The France Pavilion
at Expo 2025 Osaka1

2

“ If there was just one feeling associated with the French mindset,
it would definitely be love.
Whether it is being celebrated, wept for, depicted in our arts, embodied
in individuals’ desire to transcend as seen in our monuments, carriedin our patriotism over the centuries, directed towards our countrysideand nature in our expertise and our traditions, love runs throughFrance’s veins.
This heartfelt passion has often been elevated into a kind of spiritualjourney. We are all facing the same challenges - be it peace between
nations, the future of the planet or protecting freedoms in every
society. This journey, this adventure, must continue in the coming
decades and beyond.
This is the French vision of the world, a hymn to love, boldness
and dialogue that visitors to the France Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka
will be discovering. It will be embodied in the offerings of our companies,
artists and scientists, and all of them in their own particular way will betrying to bring to the world our French vision of rationality, beauty,
progress and freedom, and with it, the ambition, as with love, to use
a universal language that expresses hope to the world of the future. ”
Emmanuel Macron

© DR

3

“ An Expo is a magical time, a time for sharing and passion.
This is even truer when it is being held in Osaka, a Japanesecity that encourages us all to imagine life in the future.
France is responding in an optimistic, committed way with its own
values and sensitivities to a world faced with numerous challenges.
To its 28 million visitors, it offers an outstanding experience,
an immersive France Pavilion, a landmark building that is
the incarnation of a hymn to Love.
This Pavilion is a place for exhibitions and emotion, but it isalso a platform for events and services which provide a unique
opportunity for a France that is on the move, including companies,
professional bodies, regions, research institutions and culturalorganizations. The France Pavilion provides you with an outstanding
setting where you can showcase your ‘savoir-faire’ and commitment
to the entire world.
I welcome you to build together France’s message to OSAKA 2025 ! ”© DR

4Jacques Maire
Chairman of COFREX
Commissioner General for France OSAKA 2025

Contents

01

02

03

04

EXPO 2025
OSAKA

THE FRANCEPAVILION

THE VISITOR
EXPERIENCEPARTNERING WITH
THE FRANCE PAVILION

Pages 6 > 12

Pages 13 > 19

Pages 20 > 29

Pages 30 > 37
5

01

6

EXPO 2025
OSAKA

EXPO 2025 OSAKA

Designing Future Society
For Our Lives
For Japanese people, every substance, be itof human, animal, vegetable or mineral origin,“carries life within it”. The Expo 2025 Osakaconveys this vision with the theme that has beenchosen for the Expo: “Designing Future Society
for Our Lives”. In line with this theme, over 160
participating countries have been invited
to imagine tomorrow’s society together, basedon the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Expo visitors are also invited to take partin co-designing a sustainable society, one where
every individual is supported in their aspiration
to shape a world that is more harmonious, one
where our societies’ futures are safeguarded.

The theme of “Designing Future Society for Our Lives” is rolled out in three distinct sub-themes :Saving lives

Empowering lives

Connecting lives

Protecting health and preventing
natural catastrophes.

Reimagining education and employment
in a world of Artificial Intelligenceand robotics.

Promoting understanding between different
cultures and innovating based on informationand communication technologies (ICT).
7EXPO 2025 OSAKA

Expo 2025 Osakaa major international event+ 28 M

160

9

VISITORSEXPECTEDPARTICIPATING
COUNTRIESINTERNATIONALORGANIZATIONS

13 April to 13 October 2025
Osaka
8

From the centreof Osaka, YumeshimaIsland can be accessedin 20 to 30 minutes
by underground or road.

EXPO 2025 OSAKA

From Osaka 1970
to Osaka 2025

CHINA

RUSSIAThe importance in Japan of world expos.
Japan is one of the founding members of the Bureau International
des Expositions (BIE). The first time Japan took part in a World
Expo in France as an exhibiting country dates back to the 1867
Paris Exhibition.
Osaka Expo ‘70 was held for the first time in Asia in 1970
to enable the Land of the Rising Sun to establish itself in the eyesof the world as an industrial economy that was at the forefrontof progress. This is when Japanese visitors were first introduced
to the wealth and diversity of different world cultures. The record
number of 64 million visitors made it the second most visited
exhibition in the history of major global events.

N O RTH
KO R E AJAPANSO UTH
KO R E A

TOKYO
OSAKA

Tsukuba

Aichi

Ever since, Japan has continually sought to grow this passion
for exhibitions by organizing the Tsukuba Expo in 1985, then Expo2005 in Aichi. From 13 April to 13 October 2025, a new pagein the history of World Expos will be turned in Osaka.
There is direct access to Osaka fromthe major world cities. Japan’s transport
infrastructure is one of the world’s mosthighly developed systems.

9

EXPO 2025 OSAKA

Japan, one of France’s key partners
Japan is the world’s thirdlargest economy, making
it a key destination forcompanies looking to set up
shop and grow within Asia.

10

The strong purchasing power of Japanese
consumers is beneficial to a great many Frenchbrands and companies. Within Japan, different
industrial and service-based sectors are developing
major, highly-diversified business. Equally there ismajor, long-term Japanese investment in France,
but it is not growing at the same rate as othercountries. This all means that France’s positionin Japan as a leading financial partner needs
to be strengthened by, for instance, capitalizing on
Japan’s ‘New Capitalism’ plan and its commitment
to carbon neutrality by 2050. Similarly, on theworld stage, the international cooperation between

our two countries is fruitful, especially given
the convergence of our corporate commitment
to social responsibility.
The France Pavilion has opted to specificallytarget Japanese and other Asian visitors, whohave specific expectations and are always keen to
discover the West and how it works. Throughout
the 6-month event, it is also one of the goals of
the France Pavilion to shine a light on French-styleinnovation and our low-carbon reindustrialization
strategy, as well as to foster Franco-Japanese
partnerships.

EXPO 2025 OSAKAFrance at the heart of world Expos
The first ever “National Exhibition of Industrial
Products” was opened in Paris on 19 September
1798, at a time when industry and agriculture
were really taking off in a new direction.
Even though the concept was launched in France,
the first world expo, the Great Exhibition, washeld in 1851 in London. It was followed by
the 1855 Paris Exhibition. The 1889 Paris Exhibition
celebrated the centenary of the French Republic,
and coincided with the building of the Eiffel Tower,

which demonstrated French virtuosity in all things
industrial. This internationally-famous icon formed
the entry to the 1889 Exhibition. Following in
the footsteps of history, Japan has put the France
Pavilion at the entrance of the Expo 2025 Osaka.

never missed any of these international events,
which are a major opportunity to express who
we are on the world stage, and, as with all world
gatherings, a chance to bring the French together
around their pavilion.

Today, World Expos remain a way of showcasing
outstanding talents of countries by highlighting
their accomplishments in the fields of science,technology, industry, art and culture. France has

11

02

12

THE FRANCEPAVILION

THE FRANCE PAVILION

The “red thread” - the guiding principleof the France Pavilion and a hymn to Love
In Japanese culture, the legend of the red thread,or Akai Ito, refers to the joining of two beings
by an invisible, indestructible magic thread attachedto their little fingers. The France Pavilion, with its
own “red thread”, seeks to provide a response tosocial and environmental challenges by inspiring
individual and group commitment. It offers a new
vision of the future, one guided by the meaningof life and its finest expression, Love, througha shared, universal world view.
Throughout the 6 months of the event and at theheart of the pavilion, art, science and technology
together will feed this vision of love, as well as
maintaining a constructive dialogue with visitorsfrom all over the world.
© DR

Loving yourself

Loving others

Loving nature

Loving yourself, self-esteem, is about making themost of everyone’s abilities by improving educationand physical health and psychological well-being,
to name just a few. It also benefits from anenriching life, one where everyone can find meaning
in what they do and enjoy beauty, knowledge, art,
everything on which our cultural heritage is based.

Loving others stems from a certain art of living,with hospitality and sharing a good meal being
typical French examples. It involves re-humanizing
social relationships and is based on a senseof day-to-day community with our fellow humans,and ensuring inclusion for all.

The aim of the France Pavilion is to show howtechnology can serve nature, restore it and makeuse of it in a sustainable manner. A love of nature
also means that our environment, even if it isin a city setting, needs to be a source of well-being
and inspiration.

13

THE FRANCE PAVILION

A concept building

THE FRANCE PAVILION’SVALUES

Seeking to create the best possible visitor experience.
A hymn to love is the guiding
principle running through the France
Pavilion and the narrative backbone
to the entire visitor experience.
It is integrated into and extends
throughout the Pavilion, in the
exhibition spaces, through the B-to-B
events and those for the generalpublic, enabling every visitor to enjoy
a unique experience along a routethat appeals to all five senses.
The intention of the France Pavilion
is to question the place of humans
in their environment, with the aimof creating empowerment, the ability
and desire for a commitment thatenables each of us to take action
for our future.

Savoir-Faire
The French Art of Living is synonymouswith the wide diversity of fine cuisine, science,
fashion, design and culture.

Boldness
In a world filled with upheaval and withthe challenges of our time, France has opted
to capitalize on the outstanding dynamicof the French technological ecosystem.

Commitment
Autonomy, individual empowerment
and taking responsibility, as well as collective
commitment, are what make it possible to face
the challenges of today’s world.

14

THE FRANCE PAVILION

The France Pavilion is a powerful expression of French
identity. The impressive facade directly faces the Expo
2025 Osaka’s main entrance. Its sleek, modern stylecalls to mind a theatre set that is open to the public.
It maintains an air of mystery, taking its visitors upwards
through a free stroll.
The side facades are completely screened. All its
different areas offer content that is associated with
the France Pavilion’s central theme.
On the roof, there is an enormous garden that is
an essential part of the permanent exhibition route,and it can also be seen from the wooden ring which runs
around the entire site of the event.

15

THE FRANCE PAVILION

An eco-friendly approach
Expo 2025 Osaka’s France Pavilion has been
designed to be a temporary structure that is built
to be eco-friendly.
The metal structure can be reassembled as elements and modules
that can be used for other buildings. All of the pavilion’s offices
and the service providers’ and technical premises are made of reusable,
prefabricated modules.

Nature as a regulator
The roof garden is a key element of the permanent exhibition.
This living roof of plants creates its own microclimate that makes the visit evenmore enjoyable. These green spaces will mean that rainwater can be managed
optimally. This core of the project will contribute to reducing urban heat islands
at the Expo 2025 Osaka.
16THE FRANCE PAVILION

PRE-COOLED AIR
As it passes through the roof garden, air for ventilationis cooled by evaporative cooling (from water features)and trans-evaporative cooling (from plants).

UPPER-LEVEL AIR SUPPLYHVAC services are kept in the upper level of the space
to minimise embodied carbon, cost and the space requiredfor distribution.

DESIGNED FOR AIR QUALITY
The building has been designed to prioritise indoor air quality.
Fresh air is drawn from the roof garden at the top of the building
to guarantee fresh air. Plants are used to naturally provide extra
filtration for fresh air.

LOW-ENERGY VENTILATION
The design prioritises low-energy supply fans with passive
returns to minimise both operational energy, embodied
carbon and the space required for equipment.

LEVEL AIR RETURN
Warm air rises. Heat naturally rises to the top of a space,so air returns at the upper level help reduce the energy
used for cooling.
Conduits for lighting and audiovisual equipment are led
directly to the upper level before they can affect the space.

SOLAR SHADINGREDUCED URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT
The roof garden absorbs solar radiation, thus minimizing
the urban heat island effect.

The roof garden containers are separate fromthe thermal envelope of the building. This shades
the thermal envelope during the day to minimise
heat gain.

AIR INTAKEEXHAUST AIR

4F

SOUTHERN FACADE

3F

BENEFICIAL MICRO-CLIMATE
In summer, the exhaust air from the building
2F
will often be cooler than the external air.
Releasing exhaust air into the occupied zone
around the building creates a beneficial
micro-climate around the perimeter.

DOUBLE-SKIN FACADE
The double-skin ETFE facade with solar
transmittance optimises the balance between
daylight and solar gain.
By expelling air through the double-skin facade,the building also removes absorbed solar heatand prevents the lightweight material fromheating and re-radiating heat into the space.

1F

A high-performance shell
As well as its aesthetic qualities, the outer shell acts as a thermal barrier for
the inside of the pavilion by reducing heat transfer to a minimum.

Its double skin, together with natural ventilation, will also reduce the energy
used for heating and air-conditioning.
17THE FRANCE PAVILION

A France Pavilion that is accessible to all
28 million visitors are expected at the Expo 2025
Osaka, with at least 3 million of them visiting
the France Pavilion. The concept building will also
be virtually and remotely accessible by everyone,
particularly by young people who are very keenon this kind of experience.

18

The immersive experience will be created basedon the physical France Pavilion, its permanent
exhibition, some temporary exhibitions andlive events.
It will be possible to access the virtual visit bysmartphone, a personal computer, or via
a virtual reality headset, and can be enjoyedin the immersive experience space or at home.
In the virtual visit, you can meet other visitors
to go more deeply into the exhibitions, works
and technologies on show in the France Pavilion.

03

THE VISITOR
EXPERIENCE

19

THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE

An exceptional location
With its location right at the entrance to the Expo 2025 Osaka, the France Pavilion enjoys central visibility.

France Pavilion

1
Connecting

Saving2

The France Pavilion can be seenright from the exit of the undergroundstation for the event, and is locatedin the “Inspiring Lives” zone atthe visitor traffic hub. Its appeal
is underlined by its proximity
to the Japan Pavilion, located right
opposite.

A2

Empowering

Japan Pavilion

20

1Main Entrance

2

Underground exit

THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE

The 4 dimensions of the visitor experience
The France Pavilion, with its unique experience and rich, varied programme, will make a lasting impression.

Emotional

Innovative

Visionary

Pluralistic

Creating an unforgettable visit andmaking the France Pavilion a major
attraction at the Expo 2025 Osaka.

A varied way of showcasing offerings
from French companies.

Articulating the vision and offering
insights from France and French
companies and institutions regarding
social issues.

Sharing experiences andknowledge from the French
regions.

21

THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE

The visitors’route
The visitors’ route starts right from the entrance queueand specifically prepares visitors to experience
the permanent exhibition. Starting under the Pavilion’s
sheltered porch area, the route enables everyone
to gradually enter via a gently sloping walkway.
It continues into a huge entrance, offering an introduction
to the permanent exhibition by presenting a monumental
Aubusson Tapestry: “Ashitaka sooths his demonic
wound”, taken from an image from the film entitled“Princess Mononoke” by Hayao Miyazaki.
The permanent exhibition leads visitors along a seamless
path, an infinite pulsing three-dimensional journey - loving
yourself, loving others and loving nature.
It starts on a high footbridge inside the building, goes up
to the rooftop where the garden dominates the staging,then continues into the building and ends the stroll
in its second half.

© DR

22

THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE

The Pavilion has been designed and arranged to cater for an extraordinary
number of visitors, estimated to be over 25,000 people a day.

5. OPEN AIR GARDENROOFTOPThe France Pavilion
in figures
Permanent exhibition :1000 m internally + 1000 m2 externally2

Temporary exhibition : 200 m2
Bistrot : 110 m2
Events & VIP area : 325 m2

3. UPPER FOOTBRIDGEEXHIBITION AREA

4. GARDEN ACCESSTUNNEL ESCALATORS
2. EXHIBITION HALLRECEPTION AREA
6. LOWER FOOTBRIDGEEXHIBITION AREA

1. PUBLIC WAITING AREA
RECEPTION AREA

23

THE VISITOR EXPERIENCEFrance Pavilion
programming

VIPs

LIFT LOBBY

A dedicated programme of events will
set the pace of the France Pavilion for six
months. This will be based on the Pavilion’s
editorial guideline - a hymn to Love - alongwith the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development
Goals.
PERMANENTEXHIBITION
AREA
1059 m²
EXHIBITION

VIPs

TEMPORARY EXHIBITION
200 m2STOCK

EXHIBITION
TRAFFICThe temporary exhibitions

BAKERY/
CAKE SHOP
POINT OF SALE

There will be six temporary exhibitions following on from eachother over the six months of Expo 2025 Osaka, with each one
lasting a month.
The temporary exhibitions will feature examples of living
skills alongside heritage and contemporary works, as well aslive immersive experiences in a dedicated area on the France
Pavilion’s ground floor.

EXIT LOBBY

SHOP

STOCK

PUBLICDISABLEDACCESS
SHOP

24

THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE

Themed Fortnights
The themed fortnights are central to the programming, and each two-week period is illustrated at the Pavilion by seminars, talks, keynote speakers,
films and shows, etc.
CLIMATEEQUALITY AND PARITYSUSTAINABLE REGIONS AND CITIESOCEANS

Supporting the ecological transition

Building an inclusive global society

Designing resilient habitats
and developing soft mobility

Discovering, preserving and exploiting
our oceans for sustainable development

13th April – 30th April 2025

1st May – 15th May 2025

16th May – 31st May 2025

1st June – 15th June 2025

HEALTHSPACE

CREATIVITY

PEACE

Supporting research and innovation
to improve wellbeing

Facing the new challengesof space exploration

Identifying, encouraging, sharing,and showcasing artistic talent

Fostering social cohesion

16th June – 30th June 2025

1st July – 15th July 2025

16th July – 31st July 2025

1st August – 15th August 2025

EDUCATION

CONSUMPTION

BIODIVERSITY

SPORTS

Providing universal access to knowledge
and learning

Striving for environmentally friendly
production and consumption practices

Preserving and rebuilding
the natural world

Promoting sport and physical activity
for everyone

16th August – 31st August 2025

1st September – 15th September 2025

16th September – 30th September 2025

1st October – 13th October 2025

Special Days

THE 17 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS• Opening : 13 April 2025
• Men & Women’s Equality Day :date to be confirmed• French National Holiday : 14 July 2025
• France Day : date to be confirmed• Closing ceremony : 13 October 2025

25

THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE

Visitors’ services
These areas are open to everyone, both professionals and the general public, and French-style ‘Art de Vivre’ will be promoted in them.

The shop26

The bistrot

The bakery/cake shop

04

PARTNERING WITH
THE FRANCE PAVILION

27

PARTNERING WITH THE FRANCE PAVILION

Promoting
French excellence
The mission of the Expo 2025 Osaka is
to be a laboratory for expert knowledge andinnovation to shape the society of the future.
The France Pavilion is a showcase for the talents and skills of French
players, be they companies, public and private stakeholders, regions,
local councils, associations, etc., which it promotes on the world stage.
The France Pavilion highlights the economic dynamism to which France
is committed: a country with its own energy independence anda next-generation low-carbon reindustrialization policy, a country rising
to current scientific and social challenges such as an ageing population,
and a country that capitalizes on its position as a world leader
in the lifestyle sector including the cultural and creative industries.

28

© DR

PARTNERING WITH THE FRANCE PAVILION

A uniqueopportunity
By partnering with the Pavilion, the aim is to convey tovisitors from all around the world our values - boldness,‘savoir-faire’ and working together. We are joining
with our sponsors to build an ambitious and pioneering
cultural, educational, scientific, technologicaland economic programme.
The France Pavilion is also a practical tool working
to promote all innovative public and private stakeholders,
whether they are large French corporations, start-ups,
foundations, institutions or local councils. This unrivalledshowcase is an opportunity to promote French players
to international visitors.

Patronage :60%
tax deductions

Example :1000€ donation
Tax deductions : 600€
Offsets : 250€
Residual costs : 150€

25%
offsets15%

residual costs

Tax deductions for patronage : non-profit support(Art. 238b of the French General Tax Code)Tax reduction of 60% of the amount of the donation, up to a limitof 5 per 1000 of turnover for the company providing patronage.
Offsets valued up to 25% of the donated amount.

Our partners can make a commitment either in the formof sponsorship or patronage.

Sponsorship :Support given for a direct benefit: promoting the company’s brand image,seeking short-term financial benefits.
VAT is charged.
Offsets equivalent to the amount paid in sponsorship.
29

PARTNERING WITH THE FRANCE PAVILION

Becoming a sponsor
Becoming a sponsor means linking your company’s image to the France Pavilion’svalues and benefitting from the media coverage of the Expo programming which
focuses on Sustainable Development Goals.
Companies and operators will be able to promote their various
skills and knowledge throughout the 6 months when the France
Pavilion at Osaka 2025 is in operation. This could be via
the Pavilion’s permanent exhibition, temporary exhibitions,the themed fortnights or its events. The powerful narrative of
the guiding principle and the coherent design of the architectureand scenography ensure that the project’s financial benefits
are presented in a way that appeals to the general public.

A personalized partnership
The France Pavilion team draws up with each of its sponsors
the form and content of their participation in Expo 2025.
Its sponsors participate, according to their expertise, in theecosystem of the France Pavilion, before and during Expo 2025.
They have different profiles - companies, institutional players,
regional authorities, academics, public service institutions, etc.,
and they are all able to benefit from individual rewards
in line with the level of their contributions. These benefits may
be institutional and/or communication-related (visibility on
various communication media), and/or event-related (accessto preferential areas and pavilion events, invitations, etc.).
30

PARTNERING WITH THE FRANCE PAVILION

Event areas
There is access to a functional, designer space
specially for our partners and professional
stakeholders who wish to organize their own
corporate events, which can then be bookedusing a dedicated calendar.

STORAGE

VIP
LIFT LOBBY

A lounge reserved for our official partners
will enable them to hold informal discussions
throughout the 6-month event.

MANAGEMENTGRAND LOUNGE
153 m2PARTNERS’ LOUNGETERRACEAll of the spaces can be used in combination
with each other.

RECEPTION HALL
FOR EVENTS
10 m

2

20 m2
EXTERIORPARTNERS’ LOUNGE
30 m2

THE BISTROT
80 m2

BISTROT TERRACE
31 m2
EXTERIOR

STORAGEBISTROT KITCHEN

31

Calendar / The various stages

2023

2024

2025

• 26 May• January• Q1

Official signature of France’s
participation• 7 August
Signing of the Pavilion’s building
and scene-building contracts

The reveal of the France Pavilion• Spring
The first stone of the France
Pavilion is laid

• Q4
The end of the construction phaseof the France Pavilion

32

Interior fit-out• 13 April
Opening of the World Expoand the France Pavilion• 13 October 2025
Closing of the World Expoand the France Pavilion

Founded in January 2018, COFREX (French Exhibition Company)
is a public company.
Its aim is to prepare, organize and oversee France’s participation
in world expos and international Exhibitions.
COFREX’s creation is part of a sustainable, long-term project to use
previous experience in order to optimally and cost-effectively organize
France’s involvement at World Expos and other international exhibitions.
It forms part of a partnership-based approach between public andprivate participants, brought together with a focus on France’s image
and economic appeal.
It has a Japanese subsidiary: Republic of France Pavillon Osaka 2025.

33

Contacts
Sophie Braincourt
Director of Partnerships
sophie.braincourt@cofrex.fr
Miriam Espino Alvarez
Deputy Director of Partnerships
miriam.espino.alvarez@cofrex.fr

Address
COFREX
77 boulevard Saint Jacques 75014 Paris
FranceRepublic of France Pavillon OSAKA 2025 K.K
C/0 Mazars Japan K.K, Akasaka Intercity 5,
1-11-44 Akasaka, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 107-0052
www.cofrex.fr
www.franceosaka2025.fr

France Osaka 2025
@franceosaka2025

Photo credits :Page 3: Office of the President of the French Republic. Page 4: Olivier Roller.
Page 13: Justine Emard. Page 22 : “Ashitaka soothes his demonic wound”, woven at the Guillot Aubusson Tapestry Workshop in the Cité Internationale de la tapisserie(International Tapestry Centre) © 2022 Based on an image in the film Princess Mononoke © 1997 Studio Ghibli-ND. Page 28: Sébastien Di Silvestro / INMA.
Page 1, 2, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 23, 24, 30, 31: Coldefy, Carlo Ratti Associatti and RIMOND Japan KK ,