Czechia lays foundation stone for National Pavilion one month after signing with general contractor. Czech Pavilion to be Japan's first metal-free CLT timber structure

"With 333 days left until the start of EXPO 2025, this day is considered one of the luckiest days according to the Shinto calendar. Therefore, I believe that we will succeed in building according to the designs and plans of the architects and designers. We continue to adhere to our original and unique design, which emerged from an open architectural competition. We are one of the countries that are successfully advancing preparations and sticking with a Type A pavilion (i.e., our own design). We are aware that our pavilion is innovative in many ways, and I am very pleased to announce that it will be the first CLT wooden structure of its size without a metal frame in Japan," says Ondřej Soška, Czech Commissioner General.

During the morning ceremony on the Czech land on the island of Yumeshima, the ceremony for the pacification of the earth deities, Jichinsai, took place. This is a Shinto ritual that takes place in Japan before the start of the construction of a new building. The ritual requires permission from the landowner's deity to use the land for construction. It is also a way of praying for safety during construction.

"On Thursday, 9 May 2024, we received the land from the organisers; now we are starting the preparatory work so that we can start building as soon as possible. We are very pleased to be part of the construction of the Czech National Pavilion and to receive such an honour. The Czech pavilion will be a challenging structure – a CLT wooden construction clad in glass. We will be working with Czech suppliers who will also be involved in the actual construction on Yumeshima Island. Our company is currently focusing more on wooden construction, and your pavilion serves as a great reference for future projects. We would like to establish closer cooperation with Czechia and local companies in the future," says Kazunori Murao, CEO and President of Daisue

Now that the general contractor has been selected, Team EXPO Czechia is actively seeking partners. During the 26 EXPO weeks, a number of business themes and conferences will be prepared and presented in Japan together with partners. These include nanotechnologies, fintech, space technologies, cybersecurity, and the circular economy. A full overview can be found in the attachment to this press release. The Team of Commissioner General Soška is looking for partners and interested parties for cooperation in Japan. Interested parties can contact partnership@expo2025czechia.com. By way of example, Czech companies Elmarco and AtomTrace, which signed a cooperation agreement with Commissioner General Soška in April 2024, are preparing for the EXPO in this way.

The business program will generally take place in the pavilion from Tuesday to Thursday, with Mondays designated as corporate days when partners will be able to rent certain parts of the pavilion. Cultural programs will take place on Fridays and weekends.

On the day of the groundbreaking ceremony, Czechia introduced the official mascot of the Czech participation at EXPO 2025 to the Japanese public – Exponaut René. "Mascots and cartoon characters are extremely popular in Japan. From the beginning, we take our participation very seriously and want to be fully involved. That is why we are introducing a character who has the ambition to become the best friend of the official mascot, Myaku-Myaku. After internal discussions, we decided to pay tribute to the exceptional Czech artist who exhibited in Osaka in 1970, René Roubíček," says Czech Commissioner General Ondřej Soška.

On this occasion, the Office of the Commissioner General introduces a video spot, created in cooperation with the daughter of the artist René Roubíček, Michaela Lesařová Roubíčková, the Czech art glassworks Pačinek Glass, and the Czech creative director Jakub Jahn.

René is a crystal glass creature and is as friendly, surprising and playful as the glass itself. He was born in the fiery furnace of a glassworks in the legendary crystal valley in Czechia. René, named after his creator, glass artist and designer René Roubíček, will be the official symbol and mascot of the Czech National Pavilion at EXPO 2025 in Osaka. René Roubíček, who designed the sculpture "Cloud-Water, Source of Life" for EXPO 1970 in Osaka, symbolically returns to the same city in Japan after 55 years. René will be available in both crystal and plush versions, with the plush version officially available at the end of 2024.

"Both my father and mother were among the founders of a new approach to glass, when glass - a material previously used exclusively for utility objects - began to be used as a material for creating sculptures. This gave rise to a new artistic discipline known as glass sculpture. Roubíček's sculpture, selected as the mascot, is exactly such a work from the early days of this new artistic field. I am delighted that his contribution to global development has not been forgotten. At the same time, I am very proud that my father's work can become the official symbol of our country's representation abroad," concludes Czech artist Michaela Lesašová Roubíčková.

However, René will not be the only graphic element Czechia will use for their presentation. At a press conference, the visual identity of the Czech participation at EXPO 2025 was presented – the linden leaf, based on the Czech national tree inspired by Czech glass art and Japanese culture and symbols. The symbol of the linden leaf also connects to the Czech logo at the 2005 World EXPO in Aichi, also in Japan.

About the Czech Pavilion at EXPO 2025 In December 2022, after more than twenty years, the Office of the Commissioner General announced an open, anonymous architectural competition to design the National Pavilion for EXPO 2025. Thirty-eight studios have participated, and in March 2023 a jury of experts led by the world-renowned architect Eva Jiřičná selected the winning design: a glass spiral by Apropos Architects. The main structure of the building will be made of modern wood panels, while the façade will feature art glass, which has a centuries-old tradition in Czechia. The National Pavilion, which will be located on the artificial island of Yumeshima in Osaka Bay from April to October 2025, will provide a prestigious setting for Czech participation at  EXPO 2025. The pavilion will house a permanent exhibition, a multifunctional auditorium, facilities for business meetings, restaurants, VIP lounges and a relaxation area overlooking the sea.

About the Czech participation at EXPO 2025 This will be the sixth time that Czechia has taken part in a world exhibition as an independent state. Ondřej Soška, who won the Ministry of Foreign Affairs selection process with his concept and theme "Talent and Creativity for Life", has been serving as Commissioner General since September 2022. Czechia aims to showcase not only what the Japanese already know and admire, such as Czech glass and classical music, but above all Czech innovations, nanotechnologies, promising start-ups and talent from the regions.