Osaka-Kansai Expo Shoji Kawamori Produced ‘LIVE EARTH JOURNEY’ Uniform Unveiling Event

Vector Vision Inc. (Setagaya, Tokyo), led by Shoji Kawamori, director and mecha designer of the Macross series, along with the 2025 Japan International Expo Association, held a presentation event and talk session for the attendant and staff uniforms of the signature pavilion ‘LIVE EARTH JOURNEY’ for the 2025 Japan International Expo (hereafter referred to as the Osaka-Kansai Expo). The attendant uniforms were designed by Risa Ebata, who has partnered with Kawamori for many years.

The models who adorned the vibrant fashion show showcasing diversity (titles omitted).

Hiroki Nanami
After leaving the Takarazuka Revue, she is currently active as an artist, voice actress, and actor. She wore the men’s version of the attendant uniform.
Comment
‘This uniform is wonderful, embodying a student uniform motif while still capturing the essence of an anime character—just as expected from Director Kawamori! Since I often wear costumes and am involved in performances and live shows, I truly appreciate the careful craftsmanship; it feels great to wear.’

Ginsyamu
Having gained attention as the ‘cutest high school boy in Japan’ and transitioned through idol activities, he is currently resonating with Generation Z through his fashion coordination shared on social media. He wore the women’s version of the attendant uniform.
Comment
‘I was surprised by how sturdy the material is. It feels too good to wear just for the six months of the Expo. I really want to visit the Expo in person!’

AiRyA
An artist who loves Japanese songs and anime, she came to Japan from Spain. She is fluent in five languages, including Japanese. She wore the women’s version of the attendant uniform.
Comment
‘I lived in Spain until I was 18, so I never had the opportunity to experience uniforms. I am very grateful for this chance. I believe everyone overseas will really love the design!’

Chihiro Kawakami(NMB48)
Special supporter of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, NMB48 member. She wore the women’s version of the attendant uniform.
Comment
‘I felt like the costume jumped right out of the key visual; the quality of the uniform is so high that I believe it will be loved by people of all ages and genders.’

Ayaka Sakurada(NMB48)
Special ambassador for the Osaka-Kansai Expo, NMB48 member. He wore the men’s version of the attendant uniform.
Comment
‘I usually wear girly outfits, so it was refreshing to wear a men’s design! I was really happy to be able to wear such a wonderful uniform that is also environmentally friendly.’

Ayano Izumi(NMB48)
Special ambassador for the Osaka-Kansai Expo, NMB48 member. She wore the unisex version of the attendant uniform.
Comment
‘Men can wear the women’s type, women can wear the men’s type, and there’s also this unisex version. The fixed concepts have been broken in a good way!’
Risa Ebata Comment
I have mostly designed costumes within the world of anime and similar settings, so it was a very valuable experience to be involved in creating uniforms that the attendants at the Osaka-Kansai Expo, where Kawamori-san is involved, can actually wear, as well as contributing to the design of the key visual.
I look forward to seeing the people wearing these uniforms on-site during the six-month event!”
Let me know if you need any adjustments!
Talk Session Part 1: Sustainable Fashion to Share at the Expo
In the first part of the talk session, we invited stakeholders who are leading the way in sustainable fashion to hold a panel discussion titled ‘Sustainable Fashion to Share at the Expo.’ Producer Kawamori expressed his hope that the media would accurately cover both the positive and negative aspects of the Expo’s environmental impact, stating, ‘I want to share what I learned in today’s talk session.’
Uniforms Made from Sustainable Materials Reflecting a Care for Ecosystems
The attendant uniforms announced this time are made from materials that are less likely to release microplastics into the ocean.
Typically, polyester releases microplastics with every wash, but by using long-fiber recycled polyester materials, we can address the issue of ocean pollution.
Additionally, the bags used by both attendants and staff for small items are made from shells that are abundantly discarded in Japan.
CLASS EARTH Inc. (Chuo, Tokyo), which oversees the SDGs for our pavilion, stated, ‘The appeal of sustainable materials is not only that they can address environmental issues, but also that we see technological improvements every year, leading to deeper learning.’ With a policy to introduce the latest sustainable materials by 2025, these materials were carefully selected.
Attendant Uniforms Inspired by School Uniforms
True to our pavilion’s theme of the ocean, we use recycled polyester made from materials that are less likely to release microplastics.
The uniform was produced by Akashi School Uniform Company, a manufacturer with 159 years of history specializing in school uniforms.

Kawai stated, ‘Washing polyester releases a significant amount of microplastics, and this fact is not widely known. I want to raise awareness about this issue through school uniforms as a ‘wearable educational tool.’ School uniforms are considered sustainable clothing due to their durability, as they can be worn every day for several years.’
100% Organic Cotton with GOTS Certification Label
The staff uniforms are made from 100% organic cotton to mitigate the ecological and human health impacts caused by pesticides.
Additionally, they have obtained the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification, which is an international sustainable certification for natural materials that verifies environmental and human considerations throughout the entire manufacturing process.
The uniforms are made using a pattern constructed based on kimono logic, resulting in almost no excess fabric scraps.
Mr. Matsumoto, a representative of Global Standard Representative in Japan, stated, ‘(GOTS certification) includes requirements related to the environment and human rights at every stage, and there is third-party certification to back it up. It provides clear standards rather than vague sustainability concepts. I believe this uniform aligns very well with biodiversity.’

Mr. Kobayashi from the public interest incorporated foundation, WWF Japan, which promotes initiatives for certifications such as GOTS to conserve freshwater, expressed, ‘Using uniforms with international certifications like GOTS in a prominent venue such as the signature pavilion provides an opportunity for many people to consider the environmental and social issues behind their production and to understand why international certifications were adopted.’

Talk Session Part 2: The Role of the Signature Pavilion
In the second part, titled ‘The Role of the Signature Pavilion,’ Producer Miyata, who is preparing the Signature Pavilion with the theme of Co-Being, took the stage.

Producer Kawamori remarked, ‘There are many areas where we find inspiration and resonance,’ as Producer Miyata took the stage before the talk session to share his experience of the main content of ‘LIVE EARTH JOURNEY,’ the ‘Super Dimension Theater.’ He passionately commented, ‘I was wondering where the animation that Producer Kawamori excels at had gone! But within the visuals, there were elements of the thrilling direction that Kawamori has cultivated over the years, including an immersive experience that involves sound.’
Additionally, Producer Kawamori, who is advancing a joint project to collect ecosystem data using the Biome app in collaboration with sponsor partners, expressed that the data presented by Producer Miyata, who is an expert in data science, has a ‘warmth’ to it. There were also moments when he sought advice on how to utilize the data of living organisms.
▼Press Release
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000013.000122231.html
