When you pass through the north gate of the main entrance and look south from the elevated ``Global Loop'' walkway, you will see a venue that most of the exposition's expected 15 million visitors will see: the Expo Plaza.

The plaza covers an area of about 14,000 square meters, and around 3,000 people can sit on the artificial turf area in the center. The venue features a general information booth and a rest facility.

The plaza's theme is ``The World Is One,'' and the Japan Association for the 2005 World Exposition regards it as a communication plaza. National events and concerts by official participating countries will be held every day on the covered stage in front of the plaza's screen.

The Expo association will host the ``Merry Expo'' project in the plaza, featuring pictures by photographer Koji Mizutani, 53. Mizutani is known for his photographs of people smiling as they try to recover from major earthquakes and terrorist attacks. Pictures taken by Mizutani of about 5,000 smiling people in 20 countries will be exhibited on the Expo Vision screen.

In addition, visitors can send pictures of themselves and their families, along with a message, by cellphone to be displayed on the large screen. The Asahi Shimbun will publish personalized newspapers called ``My Paper'' featuring such pictures, printing only a single copy for the person in the picture. There will also be a quiz in which questions will appear on the screen and visitors will be able to answer using their cellphones.

Every evening, a costume show called ``The Forest Fairy's Ball'' will be performed on the stage, produced by artist Tatsuya Ishii.

Other programs are also planned to give visitors from many countries the chance to see global interaction firsthand.

Two 25-meter green towers with shrubs and trees on top stand behind the Expo Vision screen. In addition, seasonal vegetation grows on a 150-meter-long wall called the ``Bio Lung.'' Mist will be released to entertain visitors, and an LED illumination show will take place at night.

Restaurants and a food court offering dishes from around the world will be located in a position with a full view of the plaza so that visitors can enjoy a meal while watching the events and video shows.(IHT/Asahi: January 1,2005)