Sachiko Nakajima, one of the producers who is scheduled to create a pavilion at the Osaka-Kansai Expo, which is only two years away. She is also a mathematics educator and jazz pianist who was the first Japan woman to win a gold medal at the Mathematics Olympiad. What kind of pavilion will it be? The key word is "jellyfish".
(Osaka Broadcasting Station Reporter Sachiko Inoue)

Eight producers created the pavilion

Eight producers, each working on a pavilion

At Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, eight producers, including film director Naomi Kawase and biologist Shinichi Fukuoka, will create a pavilion themed on life.

One of them, Sachiko Nakajima, is a mathematician and jazz pianist who became the first Japan woman to win a gold medal at the Mathematics Olympiad.

Currently, he is also active as an educator who proposes new learning across mathematics, music, and art. It has a versatile face.

Like a jellyfish, swaying

Mr. Nakajima's pavilion. The motif is "jellyfish". What? Jellyfish?

Mr.
Nakajima: "There are many things that seem to have no purpose, such as swaying~, and I think jellyfish are a symbol of something that cannot be explained. Jellyfish are mothers who somehow bring together diverse ways of life that make use of their individuality."

The name of the pavilion is "Jellyfish Museum, Playground of Life". Based here, we aim to create new learning and play.

Inside the jellyfish museum, we will create a new place for learning and play where people from 0 to 120 years old can participate and interact.

Mr.
Nakajima: "When I think about what is important, such as creativity and life, I think that play is important. Playing in the sandbox, kicking a can, running in the forest, such fluctuating play is important for creativity. I think it is precisely because of such fluctuations that life is strong."

A stage will be set up in the plaza near the pavilion, where Japan and world festivals and dances will be presented.

Mr
. Nakajima: "The era of just having machines show it to us is over, and I think the next era will be an expo that everyone will build together. People say that we live in a diverse era and that diversity is important, but I think we tend to come together with people who are surprisingly similar. There are many people who share the same feelings but have not met. First we meet, we play together. In that context, I think you can see that it is a little difficult to live in today's society."

Creating an Expo Together

In addition to collaborating with companies and universities, Mr. Nakajima is trying to create the contents of the pavilion while involving many citizens.

At Ritsumeikan University, about 1 students are holding study sessions and exchange meetings in preparation for participating in the Expo, and last month I held a meeting with Mr. Nakajima.

On this day, Mr. Nakajima asked the participating students to bring "things that enhance their lives."

Some students used the rings and earrings they bought for the first time after working part-time at university as a way to enhance their lives on special occasions.

In addition, they introduced WBC player Shohei Otani's uniform, "push" fans, and other items that "enhance life" to each other.

"The brilliance of the weak, the small and the few"

Mr. Nakajima feels that it is important to meet, open up to each other, and accept each other in this way.

We also want to make the Expo a place where children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and diverse people can meet and play.

Mr
. Nakajima: "What I want to realize at this Expo is not an Expo for the strong, big and many, but an Expo that opens up the brilliance of explosive potential possessed by the weak, small, and few. I think that the value of weakness, or what can be seen because you are weak, or what you can see because you can't do something, is not negative at all, but if we can open up that part through this expo and work together to do that, I think it will make the world easier to live in, and ultimately create a society full of excitement and creativity."

The Expo was just beginning to calm down as the new coronavirus began to calm down. Mr. Nakajima said that it is important for everyone to think seriously about the theme of the Expo, "life," and create it ourselves.

To that end, we will hold various events even before the Expo begins to expand opportunities to meet various people.

Mr. Nakajima's jellyfish-like expo. I'm really looking forward to seeing how it will turn out.