Throughout my course in Japan, I’ve been thinking about sustainability and the different ways that the US approaches sustainability vs Japan. I’ve noticed that in Japan the movement to reduce, reuse, and recycle is taken a lot more seriously as well as the aim to keep a clean environment. While there are barely any trash cans, there’s also little to no trash on the ground in the areas that I travelled. There’s a continuous use of the separation of trash into burnable, non burnable and recyclable trash. I noticed at the world expo, there was even a set of people working standing by the trash cans to make sure waste was disposed of in the proper can. In the realm of sustainability, transportation technology in the US and Japan differs in a number of ways. For one, trains and public transportation are more relied upon especially in densely populated cities like Tokyo, with its population of 37 million which is over 10 times the population of Columbus. Shinkansens are electric and don’t rely on fossil fuels making them a more efficient and environmentally sustainable mode of transportation than cars. In the US, individualism is heavily enforced; just as individual modes of transportation are enforced. While Japan is more efficient in promoting sustainability in some areas, it stands that Japan is in the top 10 when it comes to the countries with the highest global carbon emissions. There is talk of moving to even more sustainable means of finding energy. At Tsukuba University we talked about a push for nuclear energy. The reluctance to readopt nuclear energy is mainly in part due to the Fukushima accident where a level 9 earthquake and a tsunami caused radioactive materials to leak from a nuclear power plant, leading to over 19,000 lives lost. So, while nuclear energy is considered  more sustainable, there’s an increased level of precaution especially with environmental factors. 

In the realm of reaching a carbon neutral society, there have been recent efforts to promote sustainability. For example, SoftBank, a Japanese company focused on emerging technology and digital infrastructure, made the pledge to move to 100% renewable energy by 2030. I’ve seen similar initiatives in the US. For example, Ohio State made a pledge to be carbon neutral  by 2050. They plan to accomplish this through a number of initiatives including promoting COTA and public transportation. Other initiatives include reusable food containers and upgrades to cooling and heating building systems.

    The first pavilion I went to at the Osaka World Expo was the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion, and it showed how creative and forward-thinking the exhibits were going to be. One thing that really stuck with me was this special kind of paint that can generate electricity, act as insulation, and block solar heat. It lowers the temperature inside buildings, which helps reduce air conditioning use and saves energy. I thought that was a clever way to fight climate change since it’s such a small tool that could still make a big difference in mitigating global warming. I loved that it was both practical and environmentally focused.

    After that, I visited the Vietnam Pavilion, which I found to be very meaningful to me. Being Vietnamese-American, I was excited to learn more about the country my family is from, and I ended up learning way more than I expected. I did not realize Vietnam was 16th in the world in population or that it had diplomatic relations with 194 out of 200 countries. It was also cool to find out that in 2024, Vietnam held positions in all six key governing mechanisms of UNESCO for the first time. There was also beautiful artwork and cultural displays that reminded me of home. I felt a sense of pride seeing how far Vietnam has come and how much it is contributing globally.

    I ended the day at the Earth Mart Pavilion, and even though it was near the end of our time there, I made sure to really slow down and take in everything. This one changed how I think about food. It explained how much effort and energy go into producing what we eat and how our food choices affect the planet. I’ve only heard about it, but I got to see an actual 3D printer for food. It does seem like a strange concept, but the more I learned, the more it made sense as a way to reduce waste and make food production more sustainable. It made me appreciate the food I eat and reminded me not to take it for granted. With the increasing world population, it’s crucial to reduce the food we waste and learn how to make the food we eat in a more eco-friendly fashion. Having this pavilion was really eye-opening and I hope others can learn the same from it.

    Visiting these pavilions back to back made me reflect a lot, not just on technology, but also on my identity and how much there is to learn from other cultures and innovations. Even though we did not get to see everything, I am glad I took the time to slow down and be present in the ones that meant the most to me.

    While abroad during the Japanese American Design Experience I was able to go to the World Expo in Osaka. I will be honest before enrolling in the course I was unaware of what this event was. I now know that this event is based on international cooperation, breakthroughs in technology, cultural achievements, and tackling pressing modern societal problems. More importantly, I learned that it is an extreme honor to be able to attend, especially since the expo is only offered every five years. I am so grateful to have this once-in-a-lifetime experience. I had no idea how many different exhibits there would be or how massive the fair itself would be! 

    There were so many countries trying to showcase different innovations and cultural goals they were trying to achieve, including the United States which seemed to try to highlight the several gargantuan accomplishments that we have achieved whilst trying to stress the necessity of building coalitions of diverse groups of individuals to challenge what is thought to be impossible. The exhibit talked a lot about the space race and finished with a rocket blasting off after showing a multitude of pictures highlighting different collaborations within science, technology, and policy. I know I now will have the song lyrics about imagining what we could do together burned into my memory until the end of time because it was playing nonstop in our nation’s pavilion. However, I think this stressed a very great point despite the fact that it was done in a very repetitive and annoyingly catchy way. In order to conquer current societal needs and issues we must stick together! Now more than ever we are reminded that modern generations are faced with problems with unprecedented reach and severity that are accompanied by even tougher solutions. Climate change, biodiversity, poverty, and food security to name a few are only continuing to become harder and harder to understand. It feels as if resolution for some of these issues seem to be getting farther and farther away from our grasp. I think The United States’ pavilion didn’t necessarily address current societal issues directly. Instead, it reminded all of those who came to the show of all the country has achieved by imagining together and embracing the power of its diversity. The theme of the pavilion’s experience was to remind everyone that while it may be easy to be pessimistic about solving contemporary problems, it is important to soldier on and realize that there is indeed a solution within our reach; we simply have to build bridges to imagine a better future.

I visited the “Advanced Air Mobility Station” during my time at The World Expo. I saw an air mobility helicopter fairly close there as well. I first thought it was just another prototype or concept car; then, after I knew more about its operation and intended use, my perspective on engineering and transportation going forward changed entirely. Designed like drones, air mobility helicopters are meant to take off and land vertically. Most of them run on electricity and they are smaller than conventional helicopters. Their goal is to cut travel time by flying over traffic instead of becoming caught in it—makes them quite eager.  

Consider a city like Tokyo or New York to help you to put it in perspective. Air may cut a vehicle, rail, or subway commute that might run 45 minutes to over an hour during rush hour to 10 to 15 minutes. They presented several scenarios and conditions of how this aircraft will operate in different cities all around the globe at this station. What particularly caught my attention is how this might affect everyone’s daily lives. Should this technology become reasonably priced and generally accessible, it could fundamentally alter our design of cities, constructions of homes, and even personal choice of residence.  

Most of the models in development run on electric power, so flying generates zero emissions. This might be a big stride forward in lowering our carbon footprint when compared to flights and gas-powered vehicles. I also gave much thought on how this might assist people in crisis. Consider people living in remote locations without access to large hospitals or ambulances caught in traffic. The trip time might be reduced in an air mobility helicopter to minutes. These aircraft might fly across wrecked highways in natural disasters like floods or earthquakes and carry supplies or rescue teams.  

 Seeing one personally made all the difference. It was right here, not only a concept found in a textbook. It also let me realize how near we are to a day when this kind of mobility becomes the norm. Should we be able to make air mobility safe, reasonably priced, and easily available, it would change not only our means of transportation but also our way of life and future planning. Being a member of the generation of engineers who will contribute to define that future excites me as well. 

Despite the limited time I had and the enormous lines, my time at the Osaka World Expo was an eye-opening experience. One pavilion that really stood out to me was the Earth Mart Pavilion. This pavilion not only captivated my interest but also made me rethink my relationship with food and the broader implications of our dietary choices.

The Earth Mart Pavilion showed the journey our food takes from its origins to the plate. It highlighted the immense effort, life, and hard work that go into producing the food that we eat every day and that we often take for granted. Another aspect of Earth Mart that was interesting was its focus on innovations aimed to ensure sustainability while maintaining abundance. This is a critical issue in today’s world, where food is increasingly becoming scarcer as the population of the world increases.

One innovation that was showcased was 3D-printed food. It seemed weird to me when I first saw it, but if it tastes just as good as regular food, I think it could have the potential to revolutionize the way we produce and consume food. By grinding up food into a fine powder, a machine can recreate it using 3-D printing, which could result in a more sustainable way to produce food.

What struck me the most was how it made me reflect on the broader impact of my food choices. It reminded me that every meal we consume has an effect on the world around us. From the resources used to make it to the carbon footprint that it leaves behind, our food choices matter. This realization has changed my perspective on food, making me more aware of our need to continue to support sustainable practices in all disciplines.

I also visited the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion, which presented a variety of innovations designed to enhance health and well-being globally. Some of the featured technologies included a “human washing machine” that aims to cleanse both body and mind, interactive AI avatars for communication, and sustainable fashion powered by artificial intelligence. While creative, I found some of these ideas, especially the AI fashion, a bit strange. The concept involved a lightweight fabric embedded with LEDs and an AI system that would adapt the outfit’s appearance based on temperature or mood. While impressive from a technological standpoint, I personally believe fashion should remain a human-driven, creative expression. Relying on AI in this way feels like it could dilute the individuality and personality that clothing represents. I believe there’s certainly more meaningful paths to sustainability in fashion, such as reducing waste in fast fashion.

Overall, I found the visit to the Osaka Expo to be enjoyable. I wish I could’ve gotten to see more pavilions, but the ones that I did have the chance to see sparked deep thought.

Within the World Expo I saw Commons A and D. I also saw a few countries like Senegal, Chile, and India. I did not see much talk about new technology being utilized within some of these countries’ pavilions. Most countries talked about either the accomplishments of the past or focused on specific industries that made them stand out or provided a larger opportunity for growth globally.

Ghana was a country in Common A, in the Empowering Lives Zone. The pavilion talked mainly about the free high school program established in 2017, which eliminated fees and tuition for senior high and vocational schools, and the increased amount of tourists since the year 2019. The pavilion fell short of addressing how Ghana was effectively taking charge of addressing issues that are currently plaguing the country. It was as if they were praising themselves for their past without looking toward what the government, private, or individuals are currently doing to prepare for the future. It would have been interesting to see what they were doing to prepare for the expected population growth in 2050 which will increase the number of youth. It would have also been interesting to see ways in which the country was trying to decrease the congestion in its main city.

Some other countries fell short of the expo, their pavilions were just about promoting tourism to their countries. They did not respond to/ understand the given assignment for the expo. It felt like a wasted opportunity to address incoming and potential change for the future. It would have been great to see how some countries were preparing for an increase in mobility through population growth.

Some new technology I saw was from the SkyDrive pavilion, it is a fully electric aircraft that produces zero CO2 emissions during flights. It was designed for passenger transport and meets safety standards similar to commercial airplanes. SkyDrive plans to realize its commercial services in Osaka around 2028. It was cool to see new forms of mobility and how they tie into what we learned at the University of Tsukuba through student presentations. Where group 2, I think, talked about the possibility of creating new cities to decrease congestion in major cities while increasing connectivity through air travel. It is amazing to see how fast and how far technology is advancing. I am excited and a little anxious to see what the next 5 to 25 years look like as I continue to grow and learn.

I visited two pavilions, the Robot and Mobility Station and the Advanced Air Mobility Station, both relating to my group’s project proposal of Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing vehicles (eVTOL). The Robot and Mobility Station had a broader goal of improving mobility. For Japan specifically, the company Waku Mobi is introducing advanced personal mobility vehicles for the aging population. These vehicles are able to route to locations automatically and have the ability to self-park and return when the driver needs it through a dedicated app. This technology is important so that the aging population in Japan can still be part of society. A huge issue for this population is the lack of human interaction and isolation. At the University of Tsukuba, we have seen work on robots that can compress and react to human touch to reciprocate. Further, having mobility issues at an older age is also a hurdle to overcoming isolation. With this mobility vehicle, the aging population will have an easier time getting out of the house and seeing their loved ones. However, though I think the intention is nice, there may be major pushback and resistance to using it. As we have seen for many new technologies throughout history, there is always a fear or hesitation to adopt it, especially in the older generations. There were other vehicles and mobility devices at this pavilion, including moon trucks, automatic rolling suitcases, and drone automation. 

The other pavilion worked with the eVTOL vehicles. These vehicles will be used to supplement and maybe someday replace some forms of public transportation. Some important features of these vehicles are that they are electric, being more environmentally conscious, they are nearly silent compared to other flying vehicles, and they can use the untouched space that taxis and buses are bound to. These vehicles could revolutionize and ease the amount of traffic and air pollution being seen in the current day. The issue with these vehicles is safety. There is much concern over the laws and regulations to ensure the safety of passengers and pedestrians below. As with all new things, for example, the internet, it will take time to regulate and create the appropriate laws and protections for all parties to ensure the safety for all. As we speak, the construction of hubs and implementation of these vehicles are under way in Dubai. The test flights and application of these vehicles there will be invaluable to the future of air mobility. 

Out of the three pavilions I went to, the most significant would be the US Pavillion. They had English speaking tours on the hour, so we got to skip the other long lines. Instead, we got in a “pre-line” around 2:15pm and attended the 3pm tour. The pavilion followed a mascot named star that sang songs about innovation and forming connections. The pavilion mainly showed cool graphics and videos on screens and didn’t go into much depth about the Artemis program or going back to the moon. There was also another section that just played videos of American cities. However, the only thing I learned was that the US had plans to go back to the moon. I’ve been curious why they haven’t gone back since 1969. Perhaps they never had any financial incentives or anything, but now there’s news of the US president cutting NASA’s budget even more. I don’t really understand the reasoning behind that decision or if it’s to allow private companies a way. After visiting the pavilion and watching the cool videos, I decided to do a bit more research into the Artemis Program. The end goal is to set up a base on the moon to eventually go to mars. That sounds very cool, but I’m not sure if that’s what the US needs right now. Additionally, the pavilion discussed forming partnerships and connections, but to my knowledge the US isn’t on the best of terms with many countries right now. The pavilion seemed a bit contradictory to what the US was actually pursuing, and it seemed leave a bad taste in my mouth.

Furthermore, I never even heard of the Artemis program before visiting the US expo, but to be fair I don’t really follow space. However, I felt like if it was US’s priority I would have heard about it. I also thought that the pavilion would address the Earth’s issues like climate change, violence, or the political polarization that plagues America. I believe that America should be going to space and doing so with good intention. Another thing the pavilion should have addressed is the growing issue of space debris, and how it can be addressed to promote sustainable space development. I do think that the US pavilion was out of touch with the current US climate, but it also sort of inspired me. I really did enjoy the cool graphics and songs, and I hope that the Artemis program will succeed. I think that the US can be a power for good again and bring about awesome changes like a base on the moon. Hopefully, this program can bring about good news that will help unite our country.

After one week of learning at the University of Tsukuba, exploring the cities and the World Expo, I learned both the history of public transportation in Japan and the future of public transportation in the world. So, it is time to summarize all the things I learned in these two weeks. If using one word to describe the future transportation, my word will be equality. I will explain why I chose this word rather than AI, an environmentally friendly kind of popular word.

First of all, mobility equality is one of the easiest goals to achieve in future transportation, but hardest to achieve at the same time. The mobility equality goal here is not only for disabled people but also for poor people. As we all know, public transportation means transportation for everyone, whatever they are. Logically, everyone can take public transportation, but transportation fees are still a barrier for many people. The barrier of using public transportation may limit the possibility for them to find a job to feed themselves. This is also a problem for people who become poor because of disability.

Second, carbon neutrality is a popular theme in future transportation. In this area, many companies have already shown up their ideas, such as electric vehicles or hydrogen vehicles. But the hardest thing to achieve carbon neutrality not only depends on new technology but also on government cooperation and propaganda. The only way to achieve carbon neutrality is to spend money on replacing high-pollution vehicles and adding new devices to limit pollution. Without the support of the government, people and companies will not be willing to spend extra money on it. Also, some of the developing countries do not have the technology to support their carbon-neutral plan. So, government cooperation will be the only way to help those countries to achieve the carbon-neutral goal. Besides that, government cooperation will also reduce the possibility of the happening of war. Although there is no research about carbon emissions in wars, there are more than in peacetime. Also, without propaganda, people find it hard to realize the importance of carbon neutrality.

All in a word, equality is the most important things in future transportation. This equality is not only the equality between people and also the equality of countries. We have already get the technology to make a better world, but the human nature slows down this process. I hope we can have a better world in the future.

At the World Expo in Osaka, I was fortunate enough to visit the United States pavilion. The pavilion’s focus was primarily on space travel and future space travel plans, with a small mention of environmental issues and global warming. During the presentation, I learned that the US’s Artemis program is planning to return to the moon.
One interesting piece of technology that they had on display for this program was a 3d printing rover that would fabricate housing on the lunar surface. Building a base on the moon is something that sounds like sci-fi. Comparing this to the first moon landing, I think it is a significant step forward. The point of the Artemis mission is to advance scientific discovery, explore deep space with international partners, and lay the foundation for future human missions to Mars. The mission goal of the first moon landing was to beat the Soviet Union to the moon. Simply setting foot on the moon and building a foundation to go to Mars are very different mission goals, with very different magnitudes.
I would like to briefly reflect on the mission goal itself. Going to Mars seems like an oversight. It’s an oversight about what is happening on our Planet. We’ve seen such an advance in technology and space travel in the past 50 or so years. Private companies that go to space are now becoming common. I think we should harness these advancements and focus on space programs that help the well-being of the planet. Not focusing on things like sending Katy Perry into orbit, and Teslas around the sun. Monitoring space debris, and monitoring land changes and weather patterns via satellite are things that are currently being done. I wonder what else could be accomplished on this end.
The most demanding and critical issue we face right now is our climate. While the US pavilion did mention it, I felt disappointed and discouraged that it wasn’t at the forefront. Additionally, I was also saddened that the image that the US pavilion painted was far from my image of the US. I feel that there is only discord in the United States and no Harmony, as the pavilion made it out to be. It does give me hope, though, that the future will be better and that we may do some of the things that our pavilion says we do. I am looking forward to that time.