CHITOSE GROUP | EXPO 2025

CHITOSE, a leader of the bioeconomy,
is building a prosperous future lasting for the next millennium.

At the Japan Pavilion, EXPO 2025,
we will unveil the unlimited potential of algae in making it a reality.

Imagine a future...

where microalgae keep us full, beautiful, warm, and even power our jet planes.
In such a future, a society is built on photosynthesis and people can enjoy prosperity in a sustainable way.

When we look back from that future, it would be amazing to say,
“The explosive influence of microalgae started at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo.”

Through this Japan Pavilion’s exhibition, we hope visitors will realize that
the vision of a future powered by microalgae is not just a dream,
but a reality that is already within reach—just beyond the display glass.

Message from CHITOSE

MATSURI ― Thousand Years of Prosperity Fueled by Algae ―

Journal

2025.04.02

Future beyond the display window
“Microalgae” has been chosen as the theme for the Farm Area of the Japan Pavilion at the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025, an event anticipated to draw visitors from ・・・

藻ALGALby MATSURI

“ALGAL by MATSURI” is a project that creates products of the future,
spearheaded by Japan’s leading companies that constitute MATSURI.
What we present here is not a mere dream, but a vision of “circulation” backed by proven technology and real potential.
Experience the future that lies beyond the showcase.

Dress / Clothing

IBUKI

Chitose Laboratory Corporation

Sustainable manufacturing that forgoes fossil resources and instead embraces the power of photosynthesis and sunlight through algae—it’s no longer a far-off vision of the future, but something beginning to take shape before our eyes. We believe the Expo will mark a turning point, allowing the quiet brilliance of algae to reach many hearts and become a powerful force that sustains our society. Just like algae that grow gracefully under the sun’s gentle gaze, algae-derived products will come alive under the spotlight of the Japan Pavilion, offering a glimpse into the everyday life of the future.

IBUKI

Crafted with a bio-based sheet made by blending algae and algae-derived components, Ibuki is a garment that breathes with life. Designer Takumi Tabata weaves into it the serene beauty of living beings, and the silent, resolute pulse of life itself. Algae’s vivid hues and unique textures meld into soft gradients, spreading across the dress like a quiet breath. Ibuki embodies a shift—from a society reliant on fossil resources to one that flows in harmony with the cycle of light and life. The materials born from algae will one day sustain the way we live, eat, and dress. This dress, imbued with the life force of algae, whispers the breath of a new era.

Skincare products

Bi no Tama Shizuku　
Bi no Tama Magatama

Shiseido

Vision product　
Left: Bi no Tama MagatamaRight: Bi no Tama Shizuku

In approaching a future beyond fossil resources, Shiseido’s research and development is focusing on algae. The company recognizes infinite possibilities in the breathtaking beauty and rapid reproductive power of these microscopic life forms that have continued to live on this planet since ancient times. The fusion of art and science, an attribute of Shiseido’s inherited DNA formed since its founding in 1872, has brought powerful inspiration to cosmetics that blend both premium quality and sustainability. At the heart of the prototype to be showcased at the Osaka-Kansai Expo lies the spirit of “Praise the virtues of the Earth, which nurtures new life and brings forth significant values.”*1 This is a cosmetic product that brings beauty not only to the people but also to the Earth and nature alike. With this wish, we named it Bi no Tama, meaning a jewel of beauty.

*1 Part of the Chinese classic Yi Jing, the Book of Changes from the Four Books and Five Classics of Confucianism. “Praise the virtues of the Earth, which nurtures new life and brings forth significant values.

Bi no Tama Shizuku (Skincare Lotion)

Ocean, Life, Jewels. This serum captures the beauty of algae in ocean-colored tiny beads. Using Shiseido’s original Lipid Shell Technology,*2 oils derived from algae are encapsulated within solid oil shells, forming visible beads. A droplet of a jewel bead dropping on your palm, pleasantly melting, then gently blending into your skin. The formulation was created with the image of it leading to vibrant, life-filled skin.

*2 Emulsion particles—tiny droplets formed by mixing oil and water—are typically made less than 50 μm in size to prevent separation. Lipid Shell Technology enables these particles to remain stable even when made large enough to be visible to the naked eye.

Bi no Tama Magatama (Skincare Cream)

Earth, Life, Nature’s Gifts. This cream, inspired by a respect for nature and the traditional Japanese sense of beauty, features jewel-like beads in three colors. Using film-forming technology, jelly-like polysaccharides—naturally developed by brown algae such as kelp over the course of evolution—were shaped into delicate orbs. The beads release a creamy essence when gently pressed in your palm. The formula was designed to create a gentle, soothing moment with each use.

The beauty of algae

Freeze-dried soup

Spirulina Miso Soup

Maruha Nichiro Corporation

We at Maruha Nichiro are committed to maximizing economic added value as a foundation, and to combining social values, such as building a sustainable supply chain and providing food, with environmental values, such as realizing a recycling-oriented society.
We are participating in the Osaka-Kansai Expo with the belief that we must be able to create new values to address various global issues and build a sustainable future.

Spirulina Miso Soup

We have added spirulina—a nutrient-rich algae that produces oxygen and sugars through photosynthesis, requires no soil for cultivation, and has a low environmental footprint—as an ingredient in miso soup, a staple of Japanese cuisine. We want to provide an opportunity to think about and feel the power and sustainability of algae through the act of ‘eating’. We would also be delighted if you could share our theme project ‘Weaving Life’, in which we consider the value of the act of eating and transmit the spirit of ‘Itadakimasu’ (Thank you for the food), which is in the spirit of Japanese food culture. As an experience that allows visitors to embody the concept of “circulation” showcased in the Japan Pavilion, we plan to distribute the Spirulina Miso Soup at the Farm Area starting in late June.

Eco-friendly paint

PAINTOMO

Musashi Paint Holdings Co., Ltd.

Musashi Paint Group is sincerely committed to contributing to global environmental protection, guided by our purpose: “Enriching the World with Our Colors and Technology.” Our plant-based bio-paint has already reached a commercially viable stage for industrial applications, and we continue to expand its use. In pursuit of further innovation and social contribution, we have developed the world’s first bio-paint formulated with algae-derived resins through a strong partnership with CHITOSE Group. As algae’s potential gains global attention at Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai, we are excited to showcase this breakthrough and demonstrate the transformative possibilities of algae-based technology. By participating in the Expo, we aim to raise awareness of algae’s industrial potential and accelerate the shift toward a circular economy.

PAINTOMO

We created an object using algae-based paint to symbolize a sustainable future. The dynamic burst of this innovative paint represents bio-based creativity and growth, inspired by nature.

Bio Dual Fuel Bulk Carrier

KAMSARMAX

Fuyo Kaiun Co., Ltd.

Among the algae-derived products being developed through MATSURI are biofuels for ships and aircraft—critical industrial products in the move toward decarbonization. Biofuels, made from a variety of feedstocks such as crops, waste materials, and used cooking oil, are gaining global attention for their lower environmental impact, and their usage is rapidly expanding worldwide. These fuels can be used in conventional vessels, allowing immediate contributions to maritime decarbonization. However, since the supply of biofuels remains limited, flexibility is essential—such as the ability to operate using four different types of fuel: conventional heavy oil, bio-heavy oil, conventional methanol, and bio-methanol, as demonstrated by the vessel on display. Fuyo Kaiun Group sees low-impact biofuels as a key solution to the pressing challenge of decarbonizing maritime transport. As a sponsor of MATSURI, the group holds high expectations for the expansion of algae-derived biofuel production.

KAMSARMAX

KAMSARMAX is a bulk carrier independently developed by TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING and is used to transport unpackaged cargo such as iron ore and grain. These vessels play an important role in connecting countries around the world and are indispensable to our economic activities. The KAMSARMAX can carry 82,000 tonnes at a time, which is equivalent to 1.5 billion bowls of rice. This is a huge amount of rice, equivalent to about 50,000 years’ worth of rice if 30 people in one class were to eat three meals a day. Our KAMSARMAX is supported by customers around the world and is one of the Baltic Shipping Indexes, an indicator of market trends in the shipping industry, due to its high market share.

Packed cooked rice / Rice ball

Tsumugi of the Earth

TableMark Co., Ltd.

Our purpose is to “Bringing Joy to Meals and Fun to the Table“. We strive to deliver not only “deliciousness” but also “Joy to Meals” that exceed expectations through surprising and new encounters with food, and “Fun to the Table” that brings joy and smiles when shared with loved ones. Our business involves processing and delivering the blessings of nature, and thus, nature, society, and food are inseparable. In addition to creating value through food, we recognize the importance of caring for the environment in our efforts to build a sustainable future. Currently, as a part of our efforts towards forming a circular society, we are offering packed cooked rice in biomass film made from rice. This year, as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of our packed cooked rice, we introduce future food made with algae, which is expected to become a key alternative resource, as a new initiative towards building a circular society.

Tsumugi of the Earth　Packed cooked rice

We are offering environmentally-friendly “Future Packed Cooked Rice” which partially utilizes algae biomass, an alternative to petroleum-derived plastics, for its tray. The product name “Tsumugi of the Earth” embodies the idea of the cycle between the earth that nurtures rice and the water that nurtures algae. Additionally, the packaging of the “Future Packaged Cooked Rice” symbolizes the connection between people and algae, with our identity represented by the rice grain mark and the red thread that encircles our meticulous manufacturing process.

Tsumugi of the Earth　Onigiri (Rice ball)

This is a “Future Onigiri” - a traditional Japanese rice ball mixed with algae, a sustainable and nutritious ingredient of the future, and wrapped in seaweed made from microalgae.

Plastic bottle material

PET-MATSURI

Chitose Laboratory Corporation

PET-MATSURI

To break free from reliance on fossil resources, MATSURI has developed the world’s first 100% bio-PET resin made from algae. Created through the quiet work of photosynthesis and sunlight, this material stands as a symbol of next-generation manufacturing. With a vision of delivering a new kind of value—a PET resin that “reduces CO₂ the more you use it”—we will continue refining our algae cultivation technologies and embracing each new challenge, one light-filled step at a time.

Aviation Fuel

SAF-MATSURI

Chitose Laboratory Corporation

SAF-MATSURI

It is possible to create fuel for transportation from oil derived from algae. At MATSURI, we are conducting research and development to realize the practical use of algae-based SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel). Although the exhibit presents a conceptual model, we are steadily moving toward a future where the skies are powered 100% by algae.

From “materials” to “products”　Factory Area

From “water” to “materials” Farm Area

CHITOSE participates
as a technical supervisor
in the algae-focused Farm Area.

※1： Photo by Chitose Laboratory / Commissioned by NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization) ※2：Facility owner: Sarawak Biodiversity Center

CHITOSE leverages its algae-related technologies and expertise accumulated over 15 years
to provide technical support for algae-related exhibits,
including the highlight of the Farm Area ー the photobioreactor.

Press

2024.10.21

CHITOSE Partners as Technical Supervisor for Algae-Focused “Farm Area” Exhibit at Japan Pavilion for Osaka Expo 2025

The official press release from the Japan Pavilion regarding the Farm Area

From “materials” to “products” Factory Area

MATSURI project participates
in the Factory Area
as a sponsor exhibitor.

"ALGAL by MATSURI" is a joint effort among 5 companies developing exhibits,
5 companies supporting the exhibition, and CHITOSE.
Together, we are shaping the future with algae-based innovation.