Other
- 2025.05.04
- Osaka Expo: Water and Air Spectacular Show
My first Osaka Expo. The water and air spectacle show was amazing.
As mist and water droplets swirled as if they were living creatures, and colorful images overlapped with them, the entire space was transformed into a “moving medium” brimming with vitality.The scenery bathed in light, the melodies echoing through the sky, the flow of wind felt on the skin, the dampness of the mist, the warmth of the fire, and the vibrations of sound traveling up from beneath one’s feet. All five senses were carefully engaged, and the production—which enveloped the audience—was truly impressive; it was not merely a “visual spectacle” but a “spatial experience to be felt.”
The first time I encountered the use of fog as a visual technique was in 2009, in Finland.
By shining light on mist particles, images are projected into the air. I had always felt that the concept of information appearing in a space without a screen was a glimpse into the future, but in this show, it had been elevated to a level where the space itself tells a story—and I was simply amazed by the depth of its expressiveness.
Unlike previous shows featuring fountains, light displays, and projection mapping onto mist, in this show, water and mist were not merely surfaces for projection but functioned as integral parts of the narrative. Air currents shaped the stage, light colored the air, and natural phenomena were meticulously designed.I was deeply moved by how these ubiquitous elements—water and air—were utilized as controllable substances to create such a rich and meaningful expression.
I sensed the future of expression through the synergy of nature and technology.
Thank you, Osaka Expo!
Profile
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Digital Picture Book Author Professor, Keio University; Ph.D. (Policy and Media)
Director, B Lab
Chairperson, Learning of Tomorrow (General Incorporated Association)
Chairperson, CANVASAfter graduating from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Tokyo, he served as a visiting researcher at the MIT Media Lab before founding the NPO CANVAS and the Learning of Tomorrow Association, a General Incorporated Association, and assuming the role of representative. He serves as an outside director for Matsuya Co., Ltd., Fuji Media Holdings, Inc., and Digital Garage, Inc.
He has served on various government committees, including the Information and Communications Council of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, as well as the NHK Central Broadcasting Program Council. He also serves as a director of the Digital Signage Consortium, among other roles. He holds a Ph.D. in Policy and Media.
His publications include *Turning On Children’s Creativity!*, *What Are Smart Kids Doing on Their Smartphones?*, *The Forefront of Online Education in Japan: Considering Learning in the Post-COVID Era*,“What Is Programming Education? 45 Questions Parents Want to Know,” and “Declaration on Digital Education.” He has also provided supervision for numerous works, including “Ah, I See! Programming Education for Parents and Children Through Manga.”
