`The purpose of the expo is to show the public the future.'

President of Shizuoka University of Art and Culture and an executive producer of Expo 2005

For decades, world expositions were venues to show off advanced industrial technologies and enhance national prestige. But over time, their significance has changed.

So when the Aichi World Expo 2005-the first full-scale exposition to be held in Japan since the Osaka Expo 35 years ago-opens March 25 on the theme ``nature's wisdom,'' it will showcase advanced technologies that are not harmful to the environment.

Initially, the exposition was planned so that part of the Kaisho Forest near the Seto exhibition area could be cleared for a major housing development once the event finishes Sept. 25.

It turned out, though, that the forest was a nesting site for endangered goshawks. It also provided a habitat for other flora and fauna, so the plan was changed to make it more environmentally friendly.

The former Aichi Youth Park, which runs along the knolls of Nagakute, a town adjacent to Nagoya, will be the main location for the event, and a 2.6-kilometer elevated walkway called the Global Loop will connect individual pavilions.

In an effort to reduce the impact on the environment and cut costs, six groups of foreign government pavilions called the Global Commons are being constructed using standardized modules.

In addition to designing event spaces in an ecological manner, many other leading-edge technologies have been incorporated.

Traditional bamboo materials are being used for temperature control in the Japanese government pavilion.

New energy systems are also being utilized, including power generation using garbage produced at the event site.

Solar energy and composting food waste will generate 10 percent of the site's energy.

The site boasts environmentally friendly vehicles, an Intelligent Multi-Mode Transport System, and a linear motor car transportation system that is the first such commercial operation in Japan.

The exposition's goal of 15 million visitors is lower than for special expos with specific themes such as the Tsukuba Science Expo in 1985 and the Osaka Garden Expo in 1990.

The expo places importance on public participation. About 200 public programs are scheduled and a space dedicated to nongovernmental organizations is being set up.

More than 2,000 members of nonprofit organizations and NGOs have taken part in such programs from their planning stages.

``The purpose of the expo is to show the public the future,'' said Shosaburo Kimura, president of Shizuoka University of Art and Culture and one of the exposition's executive producers.

``However, we are no longer in an era of flaunting amazing technological capabilities to surprise visitors,'' he said.

``We want people to experience coexistence and harmony between high technology and the nature in the forest, and to enjoy interacting with people from different cultures.''(IHT/Asahi: January 1,2005)