Expo 2025 in Osaka, hosted on Yumeshima island, brings together over 150 countries and international organizations to address global challenges through architecture, technology, and design. At the heart of the Expo stands a monumental circular structure designed by Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto. Spanning about 2 kilometers in circumference and rising to 20 meters in height, this timber masterpiece is the world’s largest wooden architectural structure.
It encircles the main exhibition area, embodying the concept of “Unity in Diversity.”
A photo series by Stephane Aboudaram called “The People of the Ring” captures the Grand Ring from a user’s perspective. It shows both the structure and the visitors engaging with it. The exhibition is structured around three core subthemes: Saving Lives, Empowering Lives, and Connecting Lives.
It serves as a platform for exchange and a testing ground for forward-looking ideas that reimagine the relationship between people, technology, and the built environment. The Grand Ring serves as the primary circulation route. It guides visitor flow around the site while offering sheltered walkways that provide protection from wind, rain, and sunlight.
The elevated Skywalk of the ring offers panoramic views of the entire Expo site, the Seto Inland Sea, and the Osaka cityscape. Its rooftop is landscaped with greenery, integrating the structure with its natural surroundings. Wood was selected for its renewable properties and carbon-storing capacity.
This contributes to the project’s goal of minimizing carbon footprint. Locally sourced timber further reduced transportation-related emissions while supporting the regional economy. The Grand Ring serves as both an infrastructural anchor and a symbol of unity.
It establishes a spatial framework for the site while embodying the Expo’s ambition to unite diverse perspectives through a shared architectural language. Expo 2025 features a diverse range of national pavilions designed by internationally recognized architects. Highlights include the exploration of sustainable practices and innovative designs that reflect each country’s unique heritage and vision for the future.
The Grand Ring remains open to visitors throughout the Expo. It continues to attract thousands of attendees who come to witness and engage with this architectural marvel.
osaka architectural masterpiece unites nations
The ongoing 2025 Osaka Expo attracted 162,000 general visitors on Saturday, marking a new daily record. The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition expects a total of 28.2 million people to visit the event, which runs until October 13. To reach their goal, the Expo needs to draw an average of 150,000 visitors per day.
Saturday’s number exceeded this target for the first time, bolstered by popular music and fireworks attractions. Visitor reservations surged on Saturday, contributing to the record-setting attendance. Two brothers who spend their summers on Cape Cod are bringing a touch of their American home to the World Expo in Osaka, Japan this year.
Lee McGuire serves as a youth ambassador at the USA Pavilion, while his brother Kai has been appointed by the U.S. State Department as the Director of Protocol. The World Expo, occurring every five years, invites each participating country to build a pavilion. McGuire describes it as “the Olympics, but for culture.” This year’s theme focuses on fostering real-world connections.
As a youth ambassador, Lee McGuire spends his days at the USA Pavilion, where he typically engages in tour guiding. He conducts multiple tours daily, each group consisting of around 120 visitors. “I think being able to show my people, how great my people are, show Japanese people how great American people are, makes me really happy to go to work every day,” he said.
Out of more than 1,500 applicants, only 88 were selected to be youth ambassadors. The USA Pavilion at the World Expo aims to showcase American excellence and foster strong ties between the U.S. and Japan. The exhibit is built around four main themes: Connecting, Innovation, Travel, and Space.
Visitors enter through a hallway highlighting opportunities for work or study in the U.S. The exhibits begin with advancements in scientific innovations and new technologies, move on to showcase the diverse travel destinations within the U.S., and culminate in a NASA-themed space exhibit. A notable artifact in the pavilion is a moon rock from the Apollo 17 mission in 1972, paying homage to the 1970 Osaka Expo’s U.S. Pavilion. “The final part of the exhibit is the Cube, a space launch simulation that really captures the imagination with smoke effects and rumbling.
It’s a very convincing and immersive experience,” said McGuire. The participation of Lee and Kai McGuire highlights the role of personal and shared cultural experiences in international events like the World Expo, emphasizing the deep connections between the U.S. and Japan.
