With each Expo that goes by, there are moments that feel like turning points. Moments that remain in people’s minds for years to come. The inauguration of the Women’s Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, was one such moment.
Created through a collaboration between Cartier, the Japanese government and the organisers of Expo 2025, the conceptual space made a bold statement.
Designed by critically acclaimed architect Yuko Nagayama, the Pavilion is a sculptural ode to the resilience of women. Its second-floor hub, the WA space, is a ‘modern forum’ that will play host to a series of events.
At the opening, which happened on May 21, Cartier’s Cyrille Vigneron was joined by global figures including UN Women’s Kirsi Madi and gender equality advocate Sandi Toksvig. Together, they launched the upcoming WA Dialogues, which will be a series of conversations that go beyond buzzwords to explore how real change happens. Focusing on grassroots efforts, philanthropic ideas and deep institutional shifts.
The opening ceremony was held in a custom-built sound-responsive auditorium. Guests were treated to Poetry by JJ Bola, choreography inspired by ancient Japanese verse and garments dyed by Kyoto artisans, combined to tell a moving story.
As the sun set, guests gathered for a dinner on the Osaka Geihinkan Lawn under softly glowing lanterns. Michelin-starred cuisine was served as centuries-old performance art, including a rare female-led Noh theatre moment, underscored the Pavilion’s message of inclusion.
More than an Expo installation, the Pavilion is a living legacy. In fact, its structure will be reused at Yokohama’s 2027 Green Expo. But its true impact lies in its mission: to remind the world that progress begins when diverse voices are truly heard.
