🔴 Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai x The University of Osaka! 🔵 UOsaka Expo Talk Event Final: “The Future Society Envisioned by Youth—What the Expo 2025 Has Left Us, and How We Can Build on It”

The “8th UOsaka Expo Talk Event Final” was held on March 1 at Nakanoshima Qross in Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka City. Under the theme “The Future Society Envisioned by Youth: What the Expo 2025 Left Us, and How We Can Build on It,” approximately 130 people attended in person, with about 70 more joining online. Mayu Ogawa, a freelance announcer and UOsaka graduate, served as the MC. Keiko Takemura, Executive Vice President, and Yoshiki Sawa, Chairman of the Future Medical Promotion Organization, delivered opening remarks.

Following this, Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro of the Graduate School of Engineering gave a presentation titled “Future of Life,” focusing on the Signature Pavilion he produced as a theme project producer for the Expo. “I envisioned how humans will expand life through the power of technology and what we may look like 50 or 100 years from now. The pavilion particularly resonated with the story of a grandmother and her granddaughter. We also conducted a survey asking whether people would want to remain as androids after death. “If a granddaughter wished for it, perhaps even more people would choose to become androids after death,” he remarked.

Next, Chairman Sawa and Professor Ishiguro engaged in a dialogue. Reflecting on the Expo’s opening ceremony, Chairman Sawa stated, “I was deeply moved to see countries from around the world united as one under the Grand Ring, feeling the weight of peace and life.” Professor Ishiguro added, “We must ensure that robots and AI are used appropriately and in the service of peace.

In the subsequent panel discussion, Senior Executive Vice President Toshihiro Tanaka introduced the activities of three student groups “a-tune,” “UOsaka Rovers,” and “Hamadeizu.” Takuo Dome, Director of the Social Solution Initiative, spoke about disseminating the “Inochi Declaration.” In addition, Professor Michiya Matsuzaki of the Graduate School of Engineering discussed future developments of the cultured meat exhibited at the Expo, while Professor Eri Sugita of the Graduate School of Human Sciences, who leads the MeW Project, spoke about their initiatives at the Expo.

After a break, student presentations were given, followed by a final panel discussion. Yuji Sawada, who served as a theme project director for the Expo, offered the following reflections: “Having been involved in World Expos in various countries for 48 years, I have always said that ‘the Expo is the greatest opportunity of a lifetime.’ Regarding UOsaka’s contributions, the MeW Project encouraged men to reflect on menstruation, and WAKAZO brought the Expo’s theme ‘Designing Future Society for Our Lives’ into sharper focus by addressing the topic of death.”

After the event, members of the Expo Promotion Office reflected individually on their activities over the past six years and introduced a book titled “Osaka and Kansai Expo: UOsaka Shone Brightly Too,” scheduled for publication at the end of March. This book will be donated to major libraries in Osaka.

Related Link
・UOsaka × SDGs | [Event Report] On March 1, 2026, UOsaka Expo Talk Event Final:“The Future Society Envisioned by the Youth—What the Expo 2025 Has Left Us, and How Can We Make Use of It?”
https://sdgs.osaka-u.ac.jp/news/7580.html