November 30, 2004

The JAMA Wonder Wheel Pavilion & Exhibit at the Expo 2005 Aichi World Exposition
(opening March 2005 in Aichi, Japan)

The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc. (or JAMA, under the chairmanship of Mr Itaru Koeda) will be represented at the upcoming Expo 2005 Aichi world exposition by the JAMA Wonder Wheel Pavilion and exhibit described below.

Summary: The JAMA Wonder Wheel Pavilion is the first world-expo pavilion ever to include a Ferris wheel (50 meters high!) as an integral part of the exhibit-viewing experience. In the pavilion’s Main Show area, visitors board the Wonder Wheel’s observation cabins and, as the giant wheel turns, travel through a series of fascinating and often futuristic visual displays before exiting to the exterior, to be met with a panoramic view of the entire expo site. The JAMA Pavilion exhibit takes a look at automotive evolution and the role of the automobile in society, and envisions a flourishing “coexistence” between people, automobiles and the environment in the years ahead.

1. General Information

  • Exhibition theme: “People, Vehicles and Planet Earth Heading into the Future”
    The exhibition’s basic message is that although automobiles have transformed the conduct of our daily lives and made immeasurable contributions to social and economic development, they are also a major focus of concern in terms of their environmental impact, resource conservation, and safety. The promotion of sustainable development on a global basis now being an urgent priority, the Japanese automobile industry is addressing the many complex challenges involved in advancing motor vehicle use so as to ensure a sound and safe interrelationship between people, vehicles, and the environment worldwide, today and in the future.
  • Logo: The logo for the JAMA Pavilion features the Wonder Wheel, a striking symbol of JAMA’s participation in the 21st century’s first world exposition (see illustration).

2. Structural Specifications

The JAMA Wonder Wheel Pavilion is a visually dynamic structure, with a dramatically diagonal roof from which the giant Ferris wheel emerges.

The exterior of the pavilion is painted red to symbolize not only the sun, which supports all life on our planet, but also the power of the goodwill of humankind and the passion and energy needed to create a sound and sustainable future.The pavilion itself is constructed of reusable steel, while the Wonder Wheel is made with recycled materials that will be used again after the exposition closes (see illustration).

- JAMA Pavilion built area: 1,130m2
- Wheel diameter: 47m (standing 50m from the ground)
- Wheel cabins: 30 units of 4-passenger occupancy each, with provisions for wheelchair access
- Wheel speed: 8 minutes per rotation

3. Exhibition Content

The Wonder Wheel travels through three spaces representing three periods on a conceptual timeline: “Today, Looking Back at Yesterday”; “Today, Looking Ahead to Tomorrow”; and “Tomorrow and Beyond.”Visitors take a fascinating visual journey from the past, into the present, and on to the future focusing on the interrelationship between people, vehicles, and the environment.

  • The Pre-Show starts the journey in the Departure Lobby, with an audiovisual prologue to the Main Show (see illustration).
  • The Main Show is viewed by visitors as they slowly move up in the Wonder Wheel through the exhibit venue.The show lasts for one complete rotation of the Ferris wheel (approximately 8 minutes) and consists of eight “scenes” (all virtual-image displays except for the panoramic exterior view) illustrating the theme of the exhibition and presented on a time continuum as described above.There are images depicting the flight of human imagination; the experience of travelling across the earth; dreams, adventure, and romance; social interaction; and the very human desire for freedom and greater mobility.
  • The Post-Show, into which visitors transition after stepping down from the Wonder Wheel, ends the journey with a display of “dream vehicles” designed by automotive design students on the basis of their own imaginative interpretations of the exhibition’s theme.An outline of automakers’ activities related to environmental and safety issues is also presented in this area (see illustration).

4. World Expo Information & JAMA Contact

Expo 2005 Aichi - the 2005 World Exposition in Aichi Prefecture, Japan - is the first world exposition of the 21st century and its theme is “Nature’s Wisdom.”Offering an opportunity for large-scale global interaction and a broad perspective on progress in the area of sustainability and environmental protection, the show will run from March 25 to September 25, 2005.

For more information on the JAMA Wonder Wheel Pavilion at Expo 2005 Aichi, please contact JAMA’s Public Relations Office at (tel) +81-3-5405-6119.

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