The independent international project Forest of Civilizations, showcased at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, has been enjoying remarkable success since the very first day of the event. The project is held under the auspices of the President of the Czech Republic, the Prime Minister, and several ministries, with Olympic champion Lukáš Krpálek serving as one of its ambassadors.
On opening day alone, over 30,000 people visited the Forest of Civilizations installation. The project quickly gained media attention – over 30 television crews and journalists from around the world visited during the initial days. On social media, the project reached 57,000 users actively sharing their experiences, photos, and impressions.
The project has also attracted significant interest from diplomatic and business communities – among the guests were numerous company representatives, ambassadors, and government officials. One of the prominent visitors was the Czech Republic’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jan Lipavský, who came to support the Czech commercial and cultural presence in the context of international dialogue.
One of the project’s goals is to establish connections with other national pavilions across Expo 2025. The general commissioners of each pavilion can select their own “tree,” which will then bear the name of their country. This approach creates a living organism – a symbolic forest where each trunk represents a civilization and its values. Japan was the first to join the project, having already selected and named its trunk. Germany, Luxembourg, Colombia, Ireland, and Canada are among those expected to join soon. Every visitor will thus be able to find “their national tree” in the forest. Thanks to advanced technology, messages will be available in all world languages.
In the coming weeks, lighting and special effects will be installed to enhance the Forest of Civilizations atmosphere. Planned improvements also include booth for Japanese-speaking staff who will be available to assist visitors throughout the duration of the exhibition.
To help visitors navigate the symbolic forest, new signage will be introduced. This will include a map showing the locations of the individual trunks representing participating countries. The new signage aims to improve the visitor experience while promoting interactivity and engagement with national narratives.
Forest of Civilizations is already emerging as one of the most remarkable cultural highlights of Expo 2025 – a place of meeting, sharing, and deep connection across continents. Expo 2025 in Osaka will remain open until October, and the Forest of Civilizations invites everyone to come, listen, and become part of this extraordinary story.