Czechia unveils national pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka

Czechia officially opened its national pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka today, joining more than 160 countries in showcasing ideas under the fair’s theme of “designing future society for our lives.”

The Czech pavilion was inaugurated by Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský and national commissioner Ondřej Soška on Sunday morning just as the exhibition grounds officially opened to the public.

Held on the manmade island of Yumeshima, Expo 2025 will run until Oct. 13. Japan’s imperial couple attended Saturday’s opening ceremony, marking the second time the global fair is being hosted in Osaka, which previously held it in 1970. This year’s edition emphasizes artificial intelligence, space, and sustainable development.

Designed by Prague-based Apropos Architects, the Czech pavilion stands out with its transparent structure and spiraling glass walkway, a nod to both innovation and national tradition.

The architectural concept, referencing Czechia’s 1970 Expo pavilion in Japan, offers a 260-meter route that ascends around the building’s four levels before reaching a rooftop viewing platform. According to organizers, the design symbolizes the passage of time, individual growth, and societal development.

"EXPO is about sharing stories of mutual inspiration," Lipavský wrote on X after the opening ceremony. "With our wonderful national pavilion, we want to share those stories and create new ones—through art, business, and personal connections."

The Czech government allocated approximately CZK 290 million for the national presence, although construction costs reportedly exceeded expectations by nearly CZK 93 million. A portion of the funding came from private partners.

The pavilion’s programming includes performances by the Czech Philharmonic, contemporary circus group Cirk La Putyka, and the Alfa Theatre from Pilsen. Czech National Day at the expo is scheduled for July 24, commemorating the birthday of painter Alfons Mucha, a figure revered in both Czech and Japanese cultural circles.

Expo 2025 aims to draw 23 million visitors over six months, but ticket sales have lagged, with fewer than nine million sold to date. Despite these concerns, the event boasts several ambitious features.

The exhibition grounds are centered around the Grand Ring, a massive circular wooden structure designed by Sou Fujimoto and recognized as the world’s largest timber architecture by Guinness World Records.

Expo 2025’s mascot, Mjaku-Mjaku—a blue and red creature with six eyes and a smiling mouth—has generated mixed reactions since its debut but has since gained popularity online. Czechia's Expo mascot René, modeled after the work of Czech glassmaker René Roubíček, follows the unusual design.

Apart from Czechia, participating pavilions feature a mix of high-tech and cultural offerings. The U.S. pavilion includes a NASA rocket launch simulator, and Jamaica presents life-size statues of Bob Marley and Usain Bolt.

Not all nations are participating. Russia withdrew in 2023 following its invasion of Ukraine, while Ukraine’s pavilion displays items related to its postwar recovery, including safety equipment used in repairing energy infrastructure.

For more information about the Czech presence at Expo 2025, visit the project's official website.