[Osaka-Kansai Expo Closing Commemoration] Teleporting the Future of Communication! iPresence's Challenges and Achievements in the "Future Society for Life"
~Tracing the path to the Expo in chronological order, as depicted by the telerobots temi and FuAra~
The 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, which took place over 184 days from Sunday, April 13th to Monday, October 13th, 2025, has now come to a successful conclusion. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the many people who visited the event from both within Japan and overseas.
This Expo will be a testing ground for future society, with the aim of realizing the theme of "Designing a Future Society Where Life Shines."Diverse people can participate without restrictions and create new connectionsVarious initiatives and technologies were tried out to achieve this. iPresence is a platform that allows remote participation using telerobots.It's like being there" You can experience the feeling "Teleport" and utilized this technology to present "future communication in which anyone can participate" on the Expo stage.
This report summarizes the iPresence activities that garnered a great response at the Expo site, and introduces the feedback we received from our audience and the reaction in the media.
1. Expo Participation Declaration and Preparation (2024-April 2025)
iPresence's preparations for the Expo began about a year before the event, during which time we focused on deciding on the exhibits, coordinating with the event's management, and preparing a special design.
1.1 Establishment of a management cooperation system and participation in the "Anywhere Expo"
In March 2024, FuAra's participation in the Expo was announced, and in June, the company established a cooperative framework as a "Participating Supplier" to support the smooth running of the Expo. In October, the company participated in the formation of the consortium promoting the "Anywhere Expo" project, which later won the Expo Innovation Award.
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FuAra exhibition decided:[2024.03.26]
iPresence will be exhibiting in the exhibition and exhibit zone at the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion from September 9th to 15th, 2025. -
Operational supplier selection:[2024.06.26]
Selected as a participating supplier for the Osaka-Kansai ExpoWe have decided to lend out the telepresence avatar robot Temi as part of iPresence, and have also registered as a TDM partner. -
"Anywhere Expo" Consortium Formed:[2024.10.24]
With the aim of using technology to realize the aspirations of children who face limitations in their daily lives, the two companies jointly formed the Special Kids Future Vision Challenge Consortium and have begun full-scale preparations for the Anywhere Expo.
1.2 Preparation of wrapping design for "temi" for the World Expo Anywhere
To realize the theme of the Expo, "A Future Society Where Life Shines," we participated in the formation of a consortium to promote the "Anywhere Expo" project. Temi, which symbolizes this project, will be wrapped in a special design exclusive to the Expo.Preparations to enhance expectations for the future from a visual perspectiveWe proceeded with the following.
2. Opening of the Expo and the development of the "Anywhere Expo" (April to August 2025)
▼【Anywhere Expo】Introduction video
As soon as the Expo opened, iPresence's AI-equipped, autonomously mobile telepresence avatar robot (hereafter referred to as "temi") immediately began working to bring the Expo's theme to life.
2.1 More than 4,000 children teleported to the venue
iPresence Inc.Participating as a consortium member and providing temiThe "Anywhere Expo" project was launched.Special Kids Future Concept Challenge ConsortiumThis is a remote experience event hosted by "
This initiative isJanuary to March 2025It is held irregularly during the period, and is aimed at people who are unable to go out and are in hospitals or facilities.4,000 people moreChildren from around the world will be able to use temi to visit the Expo site.Teleport
[Teleportation experience with temi]Children connect temi installed in the pavilion to hospitals and facilities,Through the real-time footage captured by temi (temi view), participants were able to experience an immersive remote tour that made them feel as if they were actually there.
Temi's autonomous mobility and real-time video and audio functions allowed children to experience an immersive experience that made them feel as if they were walking on their own two feet, and it even enabled them to interact with visitors at the venue and promote cross-border cultural exchange between Japan and Italy.
[Pavilions that served as the main venues for the Everywhere Expo]
・Italy Pavilion
・Hiroshi Ishiguro Signature Pavilion "The Future of Life"
2.2 Winner of the Expo Innovation Award!
This initiative was recognized for providing opportunities for diverse people to participate, and will be established in September 2025.Expo Innovation AwardWas awarded.
[What is the Expo Innovation Award?] The award was jointly organized by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) and the Global Industrial and Social Science Research Institute (GISPRI) to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 2005 Aichi Expo, and was newly established with the aim of recognizing outstanding and innovative ideas for the Expo.
3. FuAra debut and keynote speech (September 2025)
In September 2025, towards the end of the Expo, iPresence carried out two activities that attracted a lot of attention.
3.1 Remote hug robot "FuAra" debuts
The remote hugging robot "FuAra," born from the desire to "deliver heartwarming to loved ones even when we are far apart," was finally unveiled for the first time at the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion.
FuAra isDeveloped by iPresence in collaboration with Osaka Institute of TechnologyThis robot was developed as part of the "Resona Mirai Color ~Winter~ Future Technology" exhibition at the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion.Limited time offer from September 9th to 15th, 2025It was exhibited at.
▼[FuAra Experience Session] Report Video
FuAra isDeveloped by iPresence in collaboration with Osaka Institute of TechnologyThis robot was developed as part of the "Resona Mirai Color ~Winter~ Future Technology" exhibition at the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion.Limited time offer from September 9th to 15th, 2025It was exhibited at.
3.2 "Remote Hug" Experience Event
At the experience booth,The hugging movements of a person in a remote location are captured using motion capture and transmitted in real time to FuAra, which then reproduces the movements and embraces the "hug recipient."I was able to experience the future of communication.Feel the heartbeat virtuallyThis mechanism reaffirmed the "connection of hearts" that transcends physical distance. Many people who experienced it commented that "even though it was a robot, it really made me feel warm inside."
3.3 CEO Christophers gives a speech on the Expo stage
During the FuAra exhibition periodSeptember 2025, 9At the Expo, our company president, Christophers, took to the stage to talk about the vision for iPresence.
[Outline of the lecture]
Date and time of presentation: September 15, 2025 (Monday/Holiday) 13:00-13:30
Place: Osaka Healthcare Pavilion "Reborn Stage" (outdoors) at the Osaka-Kansai Expo site
theme: "Telerobots and Healthcare"
The representative emphasized that remote technologies such as FuAra can not only improve efficiency in the fields of medical care and nursing care, but also provide value that truly connects with people, such as "mental care."A future where life shineswas presented.
4. Summary: Final evaluation, awards, and final exhibitions and media coverage (September-October 2025)
At the end of the Expo, the evaluation of the activities carried out up to that point will be finalized, concluding the dissemination of technology.Exhibition at the ExpoWas done.
4.1 Winner of the Expo Innovation Award
The results of the "Anywhere Expo" initiative were recognized, and just before the Expo closed,March, 2025To theWinner of the Expo Innovation AwardThis award is proof that our contribution to society through technology has been internationally recognized.
The award, jointly organized by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) and the Global Industrial and Social Science Research Institute (GISPRI), was newly established to recognize outstanding and innovative ideas for the World Expo.
4.2 International collaboration led by award winning: iTOUR at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Pavilion
The award has become a catalyst for new international collaboration.iPresence's telerobot "temi" will be used for a live streaming tour (iTOUR)This was an example of how activities at the Expo 2025 gained international recognition and led to the creation of new cooperative relationships.
Related information: [Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Pavilion at the Osaka Kansai Expo] Live streaming tour for children with disabilities (external link)
4.3 Participation in the Japan SME Corporation's exhibition project "Future Route" at the Expo
Until just before the closing of the Expo, iPresence participated in the experiential exhibition "Future Routes" at the Expo, organized by the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency and the Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation, Japan (SMEJ). As a company that will play a leading role in the future society,We worked to make iPresence and its technology known to as many visitors as possible.
Session: March 2025th (Friday) -March 10th (Tuesday), 3
Place: EXPO Messe "WASSE" at the Osaka Kansai Expo site
Exhibition contents: The telepresence avatar robots "temi" and "kubi" were exhibited at the central booth in the "Cutting-Edge Digital Technology" zone of the exhibition area. Inside the venue, the self-propelled AI-equipped telerobot "temi" patrolled the periphery of the exhibition area, allowing visitors to experience its autonomous movement via remote control and voice guidance.
4.4 Media attention! Huge response to social contributions
The company's efforts at the Expo and its commitment to contributing to society were covered by numerous media outlets and garnered a great deal of attention.
In particular, the "Anywhere Expo" initiative was covered not only in Japan but also by ANSA, a major Italian news agency. The way in which technology transcends borders to fulfill people's desires to meet and contribute to a "future where life shines" was broadcast to the world. As a consortium, we were featured in numerous media outlets.
On our website, we list excerpts from media outlets that have provided particularly detailed coverage of temi's use.
FuAra is also a news program.On NHK Osaka's "Hot Kansai" on Thursday, September 11, 2025The remote hugging robot "FuAra" was featured in a 4-minute special. The report covered the background of the development and the experience at the Expo site.
Media coverage: NHK Osaka "Hot Kansai" | Remote hug robot "FuAra" | Robot that can "hug" even from a distance unveiled at Osaka-Kansai Expo
5. Summary: Teleporting to the Future Continues
The 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo has come to an end, but iPresence's "Semi-Real" communication technology is a stepping stone to the future.TeleportUsing the knowledge and excitement gained from the Expo, we will contribute to the realization of a "future society where life shines" where everyone can shine as they are, unconstrained by distance or other restrictions.
Thank you very much for your interest in iPresence activities during the Expo.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude for your attendance and support.
