Expo 2025 Osaka has opened its doors to the world as a global platform for dialogue on innovation, culture, and sustainability. Among the highlights of the Italy Pavilion, design stands out as one of the country’s finest ambassadors and a bridge to international audiences.

In this context, the SaloneSatellite Permanent Collection 1998–2025 was inaugurated, celebrating the encounter between international creativity and Italian production. More than just an exhibition, it is a cultural bridge that tells the story of over twenty-five years of talent and innovation.

© copyright Courtesy of Italy Expo 2025 Osaka

The opening ceremony featured key figures such as Marva Griffin, founder and curator of SaloneSatellite, alongside Mario Vattani, Commissioner General for Italy at Expo 2025 Osaka, and Matteo Zoppas, President of ICE Agency. With the ribbon-cutting, the Italy Pavilion transformed into a space that showcases how young designers’ ideas have successfully dialogued with Italian know-how, creating a legacy recognized worldwide.

© copyright Courtesy of Italy Expo 2025 Osaka

The day continued with a Design Talk led by Marva Griffin, opened by institutional greetings from Vattani and Zoppas and introduced by Rossella Menegazzo, Head of Culture, Science and Education for the Italian Commissioner’s Office. The discussion spotlighted designers who have left their mark on past editions of SaloneSatellite, invited to reflect on the relationship between Italian production and global creativity, with a special focus on Japan.

© copyright Courtesy of Italy Expo 2025 Osaka

Among the guests were studios and designers representing a wide range of creative voices: TONERICO:INC. (Hiroshi Yoneya, Ken Kimizuka, Yumi Masuko, Kimizuka Nanako), HONOKA.lab (Ryo Suzuki, Shoichi Yokoyama, Moritaka Tochigi), mist-o (Tommaso Nani), SUPER RAT (Kazuki Nagasawa), and Hanako Kita. Their contributions highlighted how design today thrives on cultural cross-pollination, uniting diverse stories and sensibilities under the shared value of quality.

© copyright Courtesy of Italy Expo 2025 Osaka

With this inauguration, the Italy Pavilion is not just hosting an exhibition: it becomes a manifesto of cross-cultural dialogue, reaffirming SaloneSatellite’s role as a hub for ideas, experimentation, and collaborations without borders. A message particularly meaningful in Japan, a country that shares with Italy a deep passion for design and a unique attention to detail. Two nations distant in geography yet close in creative spirit, coming together at Expo Osaka to strengthen a dialogue built on beauty, innovation, and international vision.