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THE JAPAN PAVILION 2025
19th International Architecture Exhibition La Biennale di Venezia
10 May – 23 November 2025

The Japan Pavilion at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia, explores the architectural intelligence required for the future under the theme of “In-Between.”

We often perceive our environment as something to be manipulated—a view that may lie at the root of the climate crisis. While advancing technology is essential, innovation alone cannot fully address the issue, nor is rejecting technology for a return to nature a viable solution. What we need is a third form of “Intelligens”—one that avoids the extremes of control and helplessness, and rejects the binary view that the environment is either fully controllable or entirely beyond influence. Manipulation implies a split between subject and object. To challenge this, we begin with a thought experiment: to imagine a horizon where such divisions dissolve. In Japanese culture, the concept of ma, meaning “in-between time/space,” offers an alternative. More than empty space, ma is a dynamic tension between entities, forming a void-like subjectivity that exists neither within the human nor the external world, but in-between. This in-between is a space of mutual exchange, where boundaries between human and non-human, nature and artifact blur. Here, one participates not as master or observer, but as part of a dialogue. To explore this idea, we turn to the architecture of the Japan Pavilion, imagining a near-future where its elements—Hole, Wall Columns, Outer Walls, Brick Terrace, Pensilina, Tilted Loop Path, and Yew Tree—interact and exchange information. Humans join as equal participants in an evolving conversation enabled by AI, pointing toward new forms of coexistence. (Jun Aoki)

CommissionerThe Japan Foundation
CuratorJun Aoki
Curatorial AdviserTamayo Iemura
ExhibitorAsako Fujikura + Takahiro Ohmura
SUNAKIToshikatsu Kiuchi & Taichi Sunayama
Composer / Sound Designerermhoi
Sound EngineerMakoto Oshiro
Project ManagementTomoko Shinagawa
Yuko Machida
Yukiko Iwase
Exhibition AssistantSky Araki
Michibumi Ito
Issei Kouda
Yu Matsumoto
Yuta Saito
Graphic DesignAkiko Wakabayashi
Book EditorNao Amino
Fabricationalcarol | Andrea Forti & Eleonora Dal Farra (Reflective Saucer)
Barna Gergely Péter (Clay Rail)
Film ProductionLisa Aoki (Cinematographer)
Eri Kanzaki (Production Manager)
KAORU [Kaoru Mitsui] (Food Stylist)
Shuma Ozawa (Filming assistant)
Takahiro Fujii (Film lighting expert)
Arisa Ueji (Hair and make up artist)
Hidetoshi Inanaga (Prop Construction)
Technical EngineeringYuya Ito
Structural EngineeringTomomi Kimura
Local CoordinationHarumi Muto
ActorsKie Onikubo
Shuji Morita
Takuto Ohta
Rie Alison
Kyoko Ano
Voice ActorsKevin Mchugh
Ena Morita
Shuji Morita
Julia Shortreed
Jua
HIMI
MusicianYuri Kamei (1st Vn)
Tomohiro Ishii (2nd Vn)
Mei Mishina (Viola)
Sonoko Muraoka (Vc)
Marty Holoubek (Double Bass)
Taikimen (Marimba)
With the Special Support ofIshibashi Foundation
With the Support ofTAISEI CORPORATION
TAKENAKA CORPORATION
KAJIMA CORPORATION
The Obayashi Foundation
YKK AP Inc.
Sanwa Facade Laboratory Corporation
Hitoshi Tanaka
Hideaki Fukutake
Yasuharu Ishikawa
Katsushige Kambara
Yoshiko Mori
Rina Matsuda
Hiroaki Sakai
Takafumi Takahashi
Michiyoshi Takuma
Hiroyuki Maki
Takayuki Ishii
Tomio Koyama
Taro Nasu
Yutaka Kikutake
Kotaro Nukaga
Norimichi Hirakawa
Kengo Kito
Daito Manabe
Mika Ninagawa
Kei Takemura
In Special Coorperaton withkolor
In Coorperaton withDELTA ELECTRONICS (JAPAN), INC.
EventRegist Co., Ltd.
HP Japan Inc.
KYOTO Design Lab, the Kyoto Institute of Technology (Ceramic 3D Print Fabrication Coorperation)
mgn Co., Ltd.
Special Thanks toTariq Heijboer (Title typeface)
Yusuke Nakajima
Richi Owaki