USA Pavilion at the World Expo 2025 Spotlights USJC’s TOMODACHI Kibou for Maui

The USA Pavilion is the most popular exhibit at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka. The wait to get inside is often two to three hours long! The United States is one of 160 countries participating in the 2025 Osaka World Expo, which opened on April 13 and will run until October 13, 2025.

Once inside you’re greeted by a hallway of massive photographs and I was very pleased to have spotted two with direct links to the U.S.-Japan Council (USJC).

Both photos are listed with the heading TOMODACHI. The photos are part of Kibou for Maui, a high school exchange program organized following the devastating fires that destroyed Lahaina.

Miku Narisawa hosted and guided the students in the city of Higashi-Matsushima in Miyagi Prefecture. Miku is a survivor of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, and has dedicated her life to inspiring young students by showing that resilience and hope can lead to the rebuilding of both self and community.

The theme for the USA Pavilion is Imagine What We Can Create Together. Featured exhibits include the history of U.S. space exploration, a lunar sample (a “moon rock” thought to be 3.7 billion years old), and a final immersive experience that places visitors inside a rocket ship blasting off into space.

Photo provided by USJC Associate Nina Udagawa

About Kibou for Maui

Kibou for Maui was conceived and implemented by USJC Board Member Yoh Kawanami and USJC Member Nate Gyotaku with support from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In total, 31 high school students from Lahaina traveled to Japan and, for many, it was their first international trip. The television feature on the project was produced by ABC news producer, USJC Member Derick Yanehiro (JALD ’25) for ABC News Live Prime, Nightline and Good Morning America. Watch the ABC story here.

Story and photographs submitted by USJC Member and former Board Member, Jan Yanehiro (JALD ’10).