Asanuma Corporation's Involvement in the Netherlands Pavilion Moves to a New Phase for Relocation

Asanuma Corporation (Head Office: Naniwa-ku, Osaka; President and CEO: Makoto Asanuma) is pleased to announce that a transfer agreement was concluded on June 29, 2026, concerning the Netherlands Pavilion, for which Asanuma Corporation is involved in construction, dismantling, and relocation efforts for the 2025 Japan International Exposition (Osaka-Kansai Expo).

This agreement transfers ownership from the original owner, the consortium AND (A New Dawn) B.V. (*1), which was responsible for the pavilion's design and construction, to Pasona Group Inc. (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Chairman and CEO: Hirotaka Wakimoto, hereinafter "Pasona Group"). This marks a significant milestone following the basic agreement on relocation signed by both parties on April 25, 2025, advancing the relocation efforts to Awaji Island, Hyogo Prefecture, into a new phase and allowing for more concrete discussions regarding its reconstruction.

From left: Makoto Asanuma, President and CEO of Asanuma Corporation; Paul van Bergen, Senior Advisor at DGMR; Hirotaka Wakimoto, Chairman and CEO of Pasona Group Inc.

A Construction Company's Challenge in a Relocation Project to Circulate Architecture as a Resource

The Netherlands Pavilion is a practice of circular architecture, planned from the outset with dismantling and reuse in mind. It is extremely rare among overseas pavilions at the Osaka-Kansai Expo to be relocated without significant changes to its exterior appearance or structure.

In this context, our company, as a member of AND B.V., has participated from the design stage through to construction and dismantling. During construction, we numbered each component and managed their locations, performing construction and management with reuse in mind. For dismantling, unlike standard demolition, we carefully disassembled each component with quality in consideration, anticipating relocation.

Currently, our company is responsible for the storage and maintenance of the dismantled components. For reuse, we store the components while inspecting them based on our proposed storage guidelines, and we also conduct environmental management and condition checks to maintain quality. We are actively engaged in relocation efforts, aiming to undertake the reconstruction on Awaji Island, Hyogo Prefecture, the future relocation site.

Holding of a Symbolic "Transfer Agreement Signing Ceremony" for Relocation

Amidst these developments, a transfer agreement signing ceremony was held, marking a crucial milestone for relocation, where ownership was handed over from AND B.V. to Pasona Group. The ceremony was attended by Consul General of the Netherlands Sandra Pellegrom, Chairman and CEO of Pasona Group Inc. Hirotaka Wakimoto, Senior Advisor Paul van Bergen of DGMR and Architect, Director, Founder Thomas Rau of RAU Architects, participating companies of AND B.V., and President and CEO Makoto Asanuma of Asanuma Corporation. Speeches were made regarding the significance of inheriting the legacy of the Osaka-Kansai Expo and expressing gratitude to those who contributed to the realization of this relocation.

Our President, Asanuma, stated, "From the construction phase, we have carefully attended to the 'voices' of each component, striving to pass on their value without compromise. I am confident that these cumulative efforts are a concrete practice towards realizing a circular society." He further expressed his ambition for the relocation project: "To reawaken the aspirations embodied in each component in this land of Awaji and to culminate them into new value and stories. This is the role entrusted to us at Asanuma Corporation." His remarks conveyed the significance and pride of participating in this relocation project as a construction company, as well as his motivation for undertaking this challenge.

The relocation of the Netherlands Pavilion is an initiative to carry the legacy of the Osaka-Kansai Expo into the future. It is also a highly meaningful project in terms of inheriting architectural value to the next generation while utilizing limited resources. Preparations for relocation to Awaji Island will now intensify. While there are few precedents, this represents a significant challenge for our company, but we will continue to connect the value of the Netherlands Pavilion to its next location in collaboration with all relevant parties.

[Reference: Press Release Regarding the Conclusion of the Basic Agreement on Relocation dated May 20, 2025]

Our Company HP: https://www.asanuma.co.jp/news/index_news_pdf/20250520n.pdf

PR Times: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000009.000077355.html

[Reference: Special Website Detailing the Construction Story of the Netherlands Pavilion during its New Construction]

Osaka-Kansai Expo Netherlands Pavilion Construction: The Trajectory of "Team Asanuma Corporation" Creating the Future Through Challenges https://www.asanuma.co.jp/expo2025/

*1 AND (A New Dawn) B.V.: A consortium of Japanese and Dutch companies responsible for the design and construction of the Netherlands Pavilion. It comprises the Dutch architectural firm RAU, the experiential design studio Tellart, the engineering and consulting firm DGMR, and the Japanese general construction company Asanuma Corporation.

About Asanuma Corporation With the slogan "We have a proud history, and a future we want to create," Asanuma Corporation has been a general construction company dedicated to sincere craftsmanship and working closely with customers for over 130 years since its founding.

Company Name: Asanuma Corporation Head Office: Maruito Namba Building, 1-2-3 Minatomachi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka Founded: January 1892 Established: June 1937 Representative: Makoto Asanuma, President and CEO Asanuma Corporation Corporate Site: https://www.asanuma.co.jp/

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