Inheriting the Expo Legacy to Awaji Island, Hyogo Prefecture

Pasona Group Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Chairman & CEO: Hirotaka Wakamoto) announced today, June 29, that it has signed a transfer agreement with the architectural consortium AND (A New Dawn) B.V.※, which was responsible for the design and construction of the Netherlands Pavilion "A New Dawn" exhibited at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai.

The pavilion will now be relocated to Awaji Island in Hyogo Prefecture, where it will serve as a symbolic office space for Pasona Group employees working on the island.

▲Masami Asanuma, President & CEO, Asanuma Corporation; Paul van Bergen, DGMR; Hirotaka Wakamoto, Chairman & CEO, Pasona Group Inc.

The theme of the Netherlands Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai was "Common Ground"—a shared foundation for co-creation and generating new value together. Designed under a circular concept, the pavilion features a glowing spherical structure floating at its center, symbolizing sustainable energy and the "rising sun." As the official Kids Ambassador, Miffy welcomed visitors who interacted with an immersive spherical device called "The Orb," exploring future lifestyles in renewable energy, circular economy, and life sciences. The pavilion welcomed approximately 1.2 million visitors.

In this context, Pasona Group and the Netherlands Pavilion's architectural consortium (AND B.V.) signed a basic agreement on April 25, 2025, to jointly pursue the pavilion’s reuse as part of the Expo’s legacy. On May 20 of the same year, they announced that Awaji Island, Hyogo Prefecture, would be the intended relocation site.

Today, June 29, Pasona Group held a signing ceremony for the transfer agreement at "Kimi," a music hall within "THE PASONA natureverse retreat," and simultaneously announced the planned relocation to Awaji City Yumebutai Sustainable Park (Yumebutai, Awaji City, Hyogo Prefecture).

The ceremony was attended by Consul General of the Netherlands Sandra Pellegrom, Senior Advisor Paul van Bergen (DGMR, AND B.V.), Architect, Director, and Founder Thomas Rau (RAU Architects, AND B.V.), Masami Asanuma, President & CEO of Asanuma Corporation, and Hirotaka Wakamoto, Chairman & CEO of Pasona Group Inc. Participants spoke about the significance of inheriting the legacy of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, and expressed gratitude to those who contributed to realizing the relocation.

From the initial planning phase, the building was designed for reusability, and Pasona Group will carry forward both the structure and the spirit it embodies. Going forward, as part of the "Office Project" initiative aimed at revitalizing the local community on Awaji Island, the pavilion will be reborn as a symbolic office where Pasona Group employees working on the island can gather.

Pasona Group will carry forward the legacy and vision of the Netherlands Pavilion from Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, and continue efforts toward sustainability, regional revitalization, and international exchange. The company also aims to foster greater interaction among local residents and visitors to Awaji Island, aspiring to make the pavilion a new landmark for the island.

※ A New Dawn (AND) B.V.: The consortium responsible for the design and construction of the Netherlands Pavilion, composed of Dutch architectural firm "RAU," experiential design studio "Tellart," engineering consultancy "DGMR," and Osaka-based general construction company "Asanuma Corporation."

[About the Netherlands Pavilion "A New Dawn – A New Beginning"]

Copyright Zhu Yumeng_RAU

The Netherlands, aiming to build a healthy and happy society for all, participated in Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai under the theme of "Common Ground"—a shared foundation for collaboration and co-creation. The pavilion is a circular structure made from reusable materials, featuring a glowing central sphere symbolizing sustainable clean energy and the sunrise—"man made sun - the sun for the next generation."