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Japan has just set a new world record with the construction of the Grand Ring, the largest wooden structure ever built. This impressive ring, which surrounds the Expo 2025 site in Osaka, is already listed in the Guinness World Records.
An extraordinary architectural feat
The Grand Ring measures 675 metres in diameter on the outside (615 metres on the inside) and covers an area of more than 61,000 m². This immense circular structure rises to a height of 20 metres at its highest point and around 12 metres on the inside. Its construction, which began in June 2023, required more than 27,000 m³ of timber, mainly sugi cedar, Japanese hinoki cypress and Scots pine. In total, almost 70% of the materials used are of Japanese origin, underlining the importance given to local resources.
A revisited ancestral tradition
The Grand Ring is not just a feat of size: it is also a tribute to the art of traditional Japanese construction. Inspired by the “nuki” technique, used for centuries to build temples and sanctuaries, the Grand Ring’s assembly largely avoids the use of nails and screws, favouring the interweaving of horizontal and vertical beams.However, to guarantee the structure’s resistance to earthquakes – a necessity in Japan – metal elements have been discreetly integrated into the structure.
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Symbol of Expo 2025
Designed to protect visitors from the wind, rain and sun, the Great Ring has become the icon of Expo 2025 in Osaka, an event bringing together more than 160 countries and regions. The organisers hope to welcome nearly 28 million visitors by the time the Expo closes in October 2025, with an estimated economic impact of between 12 and 17 billion euros, while the future of the Grand Ring after the Expo is still uncertain.
Through this exceptional achievement, Japan is once again demonstrating its unique expertise, capable of combining age-old tradition with bold modernity. A powerful symbol for an exhibition that looks to the future.
