About

Expo 1970 Osaka and RyuichiSakamoto

In 1970, at the age of 18, Ryuichi Sakamoto encountered a vast array of music and art at Expo ’70 in Osaka, held under the theme“Progress and Harmony for Mankind.” From the national pavilions echoed avant-garde electronic sounds rooted in atonality—TōruTakemitsu’sCrossingandSeasons, Yuji Takahashi’sEgan(an early inspiration for Sakamoto), and JōjiYuasa’sMusic for Space Projection. At the West German Pavilion, KarlheinzStockhausen performedSpiraldaily in a spherical auditorium.ThePepsi Pavilion presented the world premiere of Fujiko Nakaya’sfog sculptures, while IannisXenakiscreatedHibiki-Hana-Mafor the Steel Pavilion, which also featured sonic sculptures by François Baschet.
These experiences would leave a lasting imprint on Sakamoto—becoming a conceptual spine for his lifelong exploration of sound. The emerging world of synthesizer-based electronic music also profoundly shaped his vision. Beginning in 2016, Sakamoto was able to perform and record with the original Baschetsound sculptures from Expo ’70, weaving their unique timbres into his own compositions. These experiments culminated in his 2017 albumasync, and echoed once more in his final stage work,TIME.

Expo 2025 Osaka and “sakamotocommon”

In 2025, as the World Expo returns to Osaka, we ask:might we pass on the inspiration that once stirred the young Sakamoto—to a new generation of creators—through the platform of sakamotocommon? With this in mind, we begin our project from “VS.,” a newly opened space in Umeda, Osaka.The exhibition will feature the Baschetsound sculptures originally shown at Expo ’70, along with newly created instruments crafted by the BaschetRestoration Team at Tokyo University of the Arts and Marti Ruiz —made especially for Sakamoto. In addition, using performance data from Sakamoto himself, audiences will be able to experience his beloved grand piano playing once more—offering a quiet echo of the hands that once shaped its sound.

Exhibits

• Ryuichi Sakamoto + Shiro Takatani, LIFE—fluid, invisible, inaudible...
• Ryuichi Sakamoto: Playing the Piano 2025 - D
• Baschet sound sculptures
• Ryuichi Sakamoto, on async
• Ryuichi Sakamoto + Zakkubalan, async–volume
• Ryuichi Sakamoto + Apichatpong Weerasethakul, async–first light
• Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Durmiente
• Ryuichi Sakamoto “Ryuichi Sakamoto: Playing the Baschet”, "12" 360 Reality Audio
• Ryuichi Sakamoto Archive: 1970‐
• Sakamoto Library – Extension

Baschet Sound Sculpture

The exhibition will feature the Baschet sound sculptures originally shown at Expo ’70, along with newly created instruments crafted by the Baschet Restoration Team at Tokyo University of the Arts and Marti Ruiz —made especially for Sakamoto.

Ryuichi Sakamoto: Playing the Piano 2025 - D

Using performance data from Ryuichi Sakamoto himself, audiences can experience his beloved grand piano playing once more.

Ryuichi Sakamoto + Shiro Takatani, LIFE—fluid, invisible, inaudible...

Ryuichi Sakamoto + Zakkubalan, async–volume

Ryuichi Sakamoto + Apichatpong Weerasethakul, async–first light
Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Durmiente

Sakamoto Library - extension

"Sakamoto Library" is a project by Ryuichi Sakamoto to share his personal book collection with a wide audience, while also sharing the cultural assets of "books that moved someone's emotions." The initiative was launched in 2017 by Sakamoto himself, and in September 2023, he opened "Sakamoto Library" at an undisclosed location in Central Tokyo, where visitors can read books from his collection. The library operates on a reservation-only basis due to its limited space. A branch of this library will be featured at VS., recreating Sakamoto’s reading environment and featuring a selection of rare books and original merchandise from the collection, available for purchase.

Ticket

Ticket Sales Begin：
August 1, 10:00 AM

Advance online reservations required：
*Tickets can be purchased at the ticket counter on the day of the exhibition if there is space available in the date and time slots.

Admission (tax included)：
() = price for same-day tickets sold at the counter
Adults: ¥2,200 (¥2,500)
18 or under: ¥1,100 (¥1,100 same price) Include those who will be 19 years old by March 31, 2026
University students: ¥1,800 (¥2,000)
Visitors with a Disability certificate: ¥1,100 Up to one accompanying person for same price
Preschooler: Free No reservation required

* No changes, cancellations or refunds are allowed after purchase

Ticket Sales Begin：
August 1, 10:00 AM

Official Online Ticket

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