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Japan Association for the 2005 World Exposition. The World Exposition is an international event with a history of nearly 150 years since it was first held in London in 1851 it has been a venue for introducing various new technologies and products such as telephones, elevators, automobiles etc, which are now indispensable to our daily life. It has also created numerous ideas and concepts in use today, such as group tours, department stores and the modern Olympic Games. The World Expo has made a great contribution to the development of society by satisfying the needs of the people in their respective era. The Osaka Expo of 1970 was the first expo held in Japan and attracted a total number of 64,220,000 visitors, which set the record for the largest number of visitors in the 150-year history of the World Exposition. Three expositions were held in Japan following the Osaka Expo of 1970 Ocean Expo '75, TSUKUBA Expo '85 and the Flower Expo '90. EXPO 2005 is expected to be the most extensive expo since the Osaka Expo of 1970. With the theme "Beyond Development Rediscovering Nature's Wisdom", EXPO 2005 is aimed at being an "issues- orientated (participatory) exposition", "a laboratory for the future",and will provide new directions for the expos of the twenty-first century. As a part of creating the open "issues oriented (participatory)"Expo, we have decided to hold "The 2005 World Exposition International idea Competition". We are soliciting a wide variety' of ideas from around the world and hope to reflect the results of the competition at the expo. The planned site for EXPO 2005 is the district of Satoyarna-woodland located in the south-eastern part of Seto City. Unlike conventional exposition sites, it is based on a beautiful landscape represented by gently sloping bills. We are prepared to utilise the best technology and know-how the world has to offer to meet the challenge of constructing the Expo at this unique location Bearing the unique characteristics of this planned site in mind, Japan Association for the 2005 World Exposition is engaged in a study of new ideas including the "Open Air Exhibition Space". This concept is focused around the creation of "space that is unobstructed by structures and edifices constructed by human hands and where the environment serves the role of a pavilion". to strengthen the dialog between nature and mankind, where the result of our efforts will culminate in harmony be~veen the two subjects at the forested exposition site To provide a better understanding for contestants, we have established su~themes as presented below. We will welcome a wide variety of conceptual ideas for both display and events, such as "What I (we) would like to do or see at the exposition in the forest" or "Ways to experience the relationship be~veen nature and human beings," as well as concrete ideas regarding the layout of the exposition site, such as "how to utilize nature and the forest as a pavilion." Rediscovering Nature's Wisdom Basic Concept Nature has given its bounty freely. Nature, the source of all life, has willingly bestowed wisdom and enabled humankind to develop the technologies needed to utilize all manner of energy and other resources. Yet humanity has not repaid or even duly acknowledged this vast debt, and now nature is beginning to lose patience. The overriding imperative for humanity in the 21st century is thus that of rediscovering nature's wisdom to once more resonate in harmony with the rest of life and nature. Technology was not given so humankind could ride roughshod over nature and wreak irreparable changes. Rather, technology is to draw out the hiden essence of all nature so that it can sparkle new purpose. Technology is not to enslave and command life but to draw forth the infinite possibilities locked within all life and to open new realms of significance. Thus it is that we need to heed the message of life and nature and to create new interfaces infused with nature's wisdom. Thus It is that we need to breathe the forgotten wIsdom into our technology-dominated civilisation, to allow modesty and humility back into our hearts, and to restore the precarious relatIonships between humanity and the rest of nature and among people themselves. This is the great experiment being begun in Japan's semi-domesticated woodlands. These woodlands lack imposing wilds but have everything that humankind needs for the 21st century. The essential experiment underway here is a bold attempt to confront the many issues facing humankind head on and to deal wisely with them integrating the best of human technology, art, and culture, this experiment pushes the very limits of nature's wisdom to bring forth a new dimension of human development for the new century. This is the focus we propose for EXPO 2005 Return