Expo 85 (Tsukuba, Japan)

Expo '85, officially called the International Exhibition, Tsukuba Japan 1985 (国際科学技術博覧会, Kokusai Kagaku Gijutsu Hakurankai, "The International Science Technology Exposition"), was a world's fair held in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan (Tsukuba Science City, a planned city focused on technology north of Tokyo) between Sunday, March 17 and Monday, September 16, 1985.[1][2] The theme of the fair was "Dwellings and surroundings – Science and Technology for Man at Home".[1] Attendance was over 20 million and 48 countries participated,[1] along with several companies.

"Expo 85" redirects here. For the other expo in 1985, see Expo 85 (Plovdiv, Bulgaria).
1985 Tsukuba
Fuyō Pavilion
Overview
BIE-classSpecialized exposition
CategoryInternational specialized exposition
NameInternational Exhibition, Tsukuba Japan 1985 (国際科学技術博覧会, Kokusai Kagaku Gijutsu Hakurankai, "The International Science Technology Exposition")
MottoDwellings and surroundings – Science and Technology for Man at Home
Area102 hectares (250 acres)
Visitors20,334,727
MascotCosmo Hoshimaru
Participant(s)
Countries111
Organizations3
Business18
Location
CountryJapan
CityTsukuba
Timeline
OpeningMarch 17, 1985 (1985-03-17)
ClosureSeptember 16, 1985 (1985-09-16)
Specialized expositions
Previous1984 Louisiana World Exposition in New Orleans
NextExpo 86 in Vancouver
Universal expositions
PreviousExpo '70 in Osaka
NextSeville Expo '92 in Seville
Horticultural expositions
PreviousInternational Garden Festival in Liverpool
NextExpo '90 in Osaka
Simultaneous
SpecializedExpo 85 in Plovdiv

The exposition

The exhibition recognised by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), was devoted to the advancements in science and technology, and sought to highlight the impact of technological evolution on ordinary life[3] to ensure that science and technology would be accessible to everyone.[4]

The exhibition had a double intention. It was expected that the exposition would showcase Japan as a country of technological innovation. In addition, organisers hoped that the Expo would give some much needed exposure to Tsukuba, a city created 2 decades before as a scientific center, without much success.[3]

Among the attractions of the exposition was the first Jumbotron, a huge TV screen developed by the Japanese firm Sony.[3]

Grouped by continent, the participant countries were as follows:

Africa
Asia
The Americas
Europe
Oceania

In regards to the companies, the ones who were present are as follows:

Also present were the United Nations, the European Economic Community, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Asian Development Bank, along with the government of the Ibaraki prefecture.

Mascot

The mascot was Cosmo Hoshimaru[5] was designed by a student in a design competition,[6] and shows either a anthropomorphic planet with a ring[6] or an alien astronaut with a flying saucer.[7]

See also

References
  1. "1985 Tsukuba". Paris: Bureau of International Expositions. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  2. "International exhibitions as referred to in Article 55 EPC - OJ EPO 1979, 159 - 2015, A43". epo.org. European Patent Office. pp. 219–227. Archived from the original on 2021-10-14. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  3. "Tsukuba Expo 85, un gran espectáculo". El País (in Spanish). Madrid: Ediciones El País. March 15, 1985. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  4. Ahl, David (August 1985). "Expo '85: International, but Oh, so Japanese". Creative Computing. Vol. 11, no. 8. Los Angeles: Ahl Computing. pp. 66–67.
  5. "ExpoMuseum / World's Fair Mascots". Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  6. "From Pelican to Plankton: A Brief History of Expo Mascots | Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea". Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  7. Linden, Gordon L (2016), "1985 Tsukuba, Japan", The Book of Expo Guidebooks, The Expo Book, p. 124, ISBN 978 1 329 77870 2

Further reading
  • Narita, Tatsushi. 'Tsukuba 1985.' In Encyclopedia of World's Fairs and Expositions, ed. John E. Findling and Kimberly D. Pelle. Jefferson, NC and London:McFarland, 2008. pp. 364–367.
  • "Expo '85 At Tsukuba". Popular Mechanics: 102–105. May 1985.
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