2025年に開催された日本国際博覧会（大阪・関西万博）。同会のアイルランドパビリオン様からご依頼をいただき、同国の最終日の様子を写真で収めました。
What a privilege to work with this fantastic group since the Spring @expo2025_japan
— Ireland at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai (@IrelandatExpo) October 15, 2025
Now, the flags are down, the people are gone, the leaves are changing colour. Winter approaches.
The memories will last forever #EXPO2025Forever
Thank you/ おおきに / go raibh maith agaibh pic.twitter.com/z15NS3f1Vd
Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan
An international event that brings together countries from around the world to showcase their cultures, technologies, and ideas for addressing global challenges. With education as one of its primary purposes, a World Expo provides a platform for presenting human progress and visions for the future. Its origins are generally traced back to the Great Exhibition held in London in 1851, and since then, World Expos have played an important role in showcasing advances in technology and culture while promoting international exchange.
In Japan, the Japan World Exposition was held in 1970 under the theme “Progress and Harmony for Mankind,” bringing together 77 countries and four international organizations.
At Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, 158 countries and regions and nine international organizations participated under the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” more than doubling the scale of international participation compared with the 1970 Expo. The Expo aimed to contribute to achieving the SDGs and to advance the realization of Society 5.0, a key national strategy for Japan.
・Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan
https://www.expo2025.or.jp/
Ireland Pavilion
Ireland’s pavilion, themed “Creativity Connects People,” expresses the intersection of tradition and the future, as well as cultural co-creation between Ireland and Japan. Its architecture consists of three circular structures inspired by the triskelion, an ancient Celtic symbol, and features immersive experiences incorporating music, dance, and art. Outside the pavilion stands *Magnus Rinn*, a sculpture by Joseph Walsh that symbolizes the cyclical connections between nature, people, and time.
・Ireland at Expo 2025
https://www.ireland.ie/en/expo/
*Click here to view my other projects related to Ireland.*
https://ropeth.com/tag/ireland/
Ireland Pavilion
Photography Process
万博最終日は、各パビリオンで半年間働いたスタッフ向けにスペシャルツアーが実施。会期中は来場者に向き合い、自国のパビリオンのコンテンツを体験する余裕が無かったスタッフたちでしたが、この日は来場者以上にイキイキとした表情で自国のアクティビティを楽しみました。
撮影では、そんな自国を愛するスタッフたちの、パビリオンでの様子を写真で収めました。
スタッフツアー
ウーナ（Oona）ちゃん
万博最終日ということで、アイルランドパビリオンのマスコットキャラクター「Oona（ウーナ）」ちゃんが会場に登場。パビリオンを縦横無尽に駆け回り、来場者やファンの方々との交流を楽しみました。
撮影では、その触れ合いの様子を中心に写真に残しました。
クロージング・パーティー
今回のお仕事では、最終日のアイルランドパビリオンの様子を撮影しました。半年にわたる万博もこの日で閉幕。国を挙げた国家プロジェクトにお仕事で関われたのは本当に光栄でした。
お仕事を通して世界の広さを知り、今後は日本だけでなく国外での案件にも挑戦していきたいと思うようになりました。天井を上げてくださったパビリオンの皆様には感謝申し上げます。ご用命いただいたアイルランドパビリオン様、本当にありがとうございました。
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An editor, writer, and photographer based in the Kansai region. After graduating from university, I worked as an elementary school teacher, cram school instructor, and childcare professional. In 2019, I joined hyphen LLC, where I worked at coworking space mocco Himeji and helped launch coworking space mocco Kakogawa, serving as a community manager. I later worked as an editor, interviewer, writer, and photographer for *Maruhari*, a local information magazine covering the Harima region of Hyogo Prefecture, before becoming independent. Since March 2024, I have served as a community manager at GRANDSLAM, a coworking space in Fukushima, Osaka.
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