Expo 2005
Expo 2005 was a World Expo held for 185 days between Friday, March 25 and Sunday, September 25, 2005, in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, east of the city of Nagoya. Japan has also hosted Expo '70 Osaka, Expo '75 Okinawa, Expo '85 Tsukuba, and Expo '90 Osaka and will host Expo 2025 Osaka.
Theme
The theme of the Expo was "Nature's Wisdom", with national and corporate pavilions expressing themes of ecological co-existence, renewable technology, and the wonders of nature. In Japanese, this is rendered as Ai-chikyūhaku, which means "Love the Earth Expo," as well as being a play on the name of the host prefecture, 愛知. According to the official website:Location
The main site of the Expo was a forested area in Nagakute, east of Nagoya, covering an area of about. A smaller area of nearby, accessible by gondola from the main site near Seto was also part of the Expo. Great care was taken to build the pavilions out of recycled or recyclable materials, to minimize environmental impact on the site, and to provide environmentally friendly transportation to and within the Expo area.The cost of the Expo has been estimated at 340 billion yen. However, the recorded 22,049,544 visitors greatly exceeded the target of 15,000,000 and the Expo made a profit of over 10 billion yen.
The nearby city of Toyota also held some related events, although there was no special area set aside.
The area in Nagakute can be reached from Nagoya by subway to the last stop in Fujigaoka, followed by a ride on the newly built Linimo magnetic levitation train.
Participants
121 Participants of countries set date for their own Pavilions.| Country | Receipt of Announcement for | Location | National Day | Aichi Hospitality Partner | Participation | |
| Angola | 2003/ 3/17 | 5 | September 6. | Haruhi Town | ||
| Argentina | 2003/ 1/ 8 | 2 | July 11 | Okazaki City | ||
| Armenia | 2003/ 6/17 | 4 | June 7 | - | - | |
| Australia | 2003/ 7/16 | 6 | April 21 | Anjo City | Obu City | |
| Austria | 2003/ 5/14 | 4 | April 27 | Kozakai Town | - | - |
| Azerbaijan | 2003/ 4/14 | 4 | May 17 | Shippo Town | - | - |
| Bangladesh | 2004/ 4/18 | 1 | June 9 | Nissin City | - | - |
| Belgium | 2003/ 1/23 | 4 | June 14 | Nagakute Town | - | - |
| Belize | 2003/ 2/21 | 2 | August 19 | Miyoshi Town | - | |
| Benin | 2001/10/11 | 5 | September 21 | Ichinomiya Town | - | - |
| Bhutan | 2001/ 6/20 | 1 | June 2 | Handa City | - | - |
| Bolivia | 2001/ 5/11 | 2 | August 5 | Toei Town | - | - |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2003/ 6/ 9 | 3 | Ichinomiya City | - | - | |
| Brunei Darussalam | 2003/ 7/19 | 6 | May 18 | Takahama City | - | |
| Bulgaria | 2002/10/28 | 4 | May 13 | Toyoake City | - | - |
| Burkina Faso | 2003/ 6/19 | 5 | June 16 | Konan City | - | - |
| Burundi | 2001/12/21 | 5 | September 12 | Isshiki Town | ||
| Cambodia | 2002/10/ 9 | 6 | May 10 | Kota Town | ||
| Cameroon | 2001/12/26 | 5 | June 21 | Tsushima City | - | - |
| Canada | 2001/ 5/ 2 | 2 | April 5 | Kasugai City | Kariya City | |
| Chad | 2001/ 8/29 | 5 | June 8 | Aisai City | - | - |
| China | 2002/ 8/28 | 1 | May 19 | Toyohashi City | - | - |
| Congo | 2003/ 4/ 7 | 5 | September 14 | Seto City | - | - |
| Costa Rica | 2003/ 3/31 | 2 | August 19 | Tsugu Village | - | |
| Côte d'Ivoire | 2002/ 7/ 5 | 5 | August 3 | Anjo City | - | |
| Croatia | 2003/ 5/27 | 3 | April 12 | Hekinan City | - | - |
| Cuba | 2002/ 5/ 9 | 2 | July 26 | Iwakura City | - | - |
| Czech Republic | 2002/ 1/ 4 | 4 | June 24 | Otowa Town | - | - |
| Democratic Republic of Congo | 2003/ 2/ 4 | 5 | May 31 | Obu City | - | - |
| Denmark | 2003/ 6/13 | 4 | April 20 | Anjo City | - | |
| Djibouti | 2002/12/26 | 5 | June 28 | Kariya City | - | - |
| Dominican Republic | 2003/ 2/ 6 | 2 | May 25 | Atsumi Town | - | - |
| Ecuador | 2003/ 6/30 | 2 | August 10 | Komaki City | - | |
| Egypt | 2003/ 1/14 | 5 | July 22 | Kira Town | - | |
| El Salvador | 2003/ 3/31 | 2 | August 19 | Nishiharu Town | - | - |
| Eritrea | 2004/ 1/30 | 5 | June 10 | Inuyama City | - | - |
| Ethiopia | 2003/ 3/ 3 | 5 | May 16 | Horai Town | - | - |
| Fiji | 2003/11/24 | 6 | June 22 | Taketoyo Town | - | |
| Finland | 2003/ 6/25 | 4 | May 12 | Toyota City | - | |
| France | 2002/ 3/27 | 3 | April 14 | Seto City Jushiyama Village | - | - |
| Gabon | 2003/ 3/ 7 | 5 | July 12 | Aisai City | - | - |
| Georgia | 2002/ 4/23 | 4 | September 22 | Kasugai City | - | |
| Germany | 2002/ 9/20 | 3 | April 13 | Inuyama City. Toyohashi City | - | - |
| Ghana | 2001/ 9/ 2 | 5 | June 30 | Ichinomiya Town | - | - |
| Greece | 2002/10/15 | 3 | May 20 | Inazawa City | - | |
| Guatemala | 2003/ 3/24 | 2 | August 19 | Handa City | - | - |
| Guinea | 2001/10/19 | 5 | August 26 | Inazawa City | - | |
| Honduras | 2003/ 6/13 | 2 | August 19 | Toyohashi City | - | - |
| Iceland | 2003/ 6/17 | 4 | July 15 | Chiryu City | - | - |
| India | 2001/12/10 | 1 | July 20 | Kariya City | - | - |
| Indonesia | 2002/ 8/ 6 | 6 | August 17 | Togo Town | - | |
| Iran | 2002/ 5/29 | 1 | April 1 | Jushiyama Village | - | - |
| Ireland | 2003/ 7/18 | 4 | March 31 | Kiyosu City | - | |
| Italy | 2003/ 5/21 | 3 | April 28 | Ichinomiya City | - | - |
| Jordan | 2002/11/27 | 3 | July 5 | Kasugai City | - | |
| Kazakhstan | 2002/11/11 | 1 | June 15 | Toyota City | - | |
| Kenya | 2002/ 4/15 | 5 | August 18 | Higashiura Town | - | |
| Kiribati | 2002/ 3/19 | 6 | August 15 | Ichinomiya Town Obu City | - | - |
| Kyrgyzstan | 2001/ 6/29 | 1 | August 4 | Tomiyama Village | - | - |
| Lao People's Democratic Republic | 2002/ 1/14 | 6 | June 13 | Tahara City | - | - |
| Libyan Arab Jamahiriya | 2003/ 3/24 | 3 | April 7 | Tahara City | - | - |
| Lithuania | 2002/ 4/10 | 4 | July 6 | Toyohashi City | - | - |
| Madagascar | 2003/ 4/ 1 | 5 | May 30 | Nukata Town | - | - |
| Malaysia | 2003/ 6/ 9 | 6 | August 31 | Tokoname City | - | - |
| Mali | 2003/ 5/ 5 | 5 | September 1 | Jimokuji Town | - | - |
| Marshall Islands | 2003/ 8/29 | 6 | Tobisihma Village | |||
| Mauritania | 2001/ 8/22 | 5 | July 14 | Nishio City | - | |
| Mexico | 2002/11/ 6 | 2 | September 15 | Toyota City | - | |
| Micronesia | 2003/11/27 | 6 | August 22 | Konan City | - | - |
| Mongolia | 2002/ 4/18 | 1 | May 27 | Kanie Town | - | |
| Morocco | 2003/ 4/ 4 | 3 | July 1 | Toyoyama Town | - | |
| Nepal | 2001/12/ 6 | 1 | July 7 | Toyota City | - | |
| Netherlands | 2003/ 9/ 5 | 4 | April 19 | Yatomi City | - | |
| New Zealand | 2003/ 9/ 9 | 6 | June 3 | Ichinomiya City Nishio City | - | |
| Nicaragua | 2003/ 3/20 | 2 | August 19 | Oguchi Town | - | |
| Nigeria | 2003/ 4/10 | 5 | August 23 | Oguchi Town | - | |
| Norway | 2003/ 7/ 3 | 4 | April 11 | Inazawa City | - | |
| Pakistan | 2003/ 4/25 | 1 | August 11 | Tsushima City | - | - |
| Palau | 2003/ 7/29 | 6 | July 8 | Nissin City | - | - |
| Panama | 2003/ 6/13 | 2 | August 19 | Aisai City | - | - |
| Papua New Guinea | 2003/ 3/28 | 6 | September 16 | Toyota City | - | |
| Peru | 2003/ 3/28 | 2 | July 28 | Toyokawa City | - | - |
| Philippines | 2003/ 3/ 7 | 6 | September 20 | Toyokawa City | - | - |
| Poland | 2002/ 8/23 | 4 | May 9 | Gamagori City | - | |
| Portugal | 2003/ 3/25 | 4 | May 24 | Oharu Town | - | |
| Qatar | 2003/ 3/23 | 1 | September 2 | Chita City | - | - |
| Republic of Korea | 2002/ 3/ 8 | 1 | May 11 | Toyota City | Shikatsu Town | |
| Romania | 2002/ 4/23 | 4 | June 1 | Minamichita Town | - | - |
| Russian Federation | 2002/ 5/28 | 4 | June 17 | Toyota City | - | |
| Rwanda | 2002/10/23 | 5 | June 10 | Kiyosu City | - | |
| Samoa | 2003/ 6/13 | 6 | August 30 | Shitara Town | - | |
| São Tomé and Príncipe | 2003/ 6/11 | 5 | July 21 | Tokai City | - | |
| Saudi Arabia | 2001/ 8/ 8 | 1 | September 9 | Toyone Village | - | |
| Senegal | 2003/ 3/ 6 | 5 | April 8 | Fuso Town | - | |
| Singapore | 2001/10/13 | 6 | August 9 | Mihama Town | - | |
| Solomon Islands | 2003/ 9/15 | 6 | July 13 | Agui Town | - | |
| South Africa | 2003/ 8/13 | 5 | April 26 | Aisai City | - | - |
| Spain | 2001/ 5/24 | 3 | July 25 | Kiyosu City | - | |
| Sri Lanka | 2002/ 5/28 | 1 | July 27 | Toyota City | - | |
| Sudan | 2003/10/12 | 5 | August 16 | Kasugai City | Kariya City | |
| Sweden | 2003/ 6/26 | 4 | April 6 | Okazaki City | - | - |
| Switzerland | 2001/12/19 | 4 | April 15 | Shinshiro City | - | |
| Tajikistan | 2003/ 4/ 7 | 1 | September 13 | Shikatsu Town | - | - |
| Thailand | 2003/ 3/10 | 6 | August 12 | Inazawa City | - | |
| Tonga | 2003/ 1/15 | 6 | July 4 | Owariasahi City | - | - |
| Tunisia | 2002/12/19 | 3 | June 23 | Seto City | - | - |
| Turkey | 2002/12/19 | 3 | August 2 | Tokai City | - | |
| Tuvalu | 2003/12/29 | 6 | August 15 | Cita City | - | - |
| Uganda | 2001/ 5/24 | 5 | September 7 | Kiyosu City | - | |
| Ukraine | 2002/11/12 | 4 | August 24 | Hazu City | - | |
| UK | 2003/ 7/19 | 4 | April 22 | Toyota City | - | |
| United Republic of Tanzania | 2002/ 2/19 | 5 | May 26 | Komaki City | - | |
| USA | 2003/11/18 | 2 | June 20 | Toyohashi City Toyota City | Anjo City | |
| Uzbekistan | 2001/ 6/ 1 | 1 | September 8 | Ichinomiya City | - | - |
| Vanuatu | 2003/11/10 | 6 | August 1 | Gamagori City | - | |
| Venezuela | 2003/ 4/11 | 2 | June 29 | Toyohashi City | - | - |
| Viet Nam | 2002/ 9/16 | 6 | September 5 | Miwa Town | - | - |
| Yemen | 2002/ 5/ 6 | 1 | May 23 | Nishio City | - | |
| Zambia | 2003/10/28 | 5 | July 19 | Okazaki City | - | - |
| Zimbabwe | 2003/ 7/14 | 5 | April 18 | Mito Town | - | - |
Mascots
Morizo and Kiccoro, collectively known as "Moricoro," were created to be Aichi Banpaku's mascots. The popular fluffy green creatures are both from the forest of Seto.Attractions
- "Satsuki and Mei's House," was a recreation of the house from Hayao Miyazaki's movie My Neighbor Totoro, and located inside the “Forest Experience Zone”. It re-opened to the public on July 15, 2006.
- ASIMO, Honda's humanoid robot, was shown off at the Expo as one of its many public appearances.
- The Toyota Partner Robots made their debut.
- Chickens Suit a clothing range for chickens by Edgar Honetschläger made its debut with chickens on a runway.
- The Growing Village Pavilion featured a variety of tree shaping art work.
- The Franklin Spirit at the USA Pavilion, designed by award-winning experience designer Bob Rogers and the design team BRC Imagination Arts, presented the American statesman, Benjamin Franklin, using an innovative multi-plane 3D effect that suspended layered planes of digital media on stage, where Franklin visited the world of 2005 to celebrate his 300th birthday, as he discussed the pending advances in science, technology freedom and enterprise that will improve the lives of people worldwide.
- The Forest Experience Zone contains three areas, the ‘Nature School Forest’, ‘Satsuki and Mei’s House’, and the ‘Japanese Garden’. This forest explores the relationship between people and nature.
Theme songs
New transportation system
- Linimo - magnetic levitation train using trains from Chubu HSST Development Corporation
- Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle Bus
- Intelligent Multimode Transit System
Holder