Expo 70 / Osaka

The Steel Pavilion by Kunio Maekawa is one of the few original Expo 70 buildings still standing.

It now houses a museum dedicated to Expo 70.

A piece of the Expo 70 Tower by Kiyonari Kikutake (below) sits near the building.

Expo 70 Tower

Kenzo Tange's vision for the Expo master plan was a futuristic aerial city that was based on the Metabolism movement. He worked with a dozen architects; including Fumihiko Maki, Noboru Kawazoe, Koji Kamiya and Noriaki Kurokawa.

Takara Pavilion by Kisho Kurokawa

Source: Archpaper

Toshiba-IHI Pavilion by Kisho Kurokawa

A model is on display.

Those planters look like the same ones used at Kisho Kurokawa's Nakagin Capsule Tower.

I have no idea what this is.

Takeshi Otaka designed the cherry blossom used as the symbol of the Expo. The identity guidelines were on display.

Sori Yanagi stools are used in an area playing period footage of the expo.

Despite the music, this is a really good video tour of the grounds. It includes the Noguchi sculptures in action.

Speaking of films, parts of Gamera vs. Jiger took place at the Expo.

National Museum of Ethnology (1973-77) by Kisho Kurokawa

The Japan Folk Crafts Museum (Osaka Nihon Mingei Kan) began as an Expo pavilion and then reopened as the Japan Folk Crafts Museum. The first curator was Shoji Hamada. They don't allow photos in the museum. The exhibit was Kawai Kanjiro and you'll have to trust me that it was really good.