Seeing is Believing, but Touching is Better! I Experienced the “Mysterious Stones” at the Better Co-Being Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai! 🌈
Hello! This is the PR team from Murata Manufacturing.
On April 13th, the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, finally opened!
The Expo is a place where people, goods, technologies, and ideas from all over the world gather.
It is the perfect opportunity to let your dreams and hopes run wild, thinking, "This is what we can do in the future!"
Murata is a Gold Partner for the "Better Co-Being"Signature Pavilionoverseen by producer Hiroaki Miyata, which is a key initiative in realizing the Expo's theme of "Designing Future Society for Our Lives."
※The theme projects are projects that symbolize and represent the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. The pavilions created by eight experts are also called "Signature Pavilions" because they are "signed works" that deepen the discussion of the theme from each of their own philosophies. The eight theme project producers are constructing pavilions that interpret and develop the Expo's theme, "Designing Future Society for Our Lives," from their own unique perspectives and pass them on to people living in the future.
This time, we snuck into the "Better Co-Being" pavilion that Murata is sponsoring!
We experienced cutting-edge technology and Murata's challenge for the future through the"Mysterious Stones 'echorb'"that Murata is providing to this pavilion!
Here is a report on our experience 🌈
※Please note that this article contains some spoilers for the "Better Co-being" pavilion.
To the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai venue! The magnificent Grand Roof Ring welcomes you!
The nearest station to the venue is "Yumeshima Station" on the Osaka Metro Chuo Line. This is a new station opened for this Expo.
After finishing the security check, we pass through the entrance gate.
After walking for a while, we were able to meet "Myaku-Myaku," the official character of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, right away!
The back view is also very cute, so it's a must-see!
As you proceed further, a huge Grand Roof Ring appears. The presence is breathtaking.
The Grand Roof Ring is a structure that serves as a symbol of the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai venue, representing the design philosophy of "diverse yet one."
It was built by adding modern construction methods to the traditional "nuki" joints used in the construction of Japanese shrines and temples.
(Reference: Grand Roof Ring | EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai Official Website)
We pass under the Grand Roof Ring and head to our destination, the "Better Co-Being" pavilion.
Provided by: Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition
※Created by processing images provided by the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition
Along the way, many attractive pavilions appear one after another, and your eyes are drawn to them...!
Through the trees of the "Forest of Tranquility," the "Better Co-Being" pavilion has come into view.
Experience the future at the “Better Co-Being” pavilion?!
At the signature “Better Co-Being” pavilion, you can experience the resonance between people, between people and the world, and between people and the future, all centered around art, within a space that has neither roof nor walls.
The first step of this resonance experience begins by connecting with a mysterious pebble developed using Murata's latest technology, known as“echorb”and resonating with it.
By exploring the pavilion's art with this “echorb,” it gradually changes color, as if reflecting the user's own intentions, and guides you to recommended art pieces.
Reference:Introductory video of the mysterious pebble
Time to experience the “mysterious pebble ‘echorb’”!
※Please note that the “Better Co-Being” pavilion is only accessible to those with advance reservations.
After checking in at the entrance, you will access a dedicated web app and choose the pebble that will accompany you through the pavilion.
The attendants will guide you carefully, so you can feel at ease.
You are guided to a chair placed at the entrance and take a seat.
In fact, this chair is equipped with Murata's millimeter-wave radar sensors and load sensors, which can sense the heartbeat of the person sitting in it.
Before the experience begins, you will first try out the3D haptics technology*integrated into the “echorb” as a tutorial.
Visitors who experienced the sensation of being pulled by the “echorb” let out exclamations of “Wow!” and could not hide their surprise at this novel experience.
*Technology that expresses a variety of tactile sensations and feedback by stimulating the skin with special vibration waveforms to create illusions in the brain
the arm holding the “echorb” is pulled forward, backward, left, and right...!
The first experience at the “Better Co-Being” pavilion begins by imbuing the “echorb” with your own heartbeat.
The pebble gradually begins to pulse in time with your own heartbeat at that moment. You can feel your own life in the palm of your hand.
Look forward to moments during the pavilion experience when your heartbeat appears on the pebble, sounds play, or it glows faintly!
Visitors then form groups, and starting from the once-in-a-lifetime connection of those gathered at that time and place, they set off on a journey to envision the future while touring three major resonance experiences 🌈
Sequence 1: Resonance between people
In Sequence 1, under the theme of "Resonance between People," we create an experience that encourages you to observe yourself and others, and to rediscover "what it is that connects us."Resonance between people
Guided by "echorb," we head toward a small hill inside the pavilion.
In the space that unfolds there, we encounter countless red threads stretched across the area, along with desks and chairs formed by lines.
Chiharu Shiota, the artist behind this installation work*, is known for exploring concepts such as "memory," "presence and absence," and "connections" using threads and everyday objects.
*A form of contemporary art where the entire exhibition space is expressed as the work itself. Visitors can be fully surrounded by the work and "experience" the entire space.
The concept of the "red thread of fate," said to bind people together, has long been believed in, particularly in East Asia. Along with characters from various languages, the normally invisible red threads are visualized in countless numbers, spreading out before your eyes and enveloping your surroundings.
In such a poetic space, I felt a connection that transcended the barriers of language and culture.
The web app displays the themes that other visitors in your group are interested in, allowing you to connect with people who share the same interests within the app.
It was a moment where I became more conscious of human connections as the normally invisible emotional bond of "shared interests" was visualized.
By facing motifs that illuminate the values others hold dear and the wishes within yourself, you might find clues to a resonance that leads toward the future.
Sequence 2: "Resonance between People and the World"
In Sequence 2, under the theme of "Resonance between People and the World," perspectives are presented that harmonize with the nature and culture cultivated in each region, as well as the lives of the people rooted there.
Leaving Sequence 1 and looking out over the Forest of Silence from the top of the hill, you see a landscape where the 11-meter-high silver grid canopy intersects with the forest.
Descending the gentle slope from there, you encounter the audio-based installation work "Counter Voice Network - Expo 2025" by Tatsuo Miyajima.
Using various languages, a countdown of "9, 8, 7..., 1" rings out one after another in different rhythms.
Diverse voices, different languages, uneven rhythms that never overlap...
People walk through the present in their own timelines, with their own emotions, and at their own speeds. I feel a sense of ordinariness within that strangeness.
I want to cherish the encounters that are born precisely because we are each living at our own pace. 🫶
Please try listening to the diverse voices while looking up at the sky and enjoying the beautiful scenery that spreads out there.
The blue sky you have seen countless times in this life will surely feel more special than ever before.
Sequence 3: "Resonance between People and the Future"
Sequence 3 is themed "Resonance between People and the Future." By connecting with one another and facing the world together, we envision a better future.
Waiting at the end of the slope is the installation work "Embracing Diversity: Maximum Happiness for Maximum Diversity" by Hiroaki Miyata with EiM.
Along the 7-meter-high canopy, 400 delicate wires are stretched, each fitted with a suncatcher.
If you look closely, this "collection of heterogeneity," where no two arrangements are the same, symbolizes a celebration of diversity.
It was a beautiful sunny day! The rainbow-colored radiance spread out beautifully, sparkling in the natural light.
On cloudy or rainy days, the contrast between the mist and artificial light creates a fantastical scene, making it an art piece that shows different expressions depending on the day and time.
Here, something happens when two groups within the pavilion merge!
What happens is a surprise for you to discover on-site! 🌈
The uniform, designed with inspiration from sunlight that changes diversely depending on the time and place,
is wonderful!
Epilogue
After going through three sequences, what awaits us at the end is a large spherical LED device.
Here, the experiences of the visitors gathered at that moment and the surrounding environmental data are superimposed, creating a visual experience where you can feel the image of the future with your five senses.
I engraved this fleeting experience of resonance felt in a short time into my heart as a clue to the future.
Reference:
Better Co-being [Signature Pavilion: Resonating Lives] | Hiroaki Miyata
Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai | Hiroaki Miyata Signature Pavilion Better Co-Being
Interview with 'Better Co-Being' pavilion visitors! 🎤
We interviewed Murata employees and their families who visited Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai privately!
Q. Please tell us your impressions of experiencing the 'Better Co-Being' pavilion!
Get a 'Special Item You Can Find at the Venue'—Senshu Towel x RFID technology—as a souvenir!
At the merchandise corner near the exit of the 'Better Co-Being' pavilion, exclusive items that can only be bought here are on sale 🌟
One of them, the 'PiecleX RFID Towel that Weaves Memories,' is an experiential product that fuses the traditional technology of Senshu towels with cutting-edge RFID technology.
It contains a wash-resistant NFC-enabled tag, allowing you to access special web content by holding your smartphone over it.
Furthermore, you might even win special prizes like a non-for-sale replica of the 'Mysterious Stone "echorb"'!
Please be sure to check out this new product that lets you experience the fusion of the future and tradition with all five senses✨
What are the mysterious stones "echorb"?
The "mysterious stones" that sparked the founding of Murata
The "mysterious stones 'echorb'" were developed specifically for this Expo.
In fact, the name "mysterious stones" comes from ceramics, which have been the base material for Murata's product development and production since its founding.
At first, they were just simple pottery that did not conduct electricity.
When chemicals were mixed in and processed, they began to acquire properties such as storing electricity or vibrating when electricity was applied.
The founder, Akira Murata, affectionately named them "mysterious stones".
Since then, Murata has developed electronic components that realize people's dreams while keeping pace with the times.
Murata's proprietary technology supporting the mysterious stones "echorb"
The mysterious stones "echorb" are equipped with a variety of Murata technologies, including 3D haptics, which uses special vibrations to create the illusion that your brain is being pulled, LF antennas for position detection, and RFID to recognize individual "echorb" units for app integration.
With these technologies, based on the information entered into the app, "echorb" can guide the user to recommended spots tailored to their personal preferences✨
Reference: Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai - Mysterious Stones "echorb" - | Murata Manufacturing
They are also equipped with Murata-made batteries. In the back office, "echorb" units undergo daily charging, functional checks, and appearance inspections.
Additionally, by imbuing "echorb" with the user's heartbeat, you can feel your own heartbeat through the "echorb." Here, Murata's millimeter-wave radar sensors and load sensors are utilized.
This technology is being considered for future applications such as driver monitoring to prevent traffic accidents and detecting children left behind in vehicles.
3D haptics technology is not only being developed for games and events, but we also aim to contribute to solving social issues in the future by using it to guide the visually impaired.
Related article:
Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai | Murata Manufacturing Technical Articles
We invite everyone to experience Murata's challenges for the future by touching cutting-edge technology through the mysterious stones "echorb"💎
The Production of 'echorb' and Hopes for the Recovery of the Noto Peninsula
The production of the mysterious pebbles, 'echorb,' took place at Hakui Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (hereinafter: Hakui Murata) in Ishikawa Prefecture.
Hakui Murata is one of the sites that was affected by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake that occurred in January 2024.
Therefore, behind the production of 'echorb' lay a desire for the recovery of the Noto Peninsula.
Hakui Murata has been participating in the 'Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai Project' since October 2023.
The Noto Peninsula Earthquake occurred in the midst of preparations for prototypes, and the factory and employees were affected. While facing great anxiety, many people both inside and outside the company sent their sympathies, support, and encouragement.
—Let's aim to become a symbol of regional recovery.
With that sentiment, Hakui Murata put all its efforts into this project and mass-produced approximately 4,000 'echorb' units. We were able to safely deliver them to Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai.
(Left: Kanazawa gold leaf, Right: Wajima lacquerware)
'echorb' created with wishes for recovery support
From the Noto Peninsula to Osaka, to the world, and to the future. Through these mysterious pebbles, many thoughts and feelings are being woven together.
An interview with the members of Hakui Murata Manufacturing who were in charge of producing 'echorb' 🎤
Q. How did you feel about being involved in the production of the mysterious pebbles?
Q. Please tell us if you have any memorable episodes regarding the production!
Q. Please tell us about 'echorb' and your thoughts on the future.
About Hakui Murata Manufacturing
Established: April 1967
Business Description: Manufacturing of piezoelectric ceramic components and sensor products
Number of Employees: 309 (as of April 2025)
Location: 52 Yanagibashi, Yanagibashi-machi, Hakui City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Website: https://corporate.murata.com/ja-jp/group/hakuimurata
Why Murata is sponsoring Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai
The purpose of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai is to accelerate new technologies, services, and initiatives to achieve the SDGs by envisioning a future society from a medium- to long-term perspective.
This is highly compatible with the ideal state that Murata sets forth in its Vision2030 (long-term vision): 'Contribute to the realization of a prosperous society by creating a virtuous cycle of social and economic value through innovation.'
Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai is positioned as a 'laboratory for future society.'
'We want to change society like this.' If the thoughts residing in each individual's heart gather, they will eventually become a great force, leading to the realization of a prosperous society.
Murata's technologies, including the 'Mysterious Stones,' were realized through the collective positive passion of everyone involved.
The passion of each individual leads to the creation of new innovations that spark surprise and excitement.
'We want to make this a festival that lights a fire in everyone's hearts.'
With this sentiment in mind, Murata is sponsoring the signature pavilion, 'Better Co-Being'.
Reference:Sponsored | Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Message from the Project Owner
In closing
How did you like this Murata note? 👀
I'm sure there are some of you who can't quite imagine it just from this experience report.
It is truly a case of 'Seeing is believing, but touching is better.'. Please come visit the 'Better Co-Being' pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, and experience the future for yourself!
The experience you get at the 'Better Co-Being' pavilion changes from time to time.
If possible, we recommend experiencing it multiple times to enjoy the differences! ✨
Look forward to the next Murata note!
©Expo 2025