Voices [Part 1]

Yu-chan

The exhibit in which waste and light flowed together was really impressive. It’s difficult to articulate well, but I thought it was great to see the starting point for how the waste we produce is turned into the objects we use on a daily basis.

Yu-chan

The 3D printed stools also began as waste. Seeing how they transform in appearance and shape as they’re made me think, “Wow!” It gave me an understanding of the series of cycles behind the transformation from waste to objects. And the Gallery of Soft Things also made me realize that I should be proud of Japanese culture and craftsmanship.

Yu-chan

One example are kimonos worn on ceremonial occasions. I wore my mother's furisode-style kimono at my coming-of-age ceremony. And I even wore it at my university’s graduation ceremony. So, I now cherish and wear something that my grandmother originally bought for my mother. I want to cherish the connections between people and things, and I want to keep that going for future generations, too.

Maya

My favorite was the Hello Kitty exhibit. The sculptures were cute. And I had no idea there were so many different types of algae, plus I was surprised that they play different roles. I took photos as I couldn’t read all the explanations on the spot.

Maya

I had no idea that water and energy could be generated with the help of microorganisms. Seeing that so much energy can be generated from waste made me think how important it is to sort waste properly. Before visiting the Japan Pavilion, I only knew about recycling. I was surprised to learn that the water, heat, and other components can be recovered and used again.

Maya

I compost at home with planters, which turn kitchen waste into soil. It turns back into nice soft soil. In the planters I grow flowers and vegetables. Right now, I am growing summer vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, as well as pumpkins. The pumpkin seeds budded after I put them in the compost.

Smith

My favorite was the entire Factory Area. I was intrigued by the idea of Japan's traditional craftmanship as skills that will continue to be utilized in the future. The soccer ball interested me in particular. It seemed like an idea that would only be thought of in Japan.

Smith

Never would I imagine that algae could be used in such ways. The only image I had of algae was it being this slimy thing, so I was surprised to learn that it has such a high production efficiency for protein and other nutrients, and that it also offers well-balanced nutritional value. I knew algae products existed in everyday life. But now I'm looking forward to seeing them become more common.

Smith

One example is a circle of friends. Sometimes it grows, and sometimes it shrinks little by little. Although I may change the shape it takes, I try to not let it disappear completely. My rule is to never decline invitations from others. Both my father and my boss imparted on me the importance of valuing connections with others. I was surprised to hear both of them say the same thing.

Y-kun

My favorite was the Hello Kitty exhibit. Hello Kitty disguised as various algae was cute. I liked the wakame seaweed one the most.

Y-kun

At the exhibit where water droplets fall and create patterns, the falling water droplets made a sound like a drum. It was fun because the sound changed depending on where the water droplets fell. I’m learning the taiko drum now, and the sound was kind of similar.

Y-kun

The cycle of water. I took a class on endangered species and learned how the sea turtles are sad because the ocean is dirty. I want to cherish water, use it in a cleaner way, and make it cleaner.

Ta-kun

The water in the reflecting pool was beautiful. It looked so clean that I wonder if you can drink it? It’s incredible to think that waste can transform into something so clean and pure. I had never thought this was possible.

Ta-kun

I was just so surprised to see waste turn into something so clean and pure. Turning what I thought was dirty into energy, and algae into products— it's wonderful that we can see such technology at the Japan Pavilion! I was really impressed.

Ta-kun

Human health. Health to me is about food, exercise, and the mind. If you do bad things, they will bring bad results. If you do good things, you will see improvements.

Haruka

My favorite was the water art on the diatomaceous earth canvas where patterns were created by falling water droplets. Visible only for an instant before it starts to disappear, the art is ephemeral and beautiful. The cherry blossom-like pattern was wonderful. And because I work in music, it was also interesting to hear the rhythmic sound of the water droplets falling.

Haruka

I was surprised to learn that waste, when it decomposes, can be transformed into energy and water. There is a rule in the community where I live that says we have to separate kitchen waste from burnable garbage. To be honest, it's a hassle. But knowing that it can be transformed into so many different things makes me want to continue to separate my waste properly.

Haruka

When I want to declutter, I sell things on flea market sites or look for people in my community who need them. It takes more time and energy than throwing them away, but if there is someone who needs them or will cherish them after me, I think that’s a better way of doing things. Hoping that these things circulate forever might be an exaggeration, but I think it’s a cycle on a small scale.

Senko

Every exhibit was great. At the biogas plant, I learned that the actual waste from the expo is treated and reused in this way. My favorite was the algae aquarium. Think about it, there are algae living in there. I just thought it was incredible.

Senko

I was amazed to learn that there are so many varieties of algae. I had no idea, so I was surprised at the large number of Hello Kitty sculptures. It made me wonder, is wakame seaweed also algae? Plus, I learned its protein production efficiency is tens of times greater than that of soybeans. Algae is amazing.

Senko

Reusing something instead of buying something new right away, especially clothes. Instead of throwing an item away when it gets torn, I think about how to fix it and transform it into something new. This is something I learned from my parents. I always upcycle clothes; I haven’t bought anything new in years.

Takuya

My favorite was the Hello Kitty exhibit. Visitors should look at the exhibits and make sure to also read the text. For example, for caulerpa lentillifera, or sea grapes, Hello Kitty is disguised as grape-shaped algae. I really liked it because it features 32 different types of algae, expressing the individual characteristics of each.

Takuya

I realized how waste turns to water, water to materials, and materials to objects. The stools are made from algae; even the water supporting the algae was originally waste. The stools, too, will turn into waste and be reborn as something new. Cycles are incredible. When I saw it for the first time, it felt more like the future than it did our present world.

Takuya

It's been three or four months since I moved from the Kanto region to the Kansai region to work as an attendant. I now feel like I’ve picked up some of the Kansai dialect. A dialect is one example of a cycle. I have inherited words unique to a region that have been used for generations. They are also changing little by little over time.