![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RGHUS6LYSJDEVO5XCPYANVOUN4.jpg?smart=true&auth=8d78e45ae239ea04687619b903155d6c6da4b54566127d97b058c4e79bb891d7&width=400&height=225)
Elaborate miniatures using day-to-day objects feature in the Japanese pavilion.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MDIFYU5GUFEPLJWPYCTG33VETY.jpg?smart=true&auth=b330494dc88041bec77780caac7b1d8800d6915ebfb9c51680816fd935a5a9f5&width=400&height=225)
Japan’s pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai promises visitors an immersive experience that is hoped will leave them eager to visit the East Asian country. All photos: Victor Besa/The National.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ONAJFGFRBFFVXJVYLN6UOPTVTE.jpg?smart=true&auth=a8d5539305cb46adae4808935d746677480c39a92c4d59c5d1e5a72146ae3b6e&width=400&height=225)
An exhibition of tiny figurines tells the stories of Japan’s space exploration efforts, food scene and passion for anime.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R3THEJY45RDERBGQTH7UVKPOYQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=f50af194a9279836b56906ced04689f91a3c567e5af98b5358ddc5f66085538d&width=400&height=225)
The figurines area tells the story of Japan’s space exploration efforts, food scene and passion for anime.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DYFNGPAOWREKFAVLOVWYT62IM4.jpg?smart=true&auth=6ee09ffd859ecc8ca507917eda951b9e8b7dff679dc022d96e9fd70e2e8607ec&width=400&height=225)
Most of the exterior is covered in Japanese origami shapes, which symbolises respect shown to other through Japanese art of origata gift-wrapping.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YTLWL3Q65VAVBO3MOBXRPQEDV4.jpg?smart=true&auth=e3876ded865507ad463c7386ff48612454a37086b6222a5383a4656cfde51f36&width=400&height=225)
Japanese innovation is not solely about high-end technology; it has drawn inspiration from both nature and traditional culture. Visitors can explore modern Japan and its future through a series of cute, elaborate miniatures using day-to-day objects.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UNM5XEFUJRGE3FDT36XLP6HK6Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=0077d72e637372efb66db3ffa26a664e4dfb8de7fc5d6fe891cb281c9040aa13&width=400&height=225)
Expo 2025 will be held in Kansai and visitors to Japan's Expo pavilion in Dubai will be shown how ideas, actions, and challenges of people from around the world can come together.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X5IF3XOGJJGARLAOWHWCE6BGXM.jpg?smart=true&auth=9fd664cfdd99a9e23ad9f07a5a6b31d6d907496abefc0f5af000d522b81a9607&width=400&height=225)
A tour of the Japan Pavilion at Expo 2020 site. Architecture by Yuko Nagayama/NTT Facilities.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6XWGRDPCA5E47ENTR56Z72W6JI.jpg?smart=true&auth=5b302ad5283215bf67bfcb35b487aac4a9de23fc07cc22a3a881bf954c233e0b&width=400&height=225)
Explore modern Japan and its future through a series of cute, elaborate miniatures using day-to-day objects.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GQOOHDCEYFEFBP5MCZ3YXJMW4E.jpg?smart=true&auth=d767ee3d4a3fc018119cd6563d82ffeece5af9faece6a25f2346201362589fed&width=400&height=225)
Expo 2025 will be held in Kansai and visitors to Japan's Expo pavilion in Dubai will be shown how ideas, actions, and challenges of people from around the world can come together.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MNUNZNZNLVAZRBD4ZCLJOZQOLM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ea31494960d1d1c0d5eb6583cbc9fcb03808771106612ec4e87b6b79b3c9a54b&width=400&height=225)
Nagayama Yuko, the architect of the pavilion, said she used one of the Expo’s themes, ‘connecting’, as inspiration for the design.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NCT3Y4E5LJBYDDL5IXY3FFA5EE.jpg?smart=true&auth=371bbf31caf4f7accf9f4eb013cbac9cce28c9f19e1c65adbc59f13559e5339d&width=400&height=225)
Visitors to the Japanese pavilion will walk through an infinity mirror room which juxtaposes their own images with those depicting social and environmental challenges facing the world today.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RGHUS6LYSJDEVO5XCPYANVOUN4.jpg?smart=true&auth=8d78e45ae239ea04687619b903155d6c6da4b54566127d97b058c4e79bb891d7&width=400&height=225)
Elaborate miniatures using day-to-day objects feature in the Japanese pavilion.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MDIFYU5GUFEPLJWPYCTG33VETY.jpg?smart=true&auth=b330494dc88041bec77780caac7b1d8800d6915ebfb9c51680816fd935a5a9f5&width=400&height=225)
Japan’s pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai promises visitors an immersive experience that is hoped will leave them eager to visit the East Asian country. All photos: Victor Besa/The National.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ONAJFGFRBFFVXJVYLN6UOPTVTE.jpg?smart=true&auth=a8d5539305cb46adae4808935d746677480c39a92c4d59c5d1e5a72146ae3b6e&width=400&height=225)
An exhibition of tiny figurines tells the stories of Japan’s space exploration efforts, food scene and passion for anime.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R3THEJY45RDERBGQTH7UVKPOYQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=f50af194a9279836b56906ced04689f91a3c567e5af98b5358ddc5f66085538d&width=400&height=225)
The figurines area tells the story of Japan’s space exploration efforts, food scene and passion for anime.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DYFNGPAOWREKFAVLOVWYT62IM4.jpg?smart=true&auth=6ee09ffd859ecc8ca507917eda951b9e8b7dff679dc022d96e9fd70e2e8607ec&width=400&height=225)
Most of the exterior is covered in Japanese origami shapes, which symbolises respect shown to other through Japanese art of origata gift-wrapping.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YTLWL3Q65VAVBO3MOBXRPQEDV4.jpg?smart=true&auth=e3876ded865507ad463c7386ff48612454a37086b6222a5383a4656cfde51f36&width=400&height=225)
Japanese innovation is not solely about high-end technology; it has drawn inspiration from both nature and traditional culture. Visitors can explore modern Japan and its future through a series of cute, elaborate miniatures using day-to-day objects.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UNM5XEFUJRGE3FDT36XLP6HK6Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=0077d72e637372efb66db3ffa26a664e4dfb8de7fc5d6fe891cb281c9040aa13&width=400&height=225)
Expo 2025 will be held in Kansai and visitors to Japan's Expo pavilion in Dubai will be shown how ideas, actions, and challenges of people from around the world can come together.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X5IF3XOGJJGARLAOWHWCE6BGXM.jpg?smart=true&auth=9fd664cfdd99a9e23ad9f07a5a6b31d6d907496abefc0f5af000d522b81a9607&width=400&height=225)
A tour of the Japan Pavilion at Expo 2020 site. Architecture by Yuko Nagayama/NTT Facilities.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6XWGRDPCA5E47ENTR56Z72W6JI.jpg?smart=true&auth=5b302ad5283215bf67bfcb35b487aac4a9de23fc07cc22a3a881bf954c233e0b&width=400&height=225)
Explore modern Japan and its future through a series of cute, elaborate miniatures using day-to-day objects.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GQOOHDCEYFEFBP5MCZ3YXJMW4E.jpg?smart=true&auth=d767ee3d4a3fc018119cd6563d82ffeece5af9faece6a25f2346201362589fed&width=400&height=225)
Expo 2025 will be held in Kansai and visitors to Japan's Expo pavilion in Dubai will be shown how ideas, actions, and challenges of people from around the world can come together.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MNUNZNZNLVAZRBD4ZCLJOZQOLM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ea31494960d1d1c0d5eb6583cbc9fcb03808771106612ec4e87b6b79b3c9a54b&width=400&height=225)
Nagayama Yuko, the architect of the pavilion, said she used one of the Expo’s themes, ‘connecting’, as inspiration for the design.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NCT3Y4E5LJBYDDL5IXY3FFA5EE.jpg?smart=true&auth=371bbf31caf4f7accf9f4eb013cbac9cce28c9f19e1c65adbc59f13559e5339d&width=400&height=225)
Visitors to the Japanese pavilion will walk through an infinity mirror room which juxtaposes their own images with those depicting social and environmental challenges facing the world today.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RGHUS6LYSJDEVO5XCPYANVOUN4.jpg?smart=true&auth=8d78e45ae239ea04687619b903155d6c6da4b54566127d97b058c4e79bb891d7&width=400&height=225)
Elaborate miniatures using day-to-day objects feature in the Japanese pavilion.
A meeting of ideas - art, culture and history combine at Japan's Expo 2020 Dubai pavilion
The structure displays traditional Arabesque and Japanese Asanoha patterns
![Sarwat Nasir](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F5a1721d1-b1fc-47a7-8c35-985395d5a5ae.png?smart=true&auth=59b598b8295381dbbb5492b5ef6a2ffa0d77e07c0a1086053fcdbee600f14b7f&width=70&height=70)
Sarwat Nasir
26 September, 2021
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