At the 2025 Japan International Exposition (Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai), where exhibitors from around the world are presenting visions of a future defined by the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”, one pavilion is gaining particular attention: the GUNDAM NEXT FUTURE PAVILION. It is the only IP-based pavilion at the entire Expo and is backed by Bandai Namco Holdings, featuring the globally beloved franchise Gundam. We spoke with Nobuhiko Momoi, Vice President and Director of Bandai Namco Holdings, about why Gundam remains such a cultural force—and why it's time for a new message.

◆ “Not for Battle, But for Peace”—A Non-Militarized Vision of Gundam Like Never Before

— What led to the decision to exhibit the GUNDAM NEXT FUTURE PAVILION at Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai?

Nobuhiko Momoi: When we considered the Expo’s theme, “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”, we felt it was important to spark the imagination. The world visitors will experience inside our pavilion is set in the year 2150. We asked ourselves: “What kind of life might we have in space in the future?” And we felt that Gundam is the perfect motif to ignite that kind of imaginative thinking.

— What are some key concepts behind the GUNDAM NEXT FUTURE PAVILION, particularly regarding the “bright future” concept?

Momoi: The pavilion takes the form of a corridor-based walkthrough. The entire experience is about 50 minutes long. In the first half, we depict a future where multiple mobile suits are active and working together. We present speculative ideas like “If this kind of technology existed, here’s how it might be used positively,” which could help spark interest in science and space among elementary and middle school students.

We’re also very focused on how to communicate the appeal of Gundam to those who are encountering it for the first time.

◆ Directed by Takanori Tsujimoto, GUNDAM: Next Universal Century Sparks Conversation

Momoi: While I won’t reveal everything, I saw a comment on social media from someone who had watched the teaser trailer: “Mobile suits used to be for fighting, but now we see the Earth Federation and Zeon working together to clean up space debris—that’s so cool.” That impression was exactly what we were hoping for.

Through this film, we aim to inspire viewers to imagine a future without weapons, where mobile suits are not used for war but for peace. That’s the core message of this new vision.

Source : ORICON NEWS