The apparatus immerses visitors in the current state of our oceans, raising awareness and concern.
The BLUE OCEAN DOME is a non-governmental pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka. The Expo will close on October 13th, 2025. This edition of the High Resolution Tour project serves as a record of the project. The pavilion, consisting of three variously sized domes, was designed by architect Shigeru Ban. A Dome was made of bamboo, B Dome of carbon fiber, and C Dome of paper tubes. The intricate structures of each dome are clearly visible from within. When I planned and organized these beautiful chambers that the architect designed himself, it was my goal to make full use of the wide open spaces, constructing absolutely no unnecessary walls.
A Dome, serving as the pavilion’s entrance, features an installation showcasing nature’s water cycle. Since around 2000, I have occasionally created water art using ultra-hydrophobic paint. This exhibit serves as a sort of culmination of those efforts. Rain falls on the mountains, escapes forests in the form of brooks, circulates through ponds and lakes, and, flowing through great meandering rivers, is eventually carried into the sea. Warm water vapor, rising once again from the surface of the sea, is transformed into clouds, which meet the mountains, cool, and become rain. These phases are reenacted via this installation.
Countless water droplets slipping through the delicate structure are beautiful, like diamonds, and the movement of the water flowing gracefully over the superhydrophobic white metal surface is remarkably refreshing to behold. Visitors find themselves captivated, following the droplets’ journey as if seeing water for the very first time. No wonder the Japanese term for these huge undulations, 蛇行 (da-kou) is made up of the characters for “snake” and “traverse”; the meandering fluid motion of the water through this apparatus very much resembles the movement of a snake! The water flow analysis and fine sheet metal manufacturing utilized for this project were aided by precision engineering and processing technology.
B Dome is a 15m-high space with a 10m-diameter hemispherical LED screen in the middle of a jet-black centerfield screen. In order for visitors to fully appreciate the depth of the images, the approximately 100 spectator seats are arranged in a relatively tight semicircle. The centerfield screen is painted non-reflective black so that neither its edges nor back side are visible to the audience, bringing viewers face to face with a black sphere. This effect is enhanced by a striking jet-black circle that suddenly appears inside the giant dome, all framed by its carbon fiber structure.
The LED hemispherical screen is set up with a pitch of approximately 2.5 millimeters. From spectator seats located more than 10 meters away—equivalent to the height of a four-story building—the screen’s granularity and dot arrangement are completely invisible. The number of LED panels installed behind the screen is truly breathtaking. This bold installation design captures the unique excitement of an Expo: the unrestricted use of technology on an extraordinary scale. I also wanted to preserve documentation of the situation of the equipment at the back of the installation as a record for after the conclusion of the event.
The first image to appear on screen is the vibrant Earth. The subtle differences in height between the cloud layers and the surface of the Earth add an enigmatic three-dimensioinal quality to the precision of the image. This imagery allows visitors to experience the Earth at a distance in which the entire Earth fits into their field of vision, exceeding even the line of sight of astronauts at the International Space Station, and is one of the most important experiences of the pavilion. Accompanying this visual presentation is music featuring the wordless vocals of Hatis Noit, an artist whose voice has a spiritual quality reminiscent of that of a miko, or shrine maiden.
Presented here is a seven-minute CG video. It was three and a half years ago when I created it, working intensely. The issue at hand is the alarming invasion of plastics into our oceans. Currently, around 150 milliont tons have already accumulated in the seas, with more than 8 million tons added each year. It has been reported that if this is left unchecked, by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish (by weight). I believe the video conveys this situation to the audience as an unforgettably terrifying experience.
In C Dome, a documentary video runs on the curved screen. A compilation of recorded footage featuring interviews with 28 individuals involved in addressing marine issues from diverse perspectives, it includes the voices of those directly facing and solving real problems. Although it may not present definitive solutions to our environmental problems, there is a sliver of hope in the growing awareness and heartfelt initiatives of individuals. These efforts, united through diverse movements and strategies, continuously build momentum, much like the relentless force of waves.
At the exhibition, we sold a book featuring a carefully curated selection of highlights, in-depth technological insights, and comprehensive documentary interviews. Additionally, visitors had the opportunity to taste "Purity: A Primordial Saltwater Tonic," a slightly salty water served in a cup with a specially designed paper cap. This unique tonic is offered by chef and culinary expert Yoshiharu Doi. The water originates in the Kumano region of Mie Prefecture, home to deep forests nourished by abundant rainfall. The salt is sourced from the sea of Kochi, Shikoku Island, and produced using solar evaporation. Former astronaut Mamoru Mohri, who visited the exhibition, remarked, "This is what the Earth’s water tasted like to me when I returned from space.”
2025.10.6