ditor’s Note: The World Expo 2025—hosted this year by Japan in Osaka—remains in full swing through October 13. This global gathering brings together innovators, artists, and a variety of futurists to articulate visions for the future of humanity. This is an inherently optimistic gathering, as reflected by this year’s theme: “Designing future society for our lives.” The World Expo, hosted by governments on a rotating basis every five years, is an important space for cultural diplomacy and building shared visions of a better future.
The U.S., and the USA Pavilion, have long played an important role at World Expos. These expos also are an important stage for the U.S. to communicate visions of collaboration for the future. At a time when so many global conversations are adversarial, the World Expo provides a cultural diplomacy forum that feels particularly important as we seek to build resilience into alliances and relationships among nations and their people.
To help us understand how the U.S. is approaching this year’s theme and what collaboration for a better future of society looks like, World in 2050 Chair Amb. Lisa Gable—herself a former U.S. Commissioner–General to the World Expo—speaks with U.S. Commissioner–General to World Expo 2025 Amb. William E. Grayson. Their interview, with light editing, is below.
You can learn more about the USA Pavillion here.
Lisa Gable: Ambassador Grayson, as a friend of 25 years and the U.S. Commissioner General to the 2005 Aichi World EXPO, I could not be more excited about President Trump’s appointment of you to represent the United States at the 2025 Osaka World Expo.
Q: Expo 2025’s theme is “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.” The USA Pavilion theme—“Imagine What We Can Create Together”—is a natural extension of the work we began in Aichi. How do you see the U.S. theme complementing the broader EXPO vision?
A: Thank you so much, Ambassador Gable. We really appreciate this and it’s an honor to be here. I have great respect for the tremendous work that you did in Aichi for the 2005 World Expo and I’m also glad that you had a chance to visit the Expo and the USA Pavilion recently. This is an exciting time for us and with such great momentum here.
Our theme reflects a uniquely American approach to global challenges: we lead with strength, we innovate boldly, and we believe in the power of partnership. “Imagine What We Can Create Together” isn’t just a tagline—it’s a commitment to results–driven collaboration. The Expo’s core question—how to design the future of society—is one the United States answers by supporting and promoting freedom, free enterprise, and national autonomy and resilience. Our Pavilion invites the world to join us in building a future where sovereignty and cooperation are complementary, not contradictory.
Q: Looking ahead, what are some of the most exciting highlights from the USA Pavilion that you want the world to experience and remember?
A: I’m glad you asked, as we actually just celebrated what I am confident will be one of the greatest highlights at the Expo 2025 USA Pavilion: our U.S. National Day with a presidential delegation led by Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent. The day included several wonderful events with the Japan delegation led by Minister Ryosei Akazawa, and our official ceremony at National Day Hall, which featured remarks by Secretary Bessent and Minister Akazawa. We welcomed a record number of guests and members of the press for the ceremony, and following a special luncheon hosted by MOFA, our delegation toured the Japan Pavilion and then invited the Japanese delegation to join us for a tour of the USA Pavilion. Throughout the day we hosted a total of 16 special performances by American music and dance artists that were open to Expo visitors on our Pavilion stage and several pop–up stages on the Expo grounds and the energy and excitement was palpable. It was truly a day to remember, and we appreciate everyone who joined in celebrating with us.
Our Pavilion is an immersive, state–of–the–art space that tells the story of how American innovation—from space exploration to AI to next generation technologies—is improving lives both at home and abroad. But what I hope resonates most is this: America leads not to dictate, but to inspire. We want visitors to see how freedom fuels progress, and how that progress can be shared. In addition to our main exhibit, we also have an onsite restaurant serving delicious American cuisine and live music and dance performances by world class American artists on our stage 5–6 times each day, so there truly is something for everyone to enjoy, and we hope that our visitors come away feeling inspired.
Q: EXPO has always served as a platform for catalytic partnerships. Where do you see the most promising opportunities for global collaboration—ones that are sparked during EXPO but endure well beyond it?
A: The opportunities are real and wide–ranging—from commercial space partnerships and critical minerals security to biotechnology, food resilience, and secure digital infrastructure. But beyond sectoral breakthroughs, Expos create personal ties that become institutional relationships. The United States believes in partnerships that are transparent, reciprocal, and aligned with national interests. When those conditions are met, we’re all stronger. Expo 2025 allows us to advance a model of cooperation that promotes peace through strength and prosperity through innovation.
Q: You and I have long believed in the enduring strength of the U.S.–Japan relationship. Why is our participation in this EXPO especially important in reinforcing that bilateral commitment and in promoting shared leadership in the global free market system?
A: That’s exactly right. The U.S.--Japan alliance is one of the most important strategic partnerships of the 21st century. Expo 2025 provides a platform not only to celebrate that friendship but to reinforce our shared commitment to a free and open Indo–Pacific. By standing with Japan here in Osaka, we are sending a clear message: America is present, engaged, and ready to lead—on trade, technology, energy, and regional security. This Expo is about building the future, and there’s no better partner than Japan to do that with.
Q: The USA Pavilion has benefited from the support of private sector sponsors. Can you share who some of those partners are, and what inspired them to be part of this journey?
A: We’re proud to have companies like MGM Resorts International, Perspectum, and ICON as Pavilion sponsors. They represent the very best of American enterprise and innovation. These companies joined not just to promote their services and technologies, but to tell a bigger story—about American leadership, ingenuity, and the value of private-sector-driven solutions to global challenges. Their presence in Osaka reflects a core principle: when American businesses succeed, they lift communities—not just in the U.S., but around the world.
Q: Are your wife and daughters with you in Japan? If so, what moments have they most enjoyed—and how has the experience shaped their view of the EXPO and Japan?
A: Yes, my wife, Laurie, and our daughters Katherine, Elizabeth, and Caroline have joined me here, and I can’t overstate how much that has enriched this experience. They’ve embraced Japan’s culture—its elegance, precision, and kindness. For my daughters especially, this has been a living lesson in diplomacy, leadership, and pride in American values. It’s been a joy to share that as a family.
Q: Finally, a special piece of history is making a return. Tell us about the moon rock on display—and why its journey, which began in Osaka 55 years ago, still captures our imagination today.
A: We are thrilled to be able to return to Expo Osaka with another lunar sample. A different lunar sample was the star attraction at the USA Pavilion for Expo 1970 Osaka – the first World’s Fair held in Asia. The sample on display in 1970, collected just one year prior in the early days of U.S. space exploration, truly captured the imagination of visitors from around Japan and the world. The lunar sample we have included this time in our exhibit, no. 70215.41, is a 120 gram (roughly ¼ pound) fragment that was collected by astronaut Jack Schmitt during the Apollo 17 mission in December 1972 — the last time astronauts walked on the Moon. The inclusion of another lunar sample serves as a symbol of American gratitude to the people and Government of Japan for the continued collaboration between our two countries. This comes at the very end of our exhibit, giving thanks and a farewell to visitors as they depart and continue onwards with their Expo adventures. We’ve heard numerous stories from visitors about their own personal experience with having visited the 1970 Expo and seen the moon rock, and how meaningful it is to return and see a moon rock again at the USA Pavilion, this time with their children and grandchildren. This connection across generations in Japan is so special, and we’re proud to play a central part in their Expo experience and the making of lasting memories. We hope that everyone will come to visit us here in Osaka and we look forward to providing a warm welcome at the USA Pavilion.
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Imagining what we can create together at World Expo 2025
The USA Pavilion at World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. Photo courtesy of International Expositions Unit U.S. Department of State via Flickr.
August 18, 2025
Amb. William E. Grayson speaks with Amb. Lisa Gable about the USA Pavilion at World Expo 2025, and the U.S.’ take on this year’s theme of “designing future society for our lives.” Core to the U.S. approach? Collaboration that supports freedom, free enterprise, and national autonomy and resilience.
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ditor’s Note: The World Expo 2025—hosted this year by Japan in Osaka—remains in full swing through October 13. This global gathering brings together innovators, artists, and a variety of futurists to articulate visions for the future of humanity. This is an inherently optimistic gathering, as reflected by this year’s theme: “Designing future society for our lives.” The World Expo, hosted by governments on a rotating basis every five years, is an important space for cultural diplomacy and building shared visions of a better future.
The U.S., and the USA Pavilion, have long played an important role at World Expos. These expos also are an important stage for the U.S. to communicate visions of collaboration for the future. At a time when so many global conversations are adversarial, the World Expo provides a cultural diplomacy forum that feels particularly important as we seek to build resilience into alliances and relationships among nations and their people.
To help us understand how the U.S. is approaching this year’s theme and what collaboration for a better future of society looks like, World in 2050 Chair Amb. Lisa Gable—herself a former U.S. Commissioner–General to the World Expo—speaks with U.S. Commissioner–General to World Expo 2025 Amb. William E. Grayson. Their interview, with light editing, is below.
You can learn more about the USA Pavillion here.
Lisa Gable: Ambassador Grayson, as a friend of 25 years and the U.S. Commissioner General to the 2005 Aichi World EXPO, I could not be more excited about President Trump’s appointment of you to represent the United States at the 2025 Osaka World Expo.
Q: Expo 2025’s theme is “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.” The USA Pavilion theme—“Imagine What We Can Create Together”—is a natural extension of the work we began in Aichi. How do you see the U.S. theme complementing the broader EXPO vision?
A: Thank you so much, Ambassador Gable. We really appreciate this and it’s an honor to be here. I have great respect for the tremendous work that you did in Aichi for the 2005 World Expo and I’m also glad that you had a chance to visit the Expo and the USA Pavilion recently. This is an exciting time for us and with such great momentum here.
Our theme reflects a uniquely American approach to global challenges: we lead with strength, we innovate boldly, and we believe in the power of partnership. “Imagine What We Can Create Together” isn’t just a tagline—it’s a commitment to results–driven collaboration. The Expo’s core question—how to design the future of society—is one the United States answers by supporting and promoting freedom, free enterprise, and national autonomy and resilience. Our Pavilion invites the world to join us in building a future where sovereignty and cooperation are complementary, not contradictory.
Q: Looking ahead, what are some of the most exciting highlights from the USA Pavilion that you want the world to experience and remember?
A: I’m glad you asked, as we actually just celebrated what I am confident will be one of the greatest highlights at the Expo 2025 USA Pavilion: our U.S. National Day with a presidential delegation led by Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent. The day included several wonderful events with the Japan delegation led by Minister Ryosei Akazawa, and our official ceremony at National Day Hall, which featured remarks by Secretary Bessent and Minister Akazawa. We welcomed a record number of guests and members of the press for the ceremony, and following a special luncheon hosted by MOFA, our delegation toured the Japan Pavilion and then invited the Japanese delegation to join us for a tour of the USA Pavilion. Throughout the day we hosted a total of 16 special performances by American music and dance artists that were open to Expo visitors on our Pavilion stage and several pop–up stages on the Expo grounds and the energy and excitement was palpable. It was truly a day to remember, and we appreciate everyone who joined in celebrating with us.
Our Pavilion is an immersive, state–of–the–art space that tells the story of how American innovation—from space exploration to AI to next generation technologies—is improving lives both at home and abroad. But what I hope resonates most is this: America leads not to dictate, but to inspire. We want visitors to see how freedom fuels progress, and how that progress can be shared. In addition to our main exhibit, we also have an onsite restaurant serving delicious American cuisine and live music and dance performances by world class American artists on our stage 5–6 times each day, so there truly is something for everyone to enjoy, and we hope that our visitors come away feeling inspired.
Q: EXPO has always served as a platform for catalytic partnerships. Where do you see the most promising opportunities for global collaboration—ones that are sparked during EXPO but endure well beyond it?
A: The opportunities are real and wide–ranging—from commercial space partnerships and critical minerals security to biotechnology, food resilience, and secure digital infrastructure. But beyond sectoral breakthroughs, Expos create personal ties that become institutional relationships. The United States believes in partnerships that are transparent, reciprocal, and aligned with national interests. When those conditions are met, we’re all stronger. Expo 2025 allows us to advance a model of cooperation that promotes peace through strength and prosperity through innovation.
Q: You and I have long believed in the enduring strength of the U.S.–Japan relationship. Why is our participation in this EXPO especially important in reinforcing that bilateral commitment and in promoting shared leadership in the global free market system?
A: That’s exactly right. The U.S.--Japan alliance is one of the most important strategic partnerships of the 21st century. Expo 2025 provides a platform not only to celebrate that friendship but to reinforce our shared commitment to a free and open Indo–Pacific. By standing with Japan here in Osaka, we are sending a clear message: America is present, engaged, and ready to lead—on trade, technology, energy, and regional security. This Expo is about building the future, and there’s no better partner than Japan to do that with.
Q: The USA Pavilion has benefited from the support of private sector sponsors. Can you share who some of those partners are, and what inspired them to be part of this journey?
A: We’re proud to have companies like MGM Resorts International, Perspectum, and ICON as Pavilion sponsors. They represent the very best of American enterprise and innovation. These companies joined not just to promote their services and technologies, but to tell a bigger story—about American leadership, ingenuity, and the value of private-sector-driven solutions to global challenges. Their presence in Osaka reflects a core principle: when American businesses succeed, they lift communities—not just in the U.S., but around the world.
Q: Are your wife and daughters with you in Japan? If so, what moments have they most enjoyed—and how has the experience shaped their view of the EXPO and Japan?
A: Yes, my wife, Laurie, and our daughters Katherine, Elizabeth, and Caroline have joined me here, and I can’t overstate how much that has enriched this experience. They’ve embraced Japan’s culture—its elegance, precision, and kindness. For my daughters especially, this has been a living lesson in diplomacy, leadership, and pride in American values. It’s been a joy to share that as a family.
Q: Finally, a special piece of history is making a return. Tell us about the moon rock on display—and why its journey, which began in Osaka 55 years ago, still captures our imagination today.
A: We are thrilled to be able to return to Expo Osaka with another lunar sample. A different lunar sample was the star attraction at the USA Pavilion for Expo 1970 Osaka – the first World’s Fair held in Asia. The sample on display in 1970, collected just one year prior in the early days of U.S. space exploration, truly captured the imagination of visitors from around Japan and the world. The lunar sample we have included this time in our exhibit, no. 70215.41, is a 120 gram (roughly ¼ pound) fragment that was collected by astronaut Jack Schmitt during the Apollo 17 mission in December 1972 — the last time astronauts walked on the Moon. The inclusion of another lunar sample serves as a symbol of American gratitude to the people and Government of Japan for the continued collaboration between our two countries. This comes at the very end of our exhibit, giving thanks and a farewell to visitors as they depart and continue onwards with their Expo adventures. We’ve heard numerous stories from visitors about their own personal experience with having visited the 1970 Expo and seen the moon rock, and how meaningful it is to return and see a moon rock again at the USA Pavilion, this time with their children and grandchildren. This connection across generations in Japan is so special, and we’re proud to play a central part in their Expo experience and the making of lasting memories. We hope that everyone will come to visit us here in Osaka and we look forward to providing a warm welcome at the USA Pavilion.
