Long long time ago, in the 70's in Suita, Osaka, a fair was held, not a simple, not a common fair, it was The 1970 World Fair. The event was Japan's third effort to host such an event, back in 1912 the planning ended due to the dead of Emperor Meiji; later in 1940, because of the outbreak of World War II... finally between march 15 and september 13 the fair remained open, hosting 77 countries at its pavilions and receiving aproximately 66.2 million visitors from all around the world!!!
The theme was "Progress and Harmony for Mankind", the main idea was to take what humankind progress in technology and sciences had become, instead of means of destruction and social margination, to highlight its potential to improve everyone's life and lead the world to better times. It was also a reflect of what Japan was becoming as it was upsurging as a strong economical power since the war.
The fair had indeed very interesting things, especially a moon rock brought to earth by the Apollo 11 astronauts and the first IMAX film ever seen. Now more than 30 years later the place where Expo 70 was held remains a large park called Expo Memorial Park (万博記念公園, Banpaku kinen-koen).
Other interesting stuff showed at the expo where 2 time capsules, prepared by Matsushita Co (now worldwidely know as Panasonic), containing 2098 objects covering many aspects of human culture. Buried up to 15 meters deep in the ground, one was opened in 2000 and has plans to be reopened every 100 years thereafter. The other capsule has to survive a time we might not be able to imagine... 5000 years, in 6970 is supposed to be opened... this one has inside a plutonium atomic clock, being the only artifact placed inside which will continue to operate during this period, moving its hand 3mm every 100 years. Here, there's some info about the capsule, which now remains in Osaka Castle Park.
"The time capsule is a message from the people of the 1970's to generations living 5,000 years from now."
The park has a giant statue standing right at the main entrance, called the "Sun Tower". To some of us it resembles the figure of an angel... (use some freak-evangelion reference here please, can't do anything about it, I'm in Japan), and is specially frightening to view at late night while taking the monorail... it gives me the shivers. Anyway, thats was art is all about, to evocate emotions on those who dares to listen, view or read at it.
Banpakukoen is full with nature all over and is pretty near from where I'm staying now (about 20 minutes walking from JICA OSIC). The first time we went there was during the "Ume Matsuri" or "Plum Flower Festival", the plum (梅, Ume, Ciruelo) blossoms about 2 weeks before the sakura.
I'm pretty sure I'll keep visiting this place, as it has a lot of things to see... specially in autumn with the maple trees turning red and almost every weekend hosting flea markets.
The theme was "Progress and Harmony for Mankind", the main idea was to take what humankind progress in technology and sciences had become, instead of means of destruction and social margination, to highlight its potential to improve everyone's life and lead the world to better times. It was also a reflect of what Japan was becoming as it was upsurging as a strong economical power since the war.
The fair had indeed very interesting things, especially a moon rock brought to earth by the Apollo 11 astronauts and the first IMAX film ever seen. Now more than 30 years later the place where Expo 70 was held remains a large park called Expo Memorial Park (万博記念公園, Banpaku kinen-koen).
Other interesting stuff showed at the expo where 2 time capsules, prepared by Matsushita Co (now worldwidely know as Panasonic), containing 2098 objects covering many aspects of human culture. Buried up to 15 meters deep in the ground, one was opened in 2000 and has plans to be reopened every 100 years thereafter. The other capsule has to survive a time we might not be able to imagine... 5000 years, in 6970 is supposed to be opened... this one has inside a plutonium atomic clock, being the only artifact placed inside which will continue to operate during this period, moving its hand 3mm every 100 years. Here, there's some info about the capsule, which now remains in Osaka Castle Park.
"The time capsule is a message from the people of the 1970's to generations living 5,000 years from now."
The park has a giant statue standing right at the main entrance, called the "Sun Tower". To some of us it resembles the figure of an angel... (use some freak-evangelion reference here please, can't do anything about it, I'm in Japan), and is specially frightening to view at late night while taking the monorail... it gives me the shivers. Anyway, thats was art is all about, to evocate emotions on those who dares to listen, view or read at it.
Banpakukoen is full with nature all over and is pretty near from where I'm staying now (about 20 minutes walking from JICA OSIC). The first time we went there was during the "Ume Matsuri" or "Plum Flower Festival", the plum (梅, Ume, Ciruelo) blossoms about 2 weeks before the sakura.
I'm pretty sure I'll keep visiting this place, as it has a lot of things to see... specially in autumn with the maple trees turning red and almost every weekend hosting flea markets.
2 comments:
En el ITH tambien tenemos capsula del tiempo...jajajja bonito parque y me encantan las fotos de las flores y los arboles japoneses. Ahh te encargo fotos del teatro guiñol.... quisiera ver como son las marionetas alla....Un abrazo desde Hermosillo...
Saludos, ya me toco ver una presentacion de Bunraku (el teatro de marionetas japones), son marionetas muy elaboradas y requieren de 3 personas para manejar una sola. Desafortunadamente no me dejaron tomar fotos :(.
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