Authorities kicked off the country's fourth consecutive participation in this type of international event, with a pavilion that will feature "Makün: The Mantle of Chile", plus an immersive experience and 20 thematic weeks.
With the performance of a cueca group composed of Chileans living in Japan and the singing of the national anthem, Chilean and Japanese authorities inaugurated the Chile Pavilion at the Universal Exposition 2025, a global event that brings together more than 160 countries and international organizations and that will be held in Osaka (Japan) for 6 months, between today and October 13.
The ceremony was attended by the general commissioner of Chile at Expo Osaka 2025, Paulina Nazal; the Chilean ambassador to Japan, Ricardo Rojas; the director of the Chile Pavilion at the Expo, Marichu Meyer; the commercial attaché of ProChile in Japan, Nury Disegni; as well as Japanese authorities and other pavilions of participating countries.
The Chilean pavilion for this exhibition was developed by the architectural firm CONSTRUCTO, headed by Jeanette Plaut and Marcelo Sarovic, winners of the public competition to choose the proposal for the pavilion's interior architecture and façade. The “Makün, the Mantle of Chile” space is a 242 square meter sheep wool mantle woven by 200 Mapuche craftswomen, mounted on a cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure.
The pavilion will feature an immersive experience with screens measuring nearly 40 linear meters and covering three of the pavilion's four walls. In addition, during the 184 days that the World Expo will be open to the public, Chile will have 20 thematic weeks that will provide a vision of the diverse facets and varied offerings of the country and how it contributes to designing the society of the future, the Expo's slogan this year. More than 30 million people are expected to visit the venue located on the artificial island of Yumeshima.
The organization of Chile's participation in this World Expo is based in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where ProChile is in charge of coordinating the nearly 100 public and private entities that will be participating.
"Chile needs more investment and more exports to continue growing, create jobs and continue to position itself in foreign markets. Osaka 2025 is an opportunity to advance towards that goal, as well as to showcase Chile, its idiosyncrasy, culture and values, enhancing the country's image in Japan, Asia and the world," said Foreign Minister of Chile Alberto van Klaveren.
Chile's Commissioner General at Expo Osaka 2025, Paulina Nazal, says that "Chile's pavilion will merge tradition and innovation to represent a country that, from the end of the world, offers concrete solutions to global challenges. Chile has a lot to show Japan and the other countries that will be at the Expo in such relevant matters for the future of humanity, such as astronomy, innovation, gender equality, green hydrogen, circular economy, digital transformation, culture, among other topics".
Meanwhile, Ignacio Fernández, Director General of ProChile, comments that Japan is the world's fourth largest economy, Chile's third largest trading partner with close to US$8 billion in exports, and key to continue deepening the diversification of our export matrix. “Being present at this Expo will help us to promote the Chile brand among the Japanese and world public, which will allow us to continue supporting the trade of products such as wine, salmon, pisco, fresh fruit and services such as creative industries and others,” he says.
Upcoming milestones
From today until the beginning of May, the Chile pavilion, like other countries, will begin its white march. From May 5 to 11, the first thematic week will take place: “Chile, a sustainable agro-exporting power”.
After that, on May 12, Expo Osaka 2025 will celebrate Chile Day, which will be attended by authorities and representatives from both Chile and Japan. One day later, on May 13, the cultural and artistic activity “Chile Fest” will be held at the “Festival Station” inside the Expo site. On the same day, a “Chile Dinner” will be held within the framework of the Chile-Japan Business Council.
In addition, on June 15, an activity will be organized on the Training Ship Esmeralda, which will make its 69th Training Voyage between April 5 and October 10, 2025, calling at Osaka between June 14 and 18.
The Universal Expositions are held every five years and are organized by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE). Chile has participated with pavilions uninterruptedly in the last three editions (Expo Shanghai 2010, Expo Milan 2015 and Expo Dubai 2020) and has had outstanding participations in Expo Seville 1992, Expo Osaka 1970 and the Paris Exposition of 1889.
