Okay, hear us out: we went to Japan on a secret mission. We wore a saree, spotted the blue blobby mascot Myaku Myaku (twice!), played interactive games about composting, and saw Saathi’s story come to life on an international platform- all without leaving our desks. Sounds like a fever dream? Nope, just the magic of Virtual Expo! 

As part of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, we recently went on a live virtual tour to explore the digital world of the Expo- and take our community along with us. From cultural moments to climate missions, here’s a full recap of our experience (and why you need to try it too). 

Step 1: Welcome to the Sky: Our First Impressions of Yumeshima

The expo’s virtual site is like something straight out of a sci-fi daydream- a floating group of islands, where each “island” stands for a different theme or pavilion. It’s all about “Unity in Diversity”, much like Japan itself. 

As virtual “crew members”, we got to explore this imaginative world, meet fellow avatars from around the globe, and begin our missions. And trust us, these weren’t your average to-do lists. 

Step 2: Mission Assignment: Sarees, Pavilions, and Myaku Myaku

Our goals of the tour were simple, but oh-so-fun.

Our Mission Checklist:

• Hunt for Myaku-Myaku (the delightfully weird and lovable Expo mascot) to earn donations for pads!

• Visit the India Pavilion and the Women’s Pavilion.

• Find Saathi in the Future Life Village and learn something new about sustainability and health.

• Interact with at least five other virtual visitors and tell them about our mission.

And yes, we did all of that (plus some extra wandering for no reason).

At the India Pavilion, we changed our avatar’s appearance to a saree! And it was everything. There’s something so satisfying about watching your digital self strut around in a traditional outfit on a global stage. A proud moment for sure!

The Women’s Pavilion had a special place in our hearts. All the memories of Saathi’s win at the Cartier Women’s Initiative came flooding back. It reminded us just how far we have come, and how many more people we still want to reach. 

Step 3: Learning (and Laughing) at the Health and Japan Pavilions

We made our way to the Health Pavilion (“Reborn”) Pavilion, where the theme of sustainable living really stood out. Now here’s the catch: though there were some displays in English, most of the text was in Japanese. 

While we tried our best to interpret visuals, we definitely missed out on some of the deeper insights. So here’s our tip: If you plan to visit, keep a translation tool handy! The content is absolutely worth the effort, especially if you’re interested in eco-conscious innovations and global health ideas. 

And then came the Japan pavilion- easily the most fun part of the tour. There were these magical portals, each one leading to a game or an activity. We learned about soft craftsmanship, and even how waste decomposes and gets upcycled. This was our chance to complete our sustainability mission! Somehow, it made learning feel more like gaming, and less like a science lecture. It was educational, but in the coolest, “did-I-just-play-a-game-about-compost?” kind of way.

Step 4: The Myaku-Myaku Challenge: Our Pad Donation Mission

Speaking of missions, we spotted Myaku-Myaku not once, but twice! As part of our challenge, that means we get to donate two boxes of pads to a community in need. It's an amazing feeling to know our virtual adventures can have a real-world impact.

Step 5: The Best Part: Spotting Saathi (and Our Upcoming Talk!)

One of the most exciting parts of the tour was exploring the Future Life Village, a dreamy space focused on how we can build a better world together. 

Tucked inside the Best Practice section is something very close to our hearts: Saathi’s feature video. If you wander through and be patient, you’ll spot us and learn more about our work in menstrual health and sustainability. It’s short, powerful, and absolutely worth the wait. 

But here’s the real cherry on top:

On August 14th, Saathi will be giving a speech in this very space- and you can watch it through the virtual tour app! We’ll be talking about our journey, our values, and the future we’re working towards. Look forward to another livestream of this speech, where we’ll be sharing it with our community once again!

Conclusion:

Our visual tour of Expo 2025 was more than just a fun tech experience- it was a meaningful, global celebration of innovation, culture, and community. From wearing a saree in cyberspace to seeing our work featured among world-changing ideas, it was a surreal and beautiful journey. 

Ready to Explore? Here's How to Join Us:

1. Watch the Full Tour on YouTube: See all the whole visit, our genuine reactions, and the full story of our mission in our video recap. 

2. Experience it Yourself: If you’re curious, excited, or just in need of a little digital adventure, download the official Expo 2025 app and explore the virtual world. Tag us @saathipads if you see us in the Future Life Village.

3. Watch Our Live Talk: Join us for our live-streamed talk on August 14th! We’ll be talking about our journey and the future we're building. Mark your calendars! 

1. Time: 16:10-16:25 JST (12:40pm IST-12:55pm IST)

2. Location: Best Practice area, Future Life Village, West Gate Island.

4. Connect with Us: Share your own virtual tour experiences in the comments below!

See you in the skies of Yumeshima!