[JAXA Osaka-Kansai Expo PR Office] Thank you! Osaka-Kansai Expo. “Standing on the Moon. And Beyond” Special Talk Session No. 3: Report on the “Manned Pressurized Rover” JAXA Osaka-Kansai Expo PR Office Press Release: October 24, 2025 Thank you! Osaka-Kansai Expo. “Standing on the Moon. And Beyond” Special Talk Session No. 3: Report on the “Manned Pressurized Rover” Event [JAXA Permanent Exhibition Booth at the Osaka-Kansai Expo] On October 5, 2025, just before the Mid-Autumn Festival, the “Standing on the Moon. And Beyond” Special Talk Session No. 3, “Manned Pressurized Rover,” was held at the JAXA permanent exhibition booth at the Osaka-Kansai Expo. This event aims to foster interest in space and provide a fun time for interaction. It is a talk event where participants can learn about space and the moon, discuss the possibilities of future space exploration, and discuss the future of space that humanity will pioneer. The theme of this event was the “Manned Pressurized Rover,” a manned lunar exploration vehicle being developed by Japan as part of the “Artemis Project,” which aims to return humanity to the surface of the moon. Through this project, which symbolizes the next generation of lunar exploration, we shared humanity’s passion for the moon and looked forward to the future together. This was also the final event held at the JAXA permanent exhibition booth, and secret guests appeared at the venue: actors Saburo Shinoda and Yuri Anada, who appear in the “Space Theater,” as well as JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi. The speakers’ valuable talks filled the venue with deep emotion and excitement.
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URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/165783/4/165783-4-1d6609310687d8070efca1082a537191-3900×2593.jpg (C)JAXA “Space Theater,” a space video work, was screened at the JAXA permanent exhibition booth at the Osaka-Kansai Expo. Film director and CG creator Hiromitsu Uesaka, who worked on the video, took the stage to talk about the thoughts he put into the work and behind the scenes of its production. He talked about how to express the overwhelming scale of space, the pursuit of visual beauty that meticulously captures even the most fleeting fluctuations of light and color, and the “realistic universe” created by cutting-edge CG technology. When the normally inaccessible behind-the-scenes creative process was revealed, many participants expressed surprise, providing a time to once again appreciate the appeal of video.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/165783/4/165783-4-328a78115145ac411ff89b269a0b4dab-3900×2593.jpg (C)JAXA Then, when Director Uesaka announced that actors Saburo Shinoda and Yuri Anada, who starred in “Space Theater,” would be in attendance as secret guests, a murmur erupted, and the excitement in the venue rose sharply. Shinoda and Anada appeared on stage to thunderous applause from the audience. The two, who brought the story of the moon to life on film, spoke about the actual production process, behind-the-scenes stories from filming, and the thoughts they put into the work.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/165783/4/165783-4-eb64d95865d10f8f058e933a4099db4d-3900×2593.jpg (C)JAXA Director Uesaka spoke about the directorial details of how he portrayed the movements on the lunar surface and the challenges humanity faces. Shinoda commented, “I hope that this story set on the moon will serve as an opportunity to reexamine the origins of human curiosity.” Anada also commented, “I acted with the desire to bring the distant world of space closer to the hearts of the audience,” as the audience listened intently. The “Challenge to the Moon” depicted on the screen overlapped with the real-life exploration project, the “Manned Pressurized Rover,” creating a moment where dreams and reality intersected.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/165783/4/165783-4-32ca845a8e4c12ba8ec68fddd15d590b-3900×2593.jpg (C)JAXA And now, the talk is coming to an end. When Director Uesaka announced, “We also have a special guest with us today,” the venue erupted in a buzz. Then the director introduced: “Astronaut Takuya Onishi, who was in space until recently.” The moment his name was announced, a huge roar and applause erupted from the audience, and the excitement in the venue reached a fever pitch. The entire venue was filled with excitement and emotion at this special moment, when an active astronaut took the stage at an event themed “On the Moon. And Beyond.”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/165783/4/165783-4-f546bb93fe4223d2d29dc70a6325de94-3900×2593.jpg (C)JAXA Director Uesaka excitedly said, “I really wanted to meet you!” and started asking questions one after another. “What does it feel like to go into space?”, “What does the Earth look like from space?”, “Do you feel like the future of standing on the Moon is already upon us?” The director’s words were filled with genuine curiosity and respect, and Astronaut Onishi answered each question carefully with a gentle smile.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/165783/4/165783-4-9be987d93feb72c4099e0311a16070fd-3900×2593.jpg (C)JAXA “When you’re in space, the beauty of the Earth and human activities seem incredibly precious. The challenge of reaching the moon and beyond is the dream of all of humanity,” said Astronaut Onishi, with many in the audience nodding in agreement. It was truly a “moment connecting earth and space.” The excitement for lunar exploration and the longing for space were truly felt, and the audience erupted in thunderous applause and a lingering sense of emotion.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/165783/4/165783-4-102e7e7100a4335912b9bd28f8687312-3900×2617.jpg (C)JAXA ○Part 2: “Standing on the Moon. And Beyond” ~ Lunar
Exploration Paves Way with a Manned Pressurized Rover ~ The Future Reflected in Children’s Eyes: The Story of a Manned Pressurized Rover and Lunar Exploration Led by facilitator and director Hiromitsu Uesaka, the event began with a screening of “Space Theater,” a film depicting the story of a manned pressurized rover. The beautiful images of the lunar surface projected on the screen and the profound music drew the audience into the world of the “moon challenge” that was about to begin.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/165783/4/165783-4-afd341b1663d8f0064994f944bc45499-3900×2593.jpg (C)JAXA After the screening, Director Uesaka took the stage and said, “Now, let’s hear from the people who are actually developing the technology that will allow us to land on the moon,” and the second part of the event began. The four speakers on stage were Seiji Kamiyoshi, Technical Director, Naofumi Ikeda, Technical Director, Chihiro Nishiyama, Senior Researcher, and Yuta Kawai, Research and Development Scientist, from the JAXA Manned Pressurized Rover Engineering Center. They are involved in the development of the “manned pressurized rover,” the world’s first spacecraft capable of both “living” and “moving” on the lunar surface. Speakers explained Japan’s role in the Artemis program and the mission of the manned pressurized rover. The manned pressurized rover will serve as a “mobile habitat” that can stay and move around on the lunar surface, and will serve as an important technological foundation for future Mars exploration. “How do we transport this massive rover to the moon?” “How do we achieve sustainable exploration?” Each of these questions incorporates the wisdom and ingenuity of the development team. The lecture began by touching on the difficulty of creating an environment where people can operate without wearing spacesuits, and introduced issues such as life support systems and thermal control systems. He also provided a clear explanation of how a manned, pressurized rover can navigate autonomously on the lunar surface. He also discussed the challenges of “driving” on the moon, where gravity and topography are completely different from those on Earth, and the cutting edge of technological development to support this challenge.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/165783/4/165783-4-72f876adf97b24f41bcd2d7a58d829b9-3900×2593.jpg (C)JAXA Then, as a special guest in the second part of the event, JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi, who had only recently been in space, made another appearance, drawing surprise and cheers from the audience. During the talk session, astronaut Onishi spoke about the development of the manned pressurized rover, the beauty of Earth as seen from space, and the significance of humanity heading to the moon. The most memorable moment was when Astronaut Onishi spoke passionately to the manned pressurized rover team, saying, “I really want you to take me to the moon.” His every word conveyed his heartfelt desire to go to the moon, and the entire venue was filled with his enthusiasm.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/165783/4/165783-4-f48e1bc8e081ba580e5981f20406d1f1-3900×2593.jpg (C)JAXA During the Q&A session, many hands were raised, from children to adults, and the lively exchange continued, with questions ranging from simple ones like, “What is important when living in space?” and “Do astronauts catch colds or get sick while in space?” The manned pressurized rover is more than just a spacecraft; it symbolizes a new era in which humanity will “live in space.” Experiencing the technological challenges and passion behind it up close, many participants seemed to have a new vision for the moon.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/165783/4/165783-4-f65c098982d301ffa6f69e3517938e07-3900×2593.jpg (C)JAXA What made an impression on me during the second part was the sight of a young boy in a corner of the auditorium. Before the screening began, the boy looked a little tired, head down, and tearful, perhaps from walking. But as soon as the film began, he was drawn to the screen and watched with shining eyes. By the end of the event, they were beaming with smiles and, as they left the venue, said cheerfully, “I’m glad I came! It was so much fun! Thank you!!” More than anything else, this sight spoke volumes about the power of the moon and the universe to move people’s hearts. The venue was filled with words of gratitude, “Thank you!”, with speakers and attendees alike expressing their gratitude to one another. The scene was like the seeds of hope gently nurturing our future. I’m sure this chain of “thank yous” will continue into the future.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/165783/4/165783-4-bf6f27b3db1f3c058622c0e2cff6da27-3900×2593.jpg (C)JAXA ■From all involved in the JAXA permanent exhibition booth at the Osaka-Kansai Expo We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who visited the JAXA permanent exhibition booth over the past six months. We received a great response and a certain hope from each and every comment and gaze of our visitors. We strongly feel that the thoughts we put into the exhibits and videos reached them, and that they provided an opportunity to think about the connection between “the universe” and “our own way of life.” The fact that we were able to share the feeling that “we too are part of the vast universe” through the Expo is an invaluable achievement for us. We believe that the image of space projected on the high-definition screen gave many people the “real feeling of living in space.” Many children at the event expressed their desire to see a rocket launch, to go into space, and to become an astronaut in the future. The moment the rocket blasted off into space, enveloped in an overwhelming sense of scale and light, left a deep impression on those who witnessed it. This experience will surely lead to the power to shape the future. We hope that the interest and excitement sparked at Expo Osaka-Kansai will lead to new challenges and new dreams. ■Related links ● JAXA Permanent Exhibition Booth at the Osaka-Kansai Expo Official Special Website: https://expo2025.jaxa.jp/ ● “Standing on the Moon. And Beyond” Special Talk Session (3rd Session) – Scenes from the event (short movie): https://youtu.be/v4FWr6PLdys For more information about this release 発行：株式会社
