Background and Master Plan
– Osaka chosen as the site for Expo ’70 by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) in 1965
– Main theme: ‘Progress and Harmony for Mankind’
– Involvement of Japanese architect Kenzō Tange and 12 other architects in designing the Expo
– Unusual artworks and designs by Japanese avant-garde artists
– Iconic Tower of the Sun created by artist Tarō Okamoto
– Master plan aimed to create a central Festival Plaza for socializing
– Symbol Zone with a giant space frame roof connecting national pavilions
– Theme Space representing the past, present, and future
– Flexible Festival Plaza for different seating capacities and performances
Major Pavilions and Other Pavilions
– Canadian pavilion showcasing films and animations about Canada
– West German pavilion with the world’s first spherical concert hall
– USSR pavilion as the tallest in the fairgrounds
– U.S. pavilion as an air-supported dome
– Netherlands pavilion designed by Carel Weeber and Jaap Bakema
– Hong Kong pavilion with raised and lowered sails
– Philippine Pavilion as one of the ten most popular pavilions
– Mexican pavilion showcasing traditional Mexican art and culture
– Australian pavilion featuring a rotating restaurant and Australian innovations
– British pavilion showcasing British technology, including the Concorde supersonic airliner
Attendance and Records
– 77 participating countries and 4 international organizations
– 64,218,770 visitors within six months
– Record for most visitors at an Expo until surpassed in 2010
– First World’s Fair held in Japan and in Asia
– Showcasing of Japanese avant-garde art and designs
Expo 70 Site and Memorials
– Expo Commemoration Park as the site of Expo ’70
– Most pavilions demolished, but some memorials remain
– Intact Festival Plaza roof designed by Tange
– Tower of the Sun as the most famous remaining structure
– Former international art museum pavilion used as the National Museum of Art until 2004
Time Capsule and Legacy in Popular Culture
– Time capsule at Expo Commemoration Park to be opened in 6970
– Tradition of creating time capsules at world’s fairs
– Film and TV appearances at Expo ’70 grounds
– 50th-anniversary celebrations with a special exhibition in Tokyo
– Impact of Expo ’70 on Japan and its commemoration Source URL:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expo_%2770
