By Wang Hui

(In order to learn more about the 2005 Aichi World Exposition, the Shanghai World Expo Coordination Bureau sent three of us on a 40-day fact-finding mission to Nagoya City and the World Expo garden, with the assistance of the 2005 World Expo Association of Japan. This was the first visit for all of us and the 40 days of investigation and research was our first personal contact with this country. What we see and hear will only be odds and ends, unsurprising to anyone living in Japan for any period of time. However, our unique perspective and fresh angle may just coincide with those who have never been to Japan before. )

Aichi Prefecture is situated in the middle of Japan, by the gulf. The 2005 World Expo site is 20 kilometers east of the central station of its capital Nagoya City. The 158-acre theme park is on the border between Nagakute and Toyota City, with a 15-acre branch site in Sedo City.

While our research group was studying at the World Expo Association, what surprised us first was the office environment, an open-plan area accommodating all major personnel, some 400 staff working as if in a large factory. Ringing telephones were heard here and there, but everybody whispered on the phone. Mr. Futoda, the HR supervisor who received us, looked to be in his early 40s, clean shaven, with a healthy and smiling face, but a little bent forward as he walked. The assistant Miss Enko said that he was already over 50. Mr. Futoda did not speak any Chinese, but can understand English and read our characters, which made communicating a lot of fun. We merely talked about work until the last dinner, when our tour was drawing to a close. Miss Enko asked about the daily life, family and marriage of Chinese people, in particular she carefully asked about the attitude of Chinese people toward Japanese and the anti-Japanese reports seen on their media. She could not understand why the Chinese soccer fans would vent anger on their stars when losing the game at Asian Cup. It seems that the attitudes between the two peoples are still changing between courtesy and distance. Yet there are exceptions. In bars, after beer or wine, the Japanese look a lot like us when drunk, ties undone and suits disheveled. Languages are different, but drunkenness is just the same.

Nagoya City covers 330 square kilometers, with a population of 2.15 million, Japan’s fourth city and one of its oldest. She boasts developed industries, technologies and cultures. Modern and traditional are well merged. Ancient temples, birds homes and modern bars, plazas and places of amusement are seen everywhere, lit by beautiful neon lights.

Just like other big cities in Japan such as Osaka and Kyoto, visitors’first impression of Nagoya is that it is clean and quiet. Almost no garbage bins are seen on the street, nor any litter. Traffic is busy just like Shanghai but no horns are heard. On an open field in the city proper, a group of youngsters are playing musical instruments, guitar, accordion, trumpet and of course drums. It seems that this is a band yet unknown. Their music can clearly be heard in the rush hour streets. Almost all streets are just two lanes up and down except for the city center streets with four lanes. They go winding and take people in every direction. Vehicles are driven on the left. Pedestrians and bicycles share the far left side. If you hear a bell ring, you can assume that teenagers are riding close behind you. On both sides are planted Nagoya City trees and gingko trees. It is late autumn in November, leaves fall and forming beautiful views in this prosperous city. There are few high buildings. Normally commercial buildings are below ten stories tall. Residents live in apartment buildings just like ours, but more delicate Japanese style yards are found. Having a bird’s eye view from our 7th floor balcony we can see lots of similar apartment buildings and lots of two or three story yards with flowers, miniature gardens and rockeries.

Nagoya is both an ancient and famous city. It was almost destroyed in the Second World War. Many buildings were reconstructed to their original state after the war. Some well-known historical and cultural sites include: Nagoya Town, Japanese Industrial Technological Commemorative Hall, Atsuda Palace, White Bird Yard, Meiji Village, Dokugawa Family Relics, etc. Most of them were largely influenced by Chinese culture at that time and elaborated by the Japanese in their own way. Besides, contemporary architectural masterpieces are seen, Nagoya TV Tower (which seems a little lower than Shanghai Pearl Tower)，Toyota Automotives Museum, Nagoya Amusement Hall (similar to Shanghai Opera House). However we didn’t have a chance to experience all of the old and new attractions. Yet we could feel the traditional cultural attitude, harmonious relations with nature and spirit of pursuing perfection by the Japanese people.

(Author affiliation: Public Relations Dept., Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination)