Jun 04, 2025
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From Childhood Wonder to Future Leaders
I was five years old during Expo 1970 Osaka, and my memories from that time are still vivid. Living in Osaka, I visited the venue three times. What stands out the most is the taste of my first meat pie, but everything I saw at the pavilions from various countries was fresh and exciting. I remember feeling a sense of wonder about the future we were about to embark on.
Our participation in Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan as the Panasonic Group is driven by a desire to create a space where today’s children can experience the same sense of hope and excitement that my generation felt. I believe that inspiring children to dream about the future is crucial to passing the baton to the next generation as we work toward achieving our 250-year plan.
Unlock: Inherent Talent and the Unlimited Potential of Children
Michiko Ogawa, who is overseeing the Expo, along with the pavilion working group worked tirelessly to bring their ideas to life and to create a pavilion where children could experience hope for the future. The result was the Panasonic Group’s pavilion concept of The Land of NOMO — "Set your heart and mind free, and the world will open up."
At the core of this concept is the idea of affluence both in matter and mind, which reflects the true mission and foundational philosophy of our founder, Konosuke Matsushita. He believed that only after there is spiritual peace of mind and a limitless supply of material goods will humanity achieve true happiness. While material wealth has undoubtedly increased in many advanced nations since the 1970 Expo, what about the heart? This pavilion focuses on the hearts of children, the world's future leaders, offering them an experience that unlocks their inner potential.
This approach is distinctly the Panasonic Group, and in the founder’s philosophy, he also believed that humans are born with unique characteristics and talents and that success is to fully harness these talents we are endowed with. The Land of NOMO is a true manifestation of that philosophy.
The Land of NOMO is built around the idea that how you see things can change dramatically depending on your mindset. In a sense, the world around you mirrors the ways you think and feel. This idea also inspired the name. Konosuke Matsushita once said, "The human spirit, like the almighty staff wielded by the mythic Monkey King, can extend or withdraw at will." This means that, depending on how we approach life, we may uncover new possibilities within ourselves that we weren’t aware of. If children like this are the ones to lead the future, then a wonderful future will surely open up. I hope the message of The Land of NOMO will remain with the children who visit the pavilion, leaving a lasting impression in their hearts.
The overarching theme of this Expo is “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.” But when I think about who will design that future, it’s clear that the responsibility lies with today’s children. At the 1970 Expo, people felt a sense of hope for the future by seeing the evolution of things. But today, uncertainty about the future is growing. In such times, I believe that unlocking the hidden potential within the hearts of children, who will lead the future, and helping them tap into their talents is key to designing that future society.
That’s why I hope that everyone, especially children and young people who visit the pavilion, will thoroughly enjoy The Land of NOMO and awaken to their own possibilities. I also hope that visitors will feel that there’s still much to be done and carry that inspiration forward with them.
Supporting Children’s Challenges: The Value of Comfort and Security
Another key theme running throughout The Land of NOMO is the idea of resource circulation, which aligns with the overall theme of the Expo. This reflects the Panasonic Group’s commitment to contributing to a sustainable society for the future. Our Group spans a variety of businesses, many of which contribute to society by providing value in terms of offering comfort and security in people's everyday lives and work.
While comfort and security may seem like common concepts, we believe they form the foundation for taking bold steps for the future. We aim to create a society where young people can confidently pursue challenges. Yes, challenges arise because of obstacles, but if everything is a challenge, it often leads to giving up. Only with a consistent foundation of comfort and security can we move forward toward a brighter future with a positive mindset and keep tackling new challenges.
These values aren’t about creating a place of complacency but about providing the essential foundation for ongoing growth. With comfort and security in place, people can freely pursue their unique talents and work toward building a more fulfilling and sustainable world. We want to leave this kind of society for future generations. This is the core of our participation in the Expo, and we hope you’ll visit the Osaka-Kansai Expo and experience The Land of NOMO for yourself.
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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.
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