The Sumitomo Pavilion—Searching for Stories of Life in the Fantastical Forest

Maido! I’m Betty.
Recently I visited Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai with my brother Bob to check things out. We visited lots of different places. But I really want to tell you all about the Sumitomo Pavilion!

Sumitomo Pavilion, Near the East Gate

Enter through the East Gate and you’ll see a huge building made of cypress and cedar. This is the Sumitomo Pavilion!
The architecture of the pavilion reflects the mountains of Besshi, found on the island of Shikoku, paying homage to Sumitomo’s strong connection to the region.

Once you enter the pavilion, you’ll find yourself in a darkness reminiscent of nighttime. You’ll then be handed a small lantern which, among the others, fills the space with a soft atmospheric glow.

Here the staff explains how we are setting off on a journey to a future from the forest and that we will experience many stories about life. How exciting! With our lanterns in one hand, we were about to set out on a journey!

The Fantastical UNKNOWN FOREST

Visitors to the forest are guided by the Mother Tree. Having lived for thousands of years, the tree is approaching the end of her life. And she entrusts us with her final wish, which is “to gather stories of life”.

Afterwards we watched an introduction movie before being invited into the UNKOWN FOREST.


Listen to the songs of birds singing from somewhere in the overgrown forest. Watch mist float in and fill the space with a mysterious air. Look over the boulders to see the movement of animals, and walk forward to feel the wind on your cheeks. Then wind, light, and sound come together to create a storm that is so realistic visitors are easily surprised.

Exploring the woods, the valleys, and water-filled caves, we can hear the sounds of nature as we venture through the UNKNOWN FOREST. And this is where we gather the “stories of life”.

Lanterns Containing Wind Power Will Lead You to Stories of Life

Your best tool in the forest, is the lantern you carry, which has the power of wind resting inside. With it you can light your path and also hear the stories about where you are and how to proceed amongst the animals.

Plus, when you shine it across certain places you can see things like chipmunks emerging from their burrows, or the glowing footprints to show you where the other animals have gone.

Fungi will begin to glow, and the voices of living creatures can be heard in response to your lantern.
It’s just so much fun to be here. I found myself wandering deeper into the forest, completely caught up in my excitement of wanting to meet more of the animals hiding in the greenery!

And finally, the adventure through the forest ends when you reach the Mother Tree.

There, participants offer the “story of life” that has been gathered in their lanterns.

Impressive Stories of Life in the Performance Theater

Once you’ve finished your lantern journey through the forest, head to the performing theater.
There, the epic climax of UNKNOWN FOREST will be shown on a massive 20-meter-wide, 7.5-meter-tall screen!

This theater uses a triple-layer projection system, that immerses you in a fantastical, 3D world.
Wind blows, mist swirls, and you’ll be enveloped in an overwhelming fusion of movement, sound, and imagery!

Normally, photography isn’t allowed inside the Performing Theater, but we got special permission to shoot these photos.
But there’s no way photos can truly convey how magical this place is!

If you’re reading this article, you have to come experience it for yourself!
Witness the radiant final iteration of the Mother Tree, who has watched over this forest since ancient times. And get ready for the breathtaking climax of UNKNOWN FOREST!

Seeds for the Future and Tons of Ideas from Sumitomo

Sounds and images create so many immersive experiences at the Sumitomo Pavilion. And after enjoying this amazing trip through the forest, you’ll emerge to find a model of the entire UNKNOWN FOREST.

Once I saw the model, I had a clearer idea of the layout of the forest. Because when I was inside I felt like I was winding through the same path over and over. Next to the UNKNOWN FOREST model, you’ll see an artistically arranged introduction to the forest animals. How cute!

You might be impressed at how many animals there were! I can’t hardly believe it, so I plan to go back and check again.

Along the exit corridor, you’ll find the “Seeds of the Future” exhibit, a showcase of ideas to enrich the future. And they all came from the fusion of the Sumitomo Group’s technology, passion, and the hopes of people.

There are some absolutely incredible ideas in the exhibit, like LignoSat—the world’s first wooden satellite. Don’t miss it!

Hints for the Secret Area

The Sumitomo Pavilion is pretty impressive, don’t you think?
Finally, I want to show you the secret area in the UNKNOWN FOREST.

At your feet, look for this silhouette of a deer. If you follow it, you’ll be surrounded by mirrors on all four sides and a ceiling is decorated with white leaves contrasted against a black background. Look up inside this monochrome room and you’ll be able to make out a projection that looks almost like the surface of water. Bright colors dance against the monochromatic atmosphere.

Do you see the squirrel? There are creatures hiding here too!

By the way, only about one fifth of the visitors to this pavilion find this room. Please look for it, when you visit the Sumitomo Pavilion!

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