Exploring the Art of Japanese Wood at Osaka's Wood Change 2025 Exhibition

Experience the Essence of Wood at the Wood Change 2025 Exhibition

The Wood Change 2025 exhibition, part of the Osaka Kansai Expo, invites visitors to engage with the intrinsic beauty and versatility of Japanese wood through a sensory art experience. This exhibition showcases the exquisite craftsmanship and delicate aesthetics of woodworking, enabling guests to feel, smell, and perceive the richness of wood in a uniquely immersive environment.

Upon entering the exhibition hall, attendees are greeted by stunning wooden installations crafted from circular cut wood, creating an inviting atmosphere that envelops visitors in warmth. The carefully designed displays allow for a multi-dimensional appreciation of wooden art, highlighting the tactile and olfactory elements of wood. The soft scent of timber fills the air, encouraging a deep connection with nature's resources.

Themed Exhibit: Autumn in Japan

As visitors journey deeper into the venue, they will discover an art display themed around "Japanese Autumn". This section features a captivating creation using threads made from wood, presenting an installation titled “Aurora of Autumn.” Here, intricate patterns made through Kōsuke (traditional Japanese joinery) play with light and shadow to evoke the ever-changing beauty of the seasons. With each step, new perspectives unfold, transforming the experience into a celebration of the potential of wood explored through all five senses.

Further enhancing the exhibition's commitment to sustainability, the display furniture utilizes locally-sourced wood from Osaka, embodying initiatives for regional wood utilization and resource circulation. This renders the entire space not just an exhibit but a living reflection of a sustainable future that resonates with the theme of “living alongside wood.”

Featured Artworks

1. JumokuFu: Autumn’s Aurora

One of the prominent art pieces on exhibit is "JumokuFu: Autumn’s Aurora," which beautifully manifests Japanese autumn through a fabric crafted from local timber threads. This artwork embodies the principles of ethical living by using domestic thinning timber and wood scraps processed into threads through specialized techniques. The fabric is characterized by its moisture-wicking, odor-resistant properties, and exquisite wooden scent that enhances its tactile richness, growing more complex as it ages.

The threads represent various regional cultural specialties, turning fallen trees and thinning timber into beautiful artworks. The circular units of fabric artwork evoke autumn’s brilliant hues, expertly dyed using natural materials like soil and plant matter, channeling traditional dyeing techniques from the Asuka period.

2. Kumiko Art: Life in Japanese Autumn

The second featured artwork is a representation of “Kumiko” art themed around “Japanese Autumn and Life.” Kumiko, a traditional woodworking technique, is a method of assembling pieces of wood into geometric patterns without using nails. Each piece is finely crafted through meticulous adjustments, combining various small wooden components called “leaves” to define a multitude of geometrical shapes.

This display composes an artwork using four unique patterns, including “Kikyo,” known for its deep-rooted cultural significance, as well as “Yaemasa,” which symbolizes layered麻の葉 (hemp leaves) for healthy growth. The materials used are sourced from the “Himi Old Wood Network,” which salvages timber from homes affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake.

This initiative aims to preserve the memories of a culture at risk of being lost, involving students from Aoi Academies who actively participate in the rescue and re-utilization of these valuable resources. The artwork produced highlights the transformation of salvaged old wood into Kumiko art as a memorial of Noto's legacy, bridging the gap between past traditions and future sustainability.

Event Details

The exhibition, titled “Wood Change 2025: Let’s Use Japanese Wood,” is scheduled from September 23 to September 29, 2025, at the Future Life Village within the Osaka Kansai Expo. Visitors can access the venue through the Osaka Metro Chuo Line, approximately a 6-minute walk from Yumeshima Station.

Additionally, a symposium on wood utilization will be held on September 23, providing valuable insights into the latest developments in wooden architecture and material technology. Visitors can find further information on this and more through the official Wood Change 2025 special website and Instagram.

For inquiries, please contact the Forestry Agency’s Wood Utilization Division at 03-3502-8111, extension 6122.