Osaka Science Museum to Host Limited-Time Exhibit of 'Mishmash Orchestra' Cards from the Osaka-Kansai Expo Jellyfish Pavilion
From March 26th to April 12th, the Osaka Science Museum will display cards from the "Mishmash Orchestra," an interactive AR experience that was part of the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo's Jellyfish Pavilion. This exhibit is a feature of the museum's "Newly Acquired Materials Exhibition: Handheld Devices, Partners in the Expo Experience." During the exhibition, visitors will also have intermittent opportunities to experience the "Mishmash Orchestra" AR for themselves, which generates a concerto of sounds and visuals by holding various illustrated cards in front of a camera. The experience was developed by steAm, Inc. in collaboration with the Jellyfish Pavilion team and Hikarinokuni Co., Ltd.
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- 📰 Published: March 30, 2026 at 05:11
It has been announced that a selection of cards used in the "Mishmash Orchestra" AR (Augmented Reality) experience, a component of the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo's Signature Pavilion "Playground of Life: Jellyfish Pavilion," will be on display. The exhibition will take place from Thursday, March 26th, to Sunday, April 12th, at the Osaka Science Museum's currently running "Newly Acquired Materials Exhibition: Handheld Devices, Partners in the Expo Experience." Additionally, during the exhibition period, there will be irregular opportunities for visitors to try the "Mishmash Orchestra" experience using a curated set of five AR cards. The AR experience was a product co-developed by steAm, Inc. (CEO: Sachiko Nakajima), the Jellyfish Pavilion team, and Hikarinokuni Co., Ltd.
The "Mishmash Orchestra" was a popular permanent installation on the ground floor of the Jellyfish Pavilion, designed as an interactive and playful attraction engaging the five senses. The concept was an expansion of the "Augmented Music Playground," an idea conceived by the pavilion's producer, Sachiko Nakajima, during her time in New York working on media art. The installation became a major draw, with people of all ages gathering to enjoy the collaborative sounds and visuals created by holding multiple cards up to a camera. Following the Expo, this mechanism was partially adapted into commercial products like an AR version of the picture book "Clara and the Tree of Imagination" and AR picture book cards, making the experience accessible to a wider audience. The cards are provided by Hikarinokuni, featuring illustrations from a diverse range of artists, including picture book authors. The AR software is provided by steAm (in cooperation with T&S Co., Ltd.), and the audio features recorded performances by musicians centered around the KURAGE Band (steAm).
Overview of the "Newly Acquired Materials Exhibition: Handheld Devices, Partners in the Expo Experience"
The Osaka Science Museum has urgently collected notable "handheld devices" from the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo that transformed exhibition viewing into an "active experience." Through the display of these actual devices, the museum aims to explore the evolution of exhibition styles prompted by the Expo.
Dates: Wednesday, February 18th - Sunday, April 12th, from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM (last admission to the exhibition hall is at 4:30 PM).
The "Mishmash Orchestra" was a popular permanent installation on the ground floor of the Jellyfish Pavilion, designed as an interactive and playful attraction engaging the five senses. The concept was an expansion of the "Augmented Music Playground," an idea conceived by the pavilion's producer, Sachiko Nakajima, during her time in New York working on media art. The installation became a major draw, with people of all ages gathering to enjoy the collaborative sounds and visuals created by holding multiple cards up to a camera. Following the Expo, this mechanism was partially adapted into commercial products like an AR version of the picture book "Clara and the Tree of Imagination" and AR picture book cards, making the experience accessible to a wider audience. The cards are provided by Hikarinokuni, featuring illustrations from a diverse range of artists, including picture book authors. The AR software is provided by steAm (in cooperation with T&S Co., Ltd.), and the audio features recorded performances by musicians centered around the KURAGE Band (steAm).
Overview of the "Newly Acquired Materials Exhibition: Handheld Devices, Partners in the Expo Experience"
The Osaka Science Museum has urgently collected notable "handheld devices" from the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo that transformed exhibition viewing into an "active experience." Through the display of these actual devices, the museum aims to explore the evolution of exhibition styles prompted by the Expo.
Dates: Wednesday, February 18th - Sunday, April 12th, from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM (last admission to the exhibition hall is at 4:30 PM).