German Pavilion “Wa! Germany” Successfully Closes After 184 Days at Expo 2025 in Osaka
After an impressive 184 days, the German Pavilion “Wa! Germany” at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan has officially closed its doors. The pavilion, commissioned by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) and operated by Koelnmesse GmbH, welcomed over three million visitors from around the world during its run. The pavilion has also been recognized with two awards from the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) – the Sustainability Award and the Silver Award for Theme Development.
Gerald Böse, CEO of Koelnmesse GmbH, expressed his pride in the success of the German Pavilion, stating, “The German Pavilion has demonstrated impressively how large-scale international projects made in Germany can captivate audiences worldwide. The BIE’s awards are a special acknowledgement of the concept, the outstanding teamwork of all those involved – and clear proof that Koelnmesse continues to set benchmarks in international competition.”
Under the theme “Shaping a Circular World Together,” the German Pavilion showcased a combination of architecture, technology, and emotion to create an immersive experience. Visitors were able to explore different aspects of circular economy approaches, urban agriculture, hydrogen technologies, and sustainable design, all of which are paving the way towards a sustainable future.
Patrick Specht, Commissioner General of Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, explained the goal of the pavilion, stating, “Our aim was to present Germany as a land of innovation and as a driving force for a circular future. That we were able to inspire more than three million visitors with our pavilion, and were additionally honoured with the Sustainability Award as well as the Silver Award for Theme Development, is a tremendous achievement. It shows how strongly our concept resonated with people.”
The concept and execution of the German Pavilion were highly praised, with over 90% of visitors reporting that their expectations were exceeded. Many even described the German contribution as one of the best at the Expo. The pavilion’s mascot, Circular, was also a hit among visitors and was voted as the most beloved mascot of the entire Expo.
In addition to its success with visitors, the German Pavilion was also recognized by the BIE, who awarded it with the Silver Award for Theme Development and the Sustainability Award. The Silver Award recognizes pavilions that effectively convey the Expo’s guiding theme in a creative and coherent way, while the Sustainability Award is presented to pavilions that demonstrate exemplary integration of sustainability in both concept and practice. These awards place the German Pavilion among the most successful Expo presentations in Germany’s history.
Gerald Böse stated, “This achievement demonstrates what can be accomplished when creativity, engineering excellence, and project management work hand in hand. Expo 2025 showcased Germany as an open, innovative, and sustainable partner within the global community – and we, as Koelnmesse, are proud to have played our part.”
The success of the German Pavilion was a result of an international collaborative effort. Koelnmesse, commissioned by the BMWE, delivered the German Pavilion, just as they have for previous World Expos in Dubai, Shanghai, and Aichi. The project was managed by the German Pavilion Expo 2025 Osaka Consortium, consisting of facts and fiction (concept and media design) and GL events Live (construction and implementation), with support from their Japanese subsidiary. Architectural design was provided by LAVA Architects (Berlin), while the Culture Connect program was curated by VOSS+FISCHER and Mike P. Heisel. Catering and retail operations were managed by 78degrees.
For images and videos of Expo 2025 in Osaka and the German Pavilion, visit the Koelnmesse website.
About Koelnmesse:
With around 1,200 employees, Koelnmesse is a city trade fair located in the heart of Europe. It is the third-largest trade fair grounds in Germany, with almost 400,000 square meters of hall and outdoor space, making it one of the top ten largest trade fair grounds in the world. Each year, Koelnmesse organizes and manages around 80 trade fairs, guest events, and corporate events in Cologne and in key markets around the world. Its portfolio reaches over 49,000 exhibiting companies from 129 countries and approximately 2.5 million visitors from over 220 nations. Until 2040, Koelnmesse has invested over 1 billion euros in the development of its trade fair grounds, making it the most extensive investment program in its history. This investment will allow Koelnmesse to cover all event formats in the future. In 2024, Koelnmesse will celebrate its 100th anniversary – 100 years of bringing people and markets together worldwide.
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Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.