Takenaka Group Kurukuruku (竹中グループ くるくるく)

Takenaka Group Kurukuruku is an exhibition facility in the Craft Village, presented by seven Takenaka Group companies led by Takenaka Corporation. Under the theme “meguru inochi, meguru katachi” (circulating life, circulating form), it invites visitors to follow, with all five senses, the life of building materials — from their origins, to becoming parts of a building, to being regenerated. It is also where the group presents its “Environmental Strategy 2050”, which seeks to harmonize decarbonization, resource circulation and coexistence with nature.

What to see

• Exhibition plus events: during the Expo, the focus will be a permanent exhibition on the circulation of materials and a wide range of events for learning about the environment while having fun. Outdoor exhibits and an indoor event space will host hands-on events for everyone from small children to adults, according to an interview on the special site.
• Following the life of materials: the special site describes a building formed by the “shape” left by falling petals and the “life” of the many materials gathered there. Team members say they want visitors to feel how materials are born, become building parts and are regenerated.
• Regenerative Sugoroku: a hands-on board game in which players use quizzes and dialogue to come up with ideas for cutting CO2. Co-developed with the NPO issue+design, it was tested with pupils at Miho Elementary School in Yokohama on March 5, 2026, and an upgraded version is planned as an event during the Expo.
• Planting: the group says the landscape will draw on the local ecosystem.

Building and design

• The name: “Kurukuruku” reads the same forwards and backwards in Japanese, expressing circulation. It also evokes petals twirling (kuru-kuru) down to the ground and visitors walking round and round the building. The name was proposed by staff planning the permanent exhibition, the exhibit grew out of more than 40 ideas collected within the group, and the building design was chosen through an in-house competition.
• Form and structure: the pavilion spreads beneath ground cut out in the shape of a fallen petal, and its grass roof is supported by steel scaffolding pipes.
• Over 99% reuse: the team maintains strict traceability of its materials. The columns and beams are scaffolding pipes actually used at construction sites, to be reused at another site after the Expo.
• Scale and schedule: client Takenaka Corporation; site about 1,000 m²; floor area about 300 m²; height about 4.3m; construction from June 15, 2026 to the end of January 2027 (planned).
• On-site innovations: the site office is a new hybrid timber temporary office built with Kanagawa-grown wood, in use since June 8, 2026, with a water-recycling hand-washing station that needs no water supply or drainage. Takenaka’s official X account reported a successful test of a towable hydrogen generator powering the recycling hand-washing station during construction.

About the exhibitor

Takenaka Corporation says it built the majority of pavilions at Expo ‘70 in Osaka and many Japan pavilions at later world expos. Until now its role was construction only; this is its first time exhibiting as a Village exhibitor. The company adopted the motto “Sekkei ni midori wo” (bringing greenery into design) in 1971 and set up a dedicated GREEN×EXPO 2027 office in June 2025, to run until the end of 2027.

Announcements so far

• October 1, 2024: selected as a Village exhibitor as the Takenaka Group.
• May 29, 2025: announced a GREEN×EXPO 2027 office from June 1.
• October 29, 2025: the Expo Association published the exhibit overview.
• March 12, 2026: announced the “Kurukuruku” facility and its 99% material reuse target.
• June 11, 2026: groundbreaking ceremony; on June 16 the group held “Arukuruku”, a 30-person walking event around the venue to mark the start of construction.
• July 30, 2026: featured on the Expo Association’s YouTube program “GREEN×EXPO DiRECT #16”.
• September 18, 2026: the special site published its first project-member interview.

Reactions on social media

Takenaka’s official X account has posted about the hydrogen generator test (June 15) and the “Arukuruku” walk (posted June 26). General discussion is still limited; posts on X pick up the reuse of scaffolding pipes revealed in the interview, and some note that the facility name can now be seen from outside the venue (as of October 2026).

Before you go

• Location: Craft Village.
• Reservations: in an interview published in September 2026, the team said it was still considering whether to require reservations; nothing has been announced (as of October 2026). The facilities covered by same-day viewing reservations have not been announced either.
• Children: hands-on events for small children upward are planned; details and dates are not yet announced. Group employees will also volunteer during the Expo.
• Accessibility: not yet announced.

Sources (all checked 2026-10-04):

• Expo Association: Village Exhibitions
• Takenaka Group: GREEN×EXPO 2027 special site (Japanese)
• Special site column: interview #1 (2026-09-18, Japanese)
• Takenaka release: exhibiting “Kurukuruku” (2026-03-12, Japanese)
• Takenaka news: groundbreaking ceremony (2026-06-16, Japanese)
• Takenaka release: hybrid timber temporary office (2026-06-16, Japanese)
• Takenaka news: children’s project and Regenerative Sugoroku (2026-04-16, Japanese)
• Takenaka news: NATURE TECH! exhibition (2026-07-06, Japanese)
• Takenaka release: GREEN×EXPO 2027 office (2025-05-29, Japanese)
• Takenaka news: Village exhibitor selection (2024-10-01, Japanese)
• JAcom interview with the Takenaka Group (2026-05-19, Japanese)
• Expo Association press release: 500 days to go (2025-10-29, Japanese)
• Expo Association official YouTube: GREEN×EXPO DiRECT #16 (2026-07-30, Japanese)
• Takenaka official X: hydrogen generator test (2026-06-15)
• Takenaka official X: “Arukuruku” walking event (2026-06-26)

Note: Exhibit details and highlights will be updated as official announcements are made.