Expo 2005 Aichi
Category: Specialized
Country: Japan
Opening: March 25, 2005
Closing: September 25, 2005
Participating countries: 121
Visits: 22,049,544
Site Area: 173 ha (427.5 acres)
Image: © 2005. Urso Chappell.
Expo 2005 Aichi was a Specialized International Exposition held in Aichi Prefecture, Japan from March 25 to September 25, 2005.
The theme of the exposition was "Nature's Wisdom," and it focused on the relationship between nature and humans, as well as the role that technology can play in preserving and enhancing the natural world.
The Japanese prefecture of Aichi was declared the host of Expo 2005 by the General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions in June 1997, surpassing the bids of Calgary, Canada, and Gold Coast, Australia.
On December 15, 2000, at the 128th General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions, Expo 2005 Aichi was registered under the official name of “The 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan” with the theme “Nature's Wisdom” and subthemes “The Matrix of Nature,” “The Art of Life,” and “Development for Eco-communities.”
At the time of the candidacy's registration, the 1988 amendment had not yet come into force, and therefore, the categories International Registered Exposition and International Recognized Exposition did not exist, only the categories Universal Exposition and Specialized Exposition established by the 1972 amendment. For this reason, contrary to what various sources claim, Expo 2005 Aichi was not a Universal Exposition nor a Registered Exposition, but a Specialized Exposition.
Expo 2005 Aichi remained open to the public for 185 continuous days, from March 25 to September 25, 2005, receiving, according to official figures, 22,049,544 visitors. The number of visitors per day ranged from a minimum of 43,023 on March 25, the opening day, to a maximum of 281,441 people on September 18.
In addition to Japan, 121 countries and four international organizations participated, grouped in 69 pavilions. The site area covered approximately 173 ha spread across the Eastern Hills of Nagoya, between Nagakute and the cities of Toyota and Seto, in the Aichi Prefecture.
Media coverage was provided by approximately 1,800 journalists, sent by 380 press organizations from about 75 countries.
The Expo 2005 Aichi site was divided into twelve areas.
• Global Common 1 (pavilions of Asia, excluding Southeast Asia).
• Global Common 2 (pavilions of America).
• Global Common 3 (pavilions of Europe).
• Global Common 4 (pavilions of Europe).
• Global Common 5 (pavilions of Africa).
• Global Common 6 (pavilions of Oceania and Southeast Asia).
• Central Zone (Global house, EXPO Plaza, Koi Pond, Bio Lung).
• Japan Zone (Nagakute Japan Pavilion, Aichi Nagakute Pavilion, Chubu Community for Millennium Symbiosis, Earth Tower).
• Corporate pavilions area (Wonderful Circus [Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan], JR Central Pavilion [Central Japan Railway Company], JAMA Wheel of Fortune Pavilion [Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc.], Mitsubishi Pavilion on Earth [Joint Expo 2005/Mitsubishi Committee], Toyota Group Pavilion, Hitachi Group Pavilion, Mitsui-Toshiba Pavilion, Dream Mountain [Joint Pavilion Committee produced by Chunichi Shimbun], Gas Pavilion [Japan Gas Association]).
• Interactive entertainment area (Global Village of Non-Governmental Organizations, Morizo and Kiccoro Exhibition Center, Wanpaku Treasure Island, Growth Village, Robot Station, Water Plaza, Wind Plaza, Forest Route, Ai-land Family and Ai-land Tokimeki, Expo Hall).
• Forest Contact Zone (Forest Nature School, Satsuki and Mei's House, Japanese Garden).
• Seto Area (Seto Japan Pavilion, Seto Aichi Pavilion, Kaisho Plaza, Satoyama Zone).