviet yoke" in the early 1990s. It also has an interesting Pop/Rock scene, as I was discover, upon entering the Central Asian Pavilion at Aichi Expo 2005.
As the offical Expo website has described it: "Enter first from the Uzbekistan entrance whose walls are decorated with beautiful woodcarvings. Visitors will find themselves in a wondrous space, with castle walls and gate - which protected the people of oasis towns from foreign enemies - and a minaret, from which Muslims are called to prayer and whose towering height made it a guidepost for caravans arriving from the desert. Beyond the minaret, beautifully embroidered suzani cloth and vibrant ceramics characterized by a bright blue color and delicate designs fill the space recreating a bazaar where traders from East and West gathered."
Thus sprake the offical website of Expo 2005. My impressions of the Uzbek portion of the Central Asian Pavilion were a little different...
According to San'at.com: "The song has always occupied an important place in the life of people. Each of us needs to find proper expression of everything we believe and hope, even when we understand that our dream cannot be true. Sometimes there are no words to do it and then music, first of all its most natural and primary form - the song is coming. This is for the people, which have been not too experienced in secrets of musical art. However, not any song is capable to capture hearts of the people, and to become favourite. Popularity is a destiny of few samples of this genre, seeming simple just at the first look. The song can not exist outside of its being, though it can sound at khirman, public festivals, at family celebrations and on the concert stage. Its life is impossible without uncountable reproductions, carried out by the people together, in a circle of close friends and alone. Therefore, its actual being is an integral property of song's art nature."
e x p o + g o u r m e t
ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT HAVING THE WHOLE WORLD REPRESENTED IN A SMALL MICROCOSM IS THAT YOU CAN EAT YOUR WAY ACROSS CONTINENTS IN A MATTER OF HOURS, IF YOU HAVE THE STOMACH TO HANDLE IT! One of my highlights from the World Expo 2005 was devouring the Wani Baagaa (Crocodile Burger> on sale in the Australian Pavilion. Here is a rundown of the World Expo 2005 Dining Adventure, courtesy of the official website:
Central Zone
Japanese cuisine
Japanese Restaurant “NADAMAN” is a purveyor of Japan's dietary culture, with a menu centered around traditional favorites and classic “kaiseki” course dishes in keeping with its venerable status.
North entrance
French cuisine
Run by Mr. Ishinabe, who was a regular on the well-known TV program “Iron Chefs,” “QUEEN ALICE AQUA” serves health-minded French food that is good for body and soul.
Corporate Pavilion Zone A
Chinese cuisine
“Toh-Ka-Lin” offers Guangdong (Cantonese) cuisine, which applies among the most diverse culinary techniques of all Chinese cooking with its 4,000-year history.
Global Commons 4
Japanese cuisine
“NAGOYA” gives all guests a taste of the traditional flavors only available from the most prestigious Japanese restaurants.
North entrance
German cuisine
Recreating the gala atmosphere of Oktoberfest, Restaurant “Beer-Hall” features live music and traditional German festivities.
Turkish cuisine
Serving traditional delicacies hailing from the Ottoman court, “SOFRA” introduces guests to the delights of genuine dishes from Istanbul, a world center of cuisine.
Korean cuisine
At “KANICHITEI”, guests can watch performances of Korean dance and Nanta while dining on traditional favorites such as “kimchi” (pickled Korean cabbage) and barbecued beef.
West entrance
Japanese cuisine
Sushi restaurants offering dishes on conveyor belts have become a fixture of Japan's dietary culture. “Sushi Kaku” introduces visitors from around the world to another side of Japanese culture.
West entrance
World cuisine
“Festival FOOD COURT” brings together everything from local Aichi favorites to delicacies of other countries.
World cuisine
“PIEROTH'S WORLD FOOD & WINE COURT” provides food and wine imported directly from the countries of production, and also has a tasting booth.
Central Zone
World cuisine
“World Restaurant” serves food from various countries and also offers take-out service for a rich assortment of dishes.
Global Commons 3
Italian cuisine
Regularly featuring the food of a different province, “Ristorante Dolce Italia” gives guests a comprehensive taste of Italian cuisine with dishes that contain choice Italian ingredients and are prepared by chefs straight from Italy.
West entrance
Japanese cuisine
“UMAIMONYA NIPPON” has an assortment of distinctive dishes from all parts of Japan.
Corporate Pavilion Zone A
Japanese cuisine
“BUFFET NAGAKUTE” offers a buffet-style sampling of Nagoya specialties such as fried cutlet with “miso” soybean paste, “kishimen” noodles, and “hitsumabushi” (Nagoya-style eel).
Global Commons 1
Sri Lankan cuisine
“SRILANKA CURRY RESTAURANT COURT LODGE” furnishes curried dishes and other Sri Lankan foods.
Global Commons 2
Latin American cuisine
At “Victoria Barbecue Garden”, guests can enjoy Latin American barbecue dishes and traditional foods buffet-style.
Global Commons 4
European cuisine
“European Table” has buffet-style service for foods from various European countries.
Global Commons 5
African cuisine
“SALAAM” allows guests to discover African dietary culture, which is still largely unknown in Japan.
Global Commons 6
Asian cuisine
“ILHA FORMOSA” provides a rich buffet assortment including dim sum and Asian-style fresh juice beverages.
Central Zone
Variety
Perched 18 floors above the ground, “ASAHI PANORAMA RESTAURANT” gives guests a panoramic view of Koi-Pond and other scenic sites as they dine on entrees from a selection centered around Western food but also containing Japanese and Chinese items.
Interactive Fun Zone
Japanese cuisine
Rose Court Hotel “Osu-Banshoji-Chaya”'s menu shows how it cherishes the distinctive tastes of Nagoya.
North Gate
Variety
“FOREST CAFE” supplies take-out service in local favorites such as fried cutlets with “miso” soybean paste and deep-fried shrimp.
Corporate Pavilion Zone A
Variety
Pizza has taken deep root in Japan, and “PIZZA-LA EXPRESS” showcases Japan's unique pizza culture to the rest of the world.
Corporate Pavilion Zone B
Variety
“MAMI MAMI” features speedy service in delicious dishes of local Nagoya cuisine as well as Chinese and Western foods.
Western cuisine
“At Curry Shop “CHITAKA”, guests can freely choose from a wide variety of sauces and toppings in ordering authentic curried dishes.
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Global Commons 1
Chinese cuisine
At “HANKEI”, guests can find pork buns, noodle soups, dim sum, and other genuine foods prepared exactly as in Yokohama's Chinatown district.
Global Commons 2
Turkish cuisine
“MERHABA” sells Turkish treats such as kebab skewers and Turkish ice cream.
Western cuisine
A highly popular FF in the USA, “U.S. Bistro Route 66” aspires to communication with people around the world through the medium of food.
Global Commons 3
European cuisine
“Europe by nature Caffﾃｩ” provides a taste of Continental culture in meals of healthy, natural foods accompanied by baguettes, ice cream, etc.
Global Commons 4
Variety
“SUJAHTA CAFE” offers space for relaxation with Western fast foods with an accent on quality dairy products.
Variety
“Dotonbori KUKURU Sweet Potato Shop Lapoppo” serves light meals of mainly Japanese foods such as “takoyaki” (fried dumplings containing octopus meat) and “yakisoba” fried noodles
Global Commons 6
Asian cuisine
Serving all types of noodle dishes from various countries, “Oriental Noodles Thomas” introduces the noodle culture of Asia.
Asian cuisine
With a menu emphasizing curried dishes, Indian Curry House “MEITETSU KYOSHO” provides foods from different Asian countries.
Interactive Fun Zone
Mediterranean cuisine
“FOOD JUNGLE” serves kebab and other mainstays from countries on the coast of the Mediterranean.
Variety
Diners at Asian Noodles “Food Space Label Art 101” have the added enjoyment of an art space run by University of Tokyo students.
Japanese cuisine
West entrance
Variety
“SUNRISE” highlights the breadmaking culture of Aichi prefecture with a menu centered around freshly baked “melon rolls” and items made with deep-fried shrimp and powdered green tea.
Seto Area
Variety
“GARASU NO MORI” 's wide assortment is topped by gigantic frankfurters and jumbo steaks.
Facilities selling goods
North Gate
Official shop
“Matsuzakaya” sells all sorts of items using the official mascots (Morizo and Kiccoro) and the EXPO 2005 logo as motifs.
Official shop
“MITSUKOSHI” sells all sorts of items using the official mascots (Morizo and Kiccoro) and the EXPO 2005 logo as motifs.
West entrance
Official shop
“Kintetsu” sells all sorts of items using the official mascots (Morizo and Kiccoro) and the EXPO 2005 logo as motifs.
North Gate
Japanese confections
Jointly operated by three famous confectionary shops, “Traditional Japanese Cake Shop” showcases Japan's confectionary tradition and craftsmanship.
Foot massage, health tea, and dieting products
Corporate Pavilion Zone A
Accessories and jewelry
At “Kirara”, visitors can purchase accessories, jewelry, and interior goods from Sri Lanka and other countries.
Global Commons 1
Foot massage, herb tea, and dietary items
“Health Factory” has herbs and health foods from around the world while also offering care to refresh the feet.
Accessories, handicrafts, and pickled Korean “kimchi” cabbage
A window on Korean dietary culture, “Hang Ryu” has an abundance of goods embodying the scientific wisdom, craft, and care of traditional fermented Korean foods.
Global Commons 2
Natural stones, accessories, and ornamental rocks
“LEMBRANCA” sells natural stones and rocks from South America, the USA, and other parts of the world.
Pearls and diamonds
“TASAKI SHINJU” sells pearls and other jewelry products.
Global Commons 3
Shrimp-flavored crackers
“EBISENBEI NO SATO” 's assortment is built around shrimp-flavored crackers, a specialty of the Chubu area.
Wine, beer-like beverages, and cognac
“PIEROTH'S WINE OF THE WORLD” sells a wide selection of famous wines from around the world.
Global Commons 4
Potpourri, health foods, aroma therapy goods
“Lucy” proposes ways of using the soothing powers of natural herbs for improvement of health and beauty.
Handicrafts, accessories, and apparel
“Pierrot” offers handicrafts, accessories, and other items symbolizing the cultures of various European countries.
Global Commons 5
Roasted chestnuts and chestnut products
“KYO-TANBA” is a purveyor of choice chestnuts roasted by a special pressurization method.
Wooden carvings, natural stones, and silver ware
“JAMBO” portrays African culture through the medium of all kinds of arts and crafts.
Global Commons 6
Wooden carvings and fine silver objects
“BALI” 's merchandise consists mainly of arts and crafts from the island of Bali.
Music boxes and handicrafts
Taking “look,” “touch,” and “create” as its watchwords, “YUNOKUNI NO MORI” affords views of Japanese culture as manifested in handicrafts.
Interactive Fun Zone
Fantasy goods and limited-edition goods
“MIZUKI SHIGERU NO GEGEGE NO MORI” is stocked with fantasy goods (monsters, fairies, etc.) from Asia and other regions.
West terminal
Japanese confections, noodles, and handicrafts
Taking “artisans of cuisine and culture” as its theme, “Aichi-Nagoya Souvenir Shop” showcases the local tradition and culture through sales of specialty goods.
Seto Gate
“Kamaboko” products
“Colone Colone” sells a snack “kamaboko” (boiled fish paste) item inspired by the Moomin cartoon characters.
Pickled vegetables, noodles, and confections
“Daichi-Megumi” offers specialty items that express nature and health, and convey the earth's bounty.
Corporate Pavilion Zone A
Convenience store
An environment-friendly store built with eco/natural materials, “Circle-K” is stocked with specialized merchandise accenting health.
Global Commons 1
Convenience store
“Family Mart” is a new proposal-oriented CVS located in the Asia Common.
West Gate
Convenience store
“SUNKUS” delights shoppers with its service mentality and assortment.
Seto Gate
Convenience store
“Pocket Combi” is a proposal-oriented CVS with an assortment that shows concern for health and calories.
Service facilities and other facilities
Interactive Fun Zone
Total photography services
“FUJIFILM Photo Service Station” is a service counter for sales of film and photography-related items, development, battery replacement, etc.
East/Seto Gate
Delivery, hand baggage, temporary custody, and coin-operated lockers”
“KOGUMA” and “PELICAN” are service counters for temporary custody of hand luggage and acceptance of orders for delivery, and also has coin-operated lockers.
North/West Gate
Delivery, hand baggage, temporary custody, and coin-operated lockers”
“KOGUMA” and “PELICAN” are service counters for temporary custody of hand luggage and acceptance of orders for delivery, and also has coin-operated lockers.
b i o d e g r a d a b l e + c r a p
WELL, I PROMISED I WOULD INTRODUCE YOU TO A STRANGE AND PECULIARLY AUSTRALIAN DISH CALLED CROCODILE BURGER -- we enjoyed it at the Australian Pavilion. Actually, we didn't enjoy it that much -- the meat tasted okay but the bread was kind of stale, and overpriced to boot. There was something interesting about the way this food was contained, however, something green friendly.
You have probably heard of the term biomass: it refers to renewable organic resources derived from plants and animals. At Aichi 2005 every plate and glass served at the various rip-off eat outlets listed above, was built of biomass plastic (biodegradable resin). The raw materials for this plastic are a corn-based resin, clay and scallop-shell powder. Unlike petroleum-based plastic, once disposed, these plates and glasses will be broken down into water and carbon dioxide by microorganisms living in soil. In other words, environmentally friendly tableware for the masses, even though most of the food I served at Expo 2005 stank -- overpriced and bland. What can you do when you have to serve X,000 folks every day, though.
Expo 2005 utilized some other ways of turning crap into gold. For example, gas from the garbage left behind at Pavilion Nagakute Japan was transformed into electricity, which in turn was transformed into the light which lit up the pavilion's interior. Even waste from the toilets was recycled into clean usable water. So the crap food you were served at outlets such as the Australian Pavilion was first converted into literal crap, then into pure valuable water. The plate that crap food was also recycled -- thus the Cycle of Life revolved at Expo 2005, a model of ecological sustainability...
The recycling bins at Expo were also a sight to behold (see the photo above). Living in Japan you get used to public trash bins which seperated the burnable and unburnable rubbish. At Expo, however, there are not two kinds of trash cans but rather 10 or 12 -- one bin is for P.E.T bottles, for example, another for the plastic wrapping of that bottle, and another bin specializing only in bottle caps. I am exaggerating a little, but I have been to some events in Japan (such as the annual festival at the University of Tokyo) where you have to peel the plastic wrappers off your P.E.T bottles, and dump them in a dedicated plastic wrapper bin. Perhaps that's the way it is going to be in the future, in other parts of the world. Maybe maybe...
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