Apr 08, 2025
- Products & Solutions
- Press Release
- Business Solution
Apr 07, 2025
Products & Solutions / Press Release
Panasonic Connect to Provide a Wide Range of Solutions Including Biometric Authentication and AI Sensing at the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan towards the Realization of a Sustainable Society
Panasonic Connect Co., Ltd. (HQ: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Yasu Higuchi) will provide the latest technology solutions, such as systems that use biometric authentication and entertainment solutions, at various stages of the 2025 Japan International Expo (Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, hereinafter “Expo 2025”), which will be held from 13 April to 13 October 2025, including at construction sites before the event, at the venue during the event, and at surrounding facilities and infrastructure that will remain after the event. The company aims to support the safe, secure and efficient operation of the Expo 2025, and to help create a sustainable society.
Panasonic Connect has been implementing biometric authentication solutions in society in a variety of situations, such as for strict and smooth immigration at airports, ticketless admission to amusement parks, cashless payments at stores, and IC cardless entry and exit at offices, by using the world's highest level*1 of facial recognition technology based on image processing technology that the company has been developing for over 40 years. Over the years, the company has continued to support government offices, social infrastructure, and large-scale international events with technology and solutions that keep pace with the changing times. At the Expo 2025, where cultures, technologies, and industries from around the world will come together, the company will contribute to the realization of its purpose to “Change Work, Advance Society, Connect to Tomorrow” and thus aim to achieve a sustainable society where diverse people can live happily by bringing innovation to the frontlines.
Overview
■Solution used during the construction of the site
●The entry and exit of construction workers at the Expo 2025 construction site is managed using facial recognition technology, which was used approximately 3 million times*2.
Panasonic Connect has delivered a system for managing the entry and exit of people at the Expo 2025 construction site, which uses world-class*1 facial recognition technology, to Obayashi Corporation, the general construction manager for the venue for entire construction period (2 years). The system managed the entry and exit of approximately 120,000 cumulative people*2 total who worked at the venue, which has a total site area of 155 hectares, using facial recognition, and compared to the operation using the admission passes that had been planned initially, it was possible to manage with one-fifth to one-sixth of the staff, contributing to a significant reduction in manpower. In addition, it is possible to authenticate even while wearing a mask or helmet, and it contributes to the efficiency of worker management by achieving smooth entry and exit even during busy periods without causing congestion while ensuring security. The company conducted a post-event questionnaire for construction workers who actually used the facial recognition system at the construction site, and obtained their satisfaction level with the system on a 5-point scale, and received high evaluations for authentication speed: 4.7*3 and authentication accuracy: 4.9*3.
Referential press release (Japanese)
July 11, 2023 Panasonic Connect and Obayashi Corporation to fully introduce world-class facial recognition technology at the Yumeshima construction site:
https://news.panasonic.com/jp/press/jn230711-1
■Solutions used during Expo 2025
●Introduction of Facial Recognition System for Scale of 100,000*4 Entry of Staff at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan
In a joint project with Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (DNP), Panasonic Connect has delivered an admission credential cards (AD Cards) and facial recognition system to manage the entry of people involved in the operation of the Expo 2025, and this system will be put into operation in early April. For a target scale of 100,000 people involved, the company will achieve smooth and strict identification of individuals by combining facial recognition and QR authentication*5 at 30 gate*6 facilities used by people involved in the venue. The company has also built an AD Card registration system that works in conjunction with the admission system, and this contributes to a smooth AD Card issuance flow.
Referential press release (English)
Oct 7, 2024 DNP and Panasonic Connect to Introduce Facial Recognition System for Entry of Staff at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan:
https://content.connect.panasonic.com/en/fai/file/60546
●Panasonic's ‘KAIROS’ solution supports remote broadcasting contents production via NTT's IOWN APN which are commonly used by various broadcasting stations in Osaka.
NTT West's ‘All-Photonics Connect powered by IOWN*7’ remote broadcasting contents production system will utilize the “KAIROS On-Premise” IT/IP platform, and will be commonly used by various broadcasting stations in the Osaka area. The mainframe Kairos Core 200 (AT-KC200T) will be installed as a switcher in the NTT West Group's data center, and a remote production environment is provided by connecting the data center, the Expo 2025 site and the broadcasting station using All-Photonics Connect, which utilises IOWN APN technology. By building a MoIP system that combines All-Photonics Connect, which provides a high-speed, high-capacity, low-latency communications environment, with KAIROS On-Premises, which enables flexible operation that is not limited by the conventional switcher framework, an environment that is almost as if production is being carried out on-site is realised at multiple production sites, such as broadcasting stations.
Referential press release (Japanese)
“KAIROS On-Premise” was launched for remote broadcasting contents production using IOWN APN at the Expo 2025 which are commonly used by various broadcasting stations in Osaka.
https://news.panasonic.com/jp/press/jn250220-1
●Acrosign® digital signage system serve information boards at the entrance to the Yumeshima Bus Terminal.
Bus operation information is distributed using the Acrosign® digital signage system at the boarding and alighting areas of all buses at Yumeshima Terminal 1, as well as on the multi-displays at the entrances to the boarding and entrance areas. Acrosign® is distribution software that can be used in a wide range of digital signage applications. This system contributes to smooth operations by providing accessible information to bus users.
●Introduction of ITS Smart Poles on the route of the automated bus at Expo 2025
Panasonic System Networks Research & Development Co., Ltd. (PSNRD), a consolidated group company of Panasonic Connect and a company responsible for technology development, will provide the ‘ITS Smart Pole’ to the Osaka Metro's automated driving bus, the Maishima Expo P&R Shuttle Bus, at the Expo 2025. The ITS Smart Pole is an ICT infrastructure jointly developed by PSNRD and the Smart Mobility Infrastructure Technology Research Association, of which PSNRD is a member, supports smooth driving by supplementing information that is difficult for the sensors of automated vehicles to detect, such as ‘blind spots’ and ‘moving objects at long distances’, in real time. In addition, in this initiative, the ITS smart pole and network server are connected using All-Photonics Connect*7, and sensing data is transmitted to and processed by the automated driving bus with ultra-low latency, achieving wide-area driving support while minimising the impact of communication delays. This is the first time in Japan*8 that All-Photonics Connect has been applied to the mobility field.
Referential press release (Japanese)
March 18, 2025 ‘Panasonic System Networks Development Laboratory to provide ITS Smart Poles for the route of the automated driving bus at the Osaka/Kansai Expo’
https://news.panasonic.com/jp/press/jn250318-1
In addition, the company's AI image sensing technology is being used to control the night-time lighting of the “Grand Ring”, the symbol of the Expo 2025, and to provide part of the staging for the Unlock Experience Area in the Panasonic Group Pavilion. The company's various technologies and solutions are being used in the Panasonic Group Pavilion, including the delivery of projectors and other entertainment systems.
■Contribution for Expo 2025 infrastructure
●Deployment of Walk-through Facial Recognition Ticket Gates Installed at Osaka Metro 130 stations
The company has delivered a ‘walk-through facial recognition ticket gate’ that was developed jointly with Takamizawa Cybernetics Co., Ltd. to Osaka Municipal Subway Co., Ltd. (hereafter Osaka Metro). This ticket gate was developed as part of Osaka Metro's efforts to introduce new technology in time for the Expo 2025, with the aim of creating ‘an overwhelmingly convenient ticket gate’. It has been installed at 130 of the 134 stations. It is a stress-free, easy-to-use ticket gate that can authenticate passengers at a speed equivalent to that of an IC card while passing through without stopping.
Referential press release (Japanese)
March 11, 2025, Osaka Metro Completes Deployment of Walk-through Facial Recognition Ticket Gates, Installed at 130 stations, full-scale operation to begin on March 25
https://news.panasonic.com/jp/press/jn250311-3
●Participating in a field experiment on a new road traffic monitoring method that uses image analysis technology and drones
Since 2023, our company has been participating in a ‘field experiment on a new road traffic monitoring method’ being conducted by the Osaka National Highway Office of the Kinki Regional Development Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and a social experiment is scheduled for 2025 on roads around the Osaka and Kansai Expo sites. This experiment is implementing road traffic monitoring using AI image sensing technology and drones. The traffic conditions sensed by the AI image sensing system are shared in real time with other locations, which leads to more efficient traffic management. In the 2024 social experiment, we are in charge of the AI image sensing and the promotion of the experiment, and we are collaborating with NTT e-Drone Technology Co., Ltd. for the provision and operation of drones and with Soliton Systems K.K. for the video transmission system.
*1 On November 6, 2022, it was published that Panasonic Connect ranked number 1 in the NIST FRVT 1:1 Report using “Mugshot” Front Facial data including racial and ageing which False acceptance rate (FAR) of 1/100,000. Also, On March 26, 2024 Panasonic Connect ranked number 1 in the NIST FRVT 1:N in the 2 category using “Mugshot” Front Facial data including ageing, 1.6 million registered users, and “Border” with face data from various angle of the face and deterioration in image quality. 1.6 million registered users.
*2 The figures are based on data collected between May 2023 and February 2025.
*3 The average score obtained from a 5-point scale survey asking whether respondents would like to use the system again. 83 respondents.
*4 Use of this facial recognition system is limited to those specified by the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition.
*5 QR authentication is a method of authentication using QR codes. QR codes are a registered trademark of Denso Wave Incorporated.
*6 10 gates for staff (6 east gates, 4 west gates), 20 gates for staff and general visitors.
*7 All-Photonics Connect powered by IOWN is a service provided by NTT East Corporation and NTT West Corporation. It is a new network service that achieves high speed, large capacity, low latency, stability and reduced fluctuation by exclusively utilizing optical wavelengths across all segments of the communication network. For more information, please see the respective company service websites.
NTT East: https://business.ntt-east.co.jp/content/iown/
NTT West: https://business.ntt-west.co.jp/service/network/iown/
*8 As of 18 March 2025 researched by PSNRD.
*The company and product names listed are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
*The information contained in this document is current as of the date of publication. Please note that this information is subject to change without notice.
■About Panasonic Connect's Facial Recognition Technology
Panasonic Connect's facial recognition technology has been developed through more than 40 years of experience in camera image processing and deep learning technology to learn facial features, and has received the world's highest rating in the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) facial recognition benchmark test (NIST FRVT 1:1). The system is not easily affected by facial orientation, changes over time, glasses, masks, etc., and can be used comfortably. So far, Panasonic Connect has deployed systems that apply facial recognition technology in such applications as rigorous and smooth identification at airports, ticketless entry at amusement parks, cashless payment at stores, and IC cardless entry/exit at offices, and have performed unique facial recognitions more than 300,000 times a day (according to our own research). The company will continue to contribute to the safe, secure, and efficient operation of various authentication sites by combining the world's most advanced facial recognition technology with user experience (UX) design, which it has achieved through a series of verification experiments with client companies and other organizations.
About Panasonic Connect's facial recognition solution (Japanese site)
https://connect.panasonic.com/jp-ja/products-services/facial-recognition/top
|
About Panasonic Connect Panasonic Connect Co., Ltd. was established on April 1, 2022 as part of the Panasonic Group's switch to an operating company system. With roughly 29,400 employees worldwide and annual sales of JPY1,202.8 billion the company plays a central role in the growth of the Panasonic Group's B2B solutions business and provides new value to its customers by combining advanced hardware, intelligent software solutions, and a wealth of knowledge in industrial engineering accumulated in its over 100-year history. The company's purpose is to “Change Work, Advance Society, Connect to Tomorrow.” By driving innovation in the supply chain, public services, infrastructure, and entertainment sectors, Panasonic Connect aims to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society and to ensure well-being for all. ▼Panasonic Connect Website (English site) |
|
About the Panasonic Group Pavilion Panasonic Holdings will exhibit the Panasonic Group Pavilion The Land of NOMO at Expo 2025 under the concept of “Set your heart and mind free, and the world will open up.” In addition to the experiences at the pavilions during the event, we will continue to work to make the future of children more prosperous and full of hope through activities such as an online next-generation co-creation platform that will continue to connect with children even after the event has ended. Panasonic Group Expo 2025 website |
Contacts
＜General contact＞
Panasonic customer service
Toll Free: 0120-878-410
Open Hours: Mon – Fri 9:00 – 17:30 (Close on Sat, Sun and National Holiday)
＜Press＞
Panasonic Connect Co., Ltd. PR Dept. Email: connect_pr@ml.jp.panasonic.com
The content in this website is accurate at the time of publication but may be subject to change without notice.
Please note therefore that these documents may not always contain the most up-to-date information.
Please note that German, French and Chinese versions are machine translations, so the quality and accuracy may vary.
Related Links
Highlights
Featured news
