Humans are not merely reliant on biological evolution, as animals, but can use science and technology to evolve. That is what makes us human. In future, humanity will dramatically expand the possibilities of “life” as we develop and fuse science and technology still more. We will use these diverse values and feelings of happiness to design for ourselves what humans are, human society, and the environments and ecologies around us. This pavilion offers the unforgettable experience of life by presenting new ways of being alive.

Professor at The University of Osaka and Visiting Director of the ATR ISHIGURO Hiroshi Laboratories. He completed doctoral course at Graduate School of Engineering Science, The University of Osaka, in 1991. Doctor of Engineering. Since 2009, he has served as Professor at the Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering Science, The University of Osaka. Visiting Director of the ATR ISHIGURO Hiroshi Laboratories (ATR Fellow). Distinguished Professor of The University of Osaka since 2017. His research field is android science and robots that engage with people. He has published more than 300 articles in major scientific journals or that he presented at international symposiums. He also developed the humanoid robots or androids that engage with people known as Robovie, Repliee, Geminoid, Telenoid, and Elfoid. These robots have appeared in more than 500 programs, including on the Discovery Channel, NHK, and the BBC. In 2009, he was invited as the main guest at the Ars Electronica Festival, one of the world’s leading events for the media arts. In 2011, he received the Osaka Culture Award. In 2015, he received the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Commendation for Science and Technology and the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award. In 2020, he received the Tateisi Prize.