The Jomon Blueprint:

The Spiritual Roots of the Japanese Mindset To understand the modern Japanese mindset, one must look back 13,000 years to the Jomon period, a prehistoric era that serves as the spiritual and social blueprint for Japan today . Unlike many ancient civilizations that followed a linear path of expansion and conflict, the Jomon people intentionally chose a "Spiral Path" focused on harmony, sustainability, and 13,000 years of peace .

1. Animism: The Foundation of Shinto The core of the Jomon worldview is Animism—the belief that spirits (kami) reside in everything: mountains, rivers, trees, and even natural phenomena . This is the direct origin of modern Shinto and the concept of Yaoyorozu no Kami (eight million gods) . For the Japanese, nature is not a resource to be conquered or owned, but a sacred partner to coexist with .

2. "Shinjin Kyoshoku": Sharing with the Divine A vital link between Jomon and modern Shinto is the ritual of communion with the gods (Shinjin Kyoshoku) . Evidence shows that 6,000 years ago, Jomon people brewed "Jomon Wine" to offer to the spirits before sharing it with the entire community . This spirit of "sharing a meal with the divine" continues today in Shinto ceremonies like the Shin-name-sai (Harvest Festival), where the Emperor offers the first rice to the gods, and in the tradition of Omiki (sacred sake) shared at shrines .

3. Trust Capitalism and the "Four Don'ts" The Jomon society functioned through "Trust Capitalism"

—a network built on human connection and mutual reliance rather than currency or military force . Their long-lasting peace was sustained by a grand design known as the "Four Don'ts": No Ownership: Everything is borrowed from nature . No Accumulation: Wealth was not hoarded, preventing the rise of power hierarchies . No Expansion: Communities remained small to respect the environment’s capacity . No Disconnection: Maintaining the relationship between life and death, humans and nature, and the past and future .

4. Living Legacy: "Itadakimasu" and "Mottainai" This ancient wisdom is not a thing of the past; it is encoded in the daily language and DNA of modern Japan . Itadakimasu: More than just "bon appétit," it is a prayer of gratitude for the life taken to sustain one's own, reflecting the Jomon's deep respect for the cycle of life . Mottainai: This reflects the Jomon philosophy of "using everything to the last drop" and the belief that even objects have spirits, making waste a spiritual loss . Conclusion For global observers, the Jomon period represents "another possibility" for humanity—a highly advanced civilization that prioritized spiritual depth and environmental harmony over material expansion . By understanding Jomon, one understands why modern Japan remains a culture where the invisible world of spirits and the visible world of nature are still profoundly intertwined

The Dawn of Everything is a 2021 book by David Graeber and David Wengrow that argues human history was far more varied, experimental, and non-linear than the usual story of a simple march from “hunter-gatherers → farming → cities → states.” The book’s core claim is that early societies did not all follow the same path, and that inequality, hierarchy, and government did not emerge in one fixed sequence.wikipedia+1

Main argument

The authors challenge two familiar ideas: that humans began in small, equal, “primitive” groups, and that agriculture automatically created civilization and inequality. Instead, they say people repeatedly organized themselves in many different ways, sometimes becoming more hierarchical and sometimes intentionally avoiding hierarchy.wikipedia+1

Three freedoms

A central part of the book is its idea that many early societies enjoyed three basic freedoms: the freedom to move away, the freedom to disobey arbitrary authority, and the freedom to rebuild society in a different form. The book treats these not as modern inventions, but as ancient human possibilities that were later restricted in many places.wikipedia+1

What the book uses as evidence

The book draws on archaeology and anthropology from many regions, including Japan, the Americas, and the ancient Near East. It uses examples of seasonal political change, large settlements without obvious kings, and societies that chose different social arrangements at different times of year.wikipedia+1

Why it matters

Its bigger message is that the present political order is not inevitable. If humans have organized themselves in many different ways before, then modern hierarchy, bureaucracy, and state power are historical choices rather than the only possible outcome.wikipedia+1

Connection to Jomon Japan

This is where the book becomes especially interesting for Japanese readers. The authors use evidence from Japan as one of the places that complicates the standard “civilization” narrative, because Jomon-era societies do not fit neatly into the idea that agriculture alone produces complex society.wikipedia+1

A good way to read the book in relation to Jomon Japan is this: Jomon society can be seen as an example of how highly developed social life, settlement, ritual, and material culture can exist without a state in the later classical sense. That makes Jomon a useful case for the book’s broader argument that human societies were diverse long before states became dominant.

 

David Graeber was a professor of anthropology at the London School of Economics. He was the author of Debt: The First 5,000 Years and Bullshit Jobs: A Theory, and was a contributor to Harper’s Magazine, The Guardian, and The Baffler. He was an iconic thinker and a renowned activist, and his early efforts in Zuccotti Park made Occupy Wall Street an era-defining movement. He died on September 2, 2020.

David Wengrow is Professor of Comparative Archaeology at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London and has been a visiting professor at New York University. He is the author of What Makes Civilization? and other books, and co-author with David Graeber of the New York Times bestseller The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity. Wengrow has conducted archaeological fieldwork in Africa and the Middle East, and contributed op-eds to The Guardian and The New York

 

The Grammar of Birds:

Decoding the Language of the Wild

**Practical Guide to Running a Company with Claude Code:
A Complete Explanation of Automation and Efficiency**

This document is a learning guide on how to use Claude Code not just as a chat tool, but as an autonomous AI employee—a system that enables individuals or small teams to run an entire business efficiently.

---

1. Short-Answer Quiz (10 Questions)

Question 1: What is the key difference between traditional chat-based AIs (such as ChatGPT or Google Gemini) and Claude Code?
Question 2: Why is Visual Studio Code (VS Code) recommended over Cursor as the working environment for Claude Code?
Question 3: When structuring an AI company organization, what kinds of information should be stored in the initial “Context (Knowledge)” folder?
Question 4: Briefly explain the roles of the five key positions (CMO, CPO, CFO, CSO, CDO) proposed in the organizational model.
Question 5: When creating the “claude.md” file that defines the project’s overall rules, what word-count limitation should be observed, and why?
Question 6: How should “folder-specific rules” be used in relation to the global/common rules?
Question 7: What is the “Skills” feature in Claude Code?
Question 8: What are the benefits of splitting the terminal screen to run multiple Claude Code instances simultaneously for higher productivity?
Question 9: Explain the functions of the two daily commands “/compact” and “/clear.”
Question 10: How should the “Sonnet,” “Opus,” and “Haiku” models be used optimally according to task type?

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2. Answer Explanations

Answer 1:
Traditional AI systems mainly serve as chat or consulting partners, requiring users to copy and paste or manually manage outputs. In contrast, Claude Code acts as an AI agent that autonomously executes tasks—from research and document structuring to editing, file creation, and saving—based solely on instructions.

Answer 2:
While Claude Code can run in Cursor, VS Code is recommended because it performs more smoothly. Cursor tends to slow down as workload increases, whereas VS Code offers a lighter and faster user experience.

Answer 3:
Store all input data such as personal thought processes, study notes, daily journals, internal company information, and primary sources in text format. The more knowledge accumulated here, the higher the precision and expertise of the AI “employees” (assigned to each role).

Answer 4:

• CMO (Chief Marketing Officer): Marketing strategy and outreach

• CPO (Chief Product Officer): Product development and planning

• CFO (Chief Financial Officer): Finance and administration, including invoicing

• CSO (Chief Sales Officer): Sales and customer relations

• CDO (Chief Digital Officer): Technical management and prompt optimization

Organizing these roles as separate directories clarifies responsibilities and prevents confusion in data management.

Answer 5:
Each rules file should be limited to 2,000–3,000 characters. If too lengthy, the AI struggles to determine which rules to prioritize, risking instruction conflicts or unintended behavior.

Answer 6:
Write project-wide shared rules in claude.md, while detailed, department-specific guidelines go into folder-specific rule files. Because folder-specific rules apply only within a limited scope, they can include longer and more detailed instructions than the common file.

Answer 7:
The “Skills” feature embeds specialized expertise or workflows into the AI. For example, you can register a skill like “YouTube Script Specialist” so the AI consistently produces expert-level outputs without re-entering prompts each time.

Answer 8:
Running multiple Claude Code instances (AI employees) in parallel for different tasks—such as marketing, sales, and accounting—eliminates waiting time for the human user. Handling up to about 15 concurrent tasks can reduce total work time to less than half.

Answer 9:

• /compact: Summarizes lengthy conversation history to reduce system load.

• /clear: Resets the session’s context, clearing cached data to prepare for a new task.

Answer 10:
Generally, use Sonnet for standard operations. Use Opus 3.6 for highly complex reasoning tasks, and Haiku for quick responses, simple writing, or organizing research outputs—balancing cost and performance.

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3. Essay Topics

Write a short essay discussing the questions below, using examples or ideas from the source material. (No sample answers provided.)

1. “Humans Should Focus on Organization”:
   Discuss the importance of design and decision-making in an age when AI can outperform humans at execution tasks.

2. AI Management Through Directory Structure:
   Explain how maintaining clearly structured role-based folders, rather than disorganized file storage, helps eliminate bottlenecks in AI-driven management.

3. Autonomous AI Agents and Organizational Change:
   Consider how the evolution from passive “instruction-following AIs” to autonomous tools like Claude Code impacts side businesses and company operations.

4. Strategic Rule Design:
   Explain how the three-tiered approach—common rules (claude.md), individual rules, and skills—improves controllability and strategic execution by AI.

5. Time Creation Through Parallel Processes:
   Discuss how operating 15 AI employees simultaneously transforms the traditional “one task at a time” workflow.

---

4. Key Terms Glossary

Term	Definition / Explanation

Term	Definition / Explanation
Claude Code	A self-operating AI agent tool developed by Anthropic.
AI Agent	An AI that autonomously completes research, writing, and file tasks once instructed.
VS Code	Microsoft’s lightweight code editor, recommended as the optimal environment for Claude Code.
claude.md	The root configuration file that stores shared rules and system-wide instructions for the AI.
Directory Structure	Folder organization by role (CMO, CFO, etc.) to prevent confusion and simplify management.
Multi-Agent	A method of running multiple AI “agents” in parallel, each handling a different role.
Skills	Registered expertise profiles that let AI perform specialized tasks (e.g., “YouTube Script Creator”).
/compact	A command that summarizes conversation history to streamline performance.
/clear	Resets the AI’s internal context for a fresh start on a new task.
/model	Switches between AI models (Sonnet, Opus, Haiku) based on task requirements.
Context	The background knowledge base (journal entries, source data, etc.) used for reasoning.
PDCA	The business cycle of Plan → Do → Check → Act applied to managing AI workflows.

Dois representantes do Brasil chegam ao Japão!

Visita ao Pavilhão do Brasil

― Em comemoração aos 130 anos do estabelecimento das relações diplomáticas Japão–Brasil ―

Após serem selecionadas na etapa classificatória realizada em São Paulo, as representantes Sras. Paula Hirama y Sra. Emi Fujino finalmente chegou ao Japão.

No dia seguinte à chegada, elas visitaram o Pavilhão do Brasil, localizado no recinto da Expo, onde foram calorosamente recebidas pelo diretor do pavilhão.

(Da esquerda: Sr. Lucas, secretário do diretor do pavilhão; Sr. Pablo Lira, diretor do Pavilhão do Brasil; no centro, as duas representantes vindas de São Paulo, Sra.) Paula Hirama y Sra. Emi Fujino, Sra. Neide Hayama, de Relações Públicas, e a voluntária Sra. Enomoto)

Durante a visita guiada, foram apresentadas às mais recentes exposições e a diferentes aspectos da cultura brasileira. Em especial, ficaram impressionadas com o compromisso sério do Brasil em relação às questões ambientais, percebendo como o país realmente exerce liderança mundial neste campo. As voluntárias japonesas que acompanhavam a visita também ouviram atentamente e se mostraram igualmente admiradas. As duas representantes, com um sorriso, afirmaram: “Queremos transmitir ao povo japonês todo o charme do Brasil.”

 

Encontro com o Diretor do Pavilhão

O diretor Lira, muito acessível e simpático, falou sobre a maneira positiva como os imigrantes japoneses contribuíram para o Brasil. Ele também expressou sua alegria em ver como a cultura japonesa — através da música, das artes cênicas e das artes marciais — se expandiu e se enraizou entre os brasileiros.

Este é um ano especial, que marca o 130º aniversário das relações diplomáticas entre Japão e Brasil. Esta visita foi um momento maravilhoso de intercâmbio cultural para celebrar a data e espera-se que, através das atividades futuras, os laços entre os dois países se tornem ainda mais fortes.

 

Visita à Maior Estrutura de Madeira do Mundo

 

 

Depois, acompanhadas pela voluntária Sra. Enomoto e pelo coordenador de voluntários, Sr. Miyazaki, elas subiram até o “Grande Anel de Cobertura”, reconhecido pelo Guinness World Records como a maior estrutura de madeira do mundo. Ficaram surpresas ao saber que não foi utilizado um único prego em sua construção. Também se impressionaram ao ver pessoas do mundo todo visitando o local da Expo.

Visita Prévia ao Festival Station

A pedido das representantes, no mesmo dia foi realizada uma visita técnica ao “Festival Station”, local do evento do dia seguinte, acompanhada pela Sra. Rhea, voluntária da Irlanda que estuda em uma escola de música no Japão.

Durante as atividades de voluntariado de interpretação estudantil, Ria, que havia aprendido sobre os santuários xintoístas, comentou que a fé católica em Maria e a deusa xintoísta Amaterasu Ōmikami têm pontos em comum, como “tolerância e bondade”. Isso despertou o interesse das pessoas do mesmo país católico de origem dela.

No “Pavilhão do Japão”, explicamos que os visitantes podem vivenciar como o lixo do local é decomposto por microrganismos e transformado novamente em água e materiais. Também apresentamos sistemas que produzem energia a partir de resíduos orgânicos, além do uso de tecnologias de algas e reciclagem de carbono para criar novos materiais. Personagens como Doraemon e Hello Kitty também aparecem, tornando o aprendizado divertido tanto para crianças quanto para adultos.

Sobre o Castelo de Osaka, mostramos fotos no celular e explicamos que foi construído por Toyotomi Hideyoshi — um guerreiro de origem camponesa que unificou o Japão pela primeira vez — usando métodos de construção sofisticados comparáveis aos daqueles empregados pelos senhores feudais mais poderosos. Contamos também que ele transformou o “hanami” (admiração das flores de cerejeira), antes exclusivo da nobreza, em um evento popular, e desenvolveu a infraestrutura logística que levou produtos de todo o Japão a Osaka, fazendo da cidade um centro comercial.

Por outro lado, elas contaram que em São Paulo existe o “Naniwa Kaikan”, um auditório construído pela comunidade de origem osakense, onde também são realizados festivais e eventos musicais. Enquanto conversávamos, até um grupo de senhoras de Osaka veio conversar conosco, de maneira calorosa.

Durante o intervalo e após o evento musical de 19 de setembro, as duas participantes vindas de São Paulo conversaram com os japoneses e voluntários nos bastidores e camarins sobre músicas, artistas e animes populares tanto no Japão quanto no Brasil, aproveitando o momento para um animado intercâmbio cultural.

 

Two Representatives from Brazil Arrive in Japan!

Visit to the Brazil Pavilion

― Celebrating the 130th Anniversary of Japan–Brazil Diplomatic Relations

After being selected at the qualifying event held in São Paulo, representatives Ms. Paula Hirama and Ms. Emi Fujino have finally arrived in Japan.　

On the day after their arrival, they visited the Brazil Pavilion at the Expo venue, where they were warmly welcomed by the Pavilion Director.

(From left: Mr. Lucas, the Pavilion Director’s secretary, Mr. Pablo Lira, Director of the Brazil Pavilion, the two representatives from São Paulo in the center, Ms. Paula Hirama and Ms. Emi Fujino, Ms. Neide Hayama from Public Relations, and volunteer Ms. Enomoto)

As they were given a guided tour inside, they were introduced to the latest exhibitions and Brazilian cultural displays. In particular, when hearing about Brazil’s serious commitment to environmental issues, they realized how Brazil is truly playing a leading role in this field. The Japanese volunteer staff listening alongside them were equally impressed by the explanation. The two representatives listened attentively and, with smiles, said, “We want to share the charms of Brazil with everyone in Japan.”

Meeting with the Pavilion Director[

Director Lira was very friendly and spoke about the positive contributions Japanese immigrants have made in Brazil. He also shared his delight with how Japanese culture—through music, performing arts, and martial arts—has spread and taken root among Brazilians.

 

This year marks the special 130th anniversary of Japan–Brazil diplomatic relations. This visit has become a wonderful moment of cultural exchange to celebrate this milestone, and it is hoped that through future activities, the bond between the two countries will grow even deeper.

 

 

While drinking Brazilian guava juice, we got excited talking about the similarities between people from Osaka and São Paulo. We also saw people wearing costumes and accessories featuring Myaku-Myaku, and both of us agreed that Osakans are a lot like Brazilians. Watching everyone enjoy the Expo made us genuinely happy. When we gave them a Myaku-Myaku mascot as a gift, they were delighted and let us take wonderful photos with their bright smiles.

 

Visit to the World’s Largest Wooden Structure

 

After that, together with volunteer Ms. Enomoto and volunteer coordinator Mr. Miyazaki, they climbed up to the “Grand Roof Ring,” certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest wooden structure. They were astonished to learn that not a single nail had been used in the construction method. Seeing people from all over the world gathering at the Expo site also left a deep impression on them.

Preview of the Festival Station

At the pair’s request, they then visited “Festival Station,” the venue for the next day’s event, accompanied by Ms. Leah, a volunteer from Ireland currently studying at a music school in Osaka.

 

We tried to visit the Japan Pavilion, but it was extremely crowded, so we decided to take it easy and enjoy our time inside the Osaka–Kansai Expo instead of going sightseeing at Osaka Castle.

I gave them a brief explanation about the Japan Pavilion. I told them that visitors can experience how waste at the venue is decomposed by microorganisms and transformed into water or new materials. I also explained how energy is generated from food waste, and how technologies using algae and carbon recycling help create new materials. I mentioned that beloved characters like Doraemon and Hello Kitty appear in the exhibits, making it fun and educational for people of all ages.

I also shared some stories about Osaka Castle — how it was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a samurai of peasant origin who first unified Japan, using advanced construction techniques that later inspired feudal lords across the country. I talked about how he developed Osaka’s shipping network, turned cherry-blossom viewing into an event anyone could enjoy, and even built a golden tea room because of his love for gold. They listened with great interest and said, “That’s why Osaka people love him so much.”

In addition, I learned from the two that there is a hall in São Paulo called “NANIWA Kaikan,” established by people originally from Osaka, where singing events are also held.

Afterward, since both visitors were quite tired from the long flight and the Expo site was extremely crowded, they decided to skip sightseeing in Osaka and returned directly from the Expo venue to their hotel in Honmachi.

 

Japan and Brazil’s Immigration History and 130 Years of Ties: Culture and the Future at Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai

2025 marks a milestone—130 years since Japan and Brazil established diplomatic relations in 1895. This anniversary is being celebrated through the Brazil Pavilion at the Osaka-Kansai Expo, highlighting the deep cultural and future-oriented ties between the nations

• A History of Migration and Community
  The first Japanese immigrants arrived in Brazil aboard the Kasato Maru in 1908. Since then, approximately 250,000 Japanese migrated to Brazil, and their descendants now form the world’s largest Japanese community outside Japan—more than 2.5 million people. Today, about 2.7 million people of Japanese descent live in Brazil, and around 210,000 Brazilians, many of Japanese lineage, reside in Japan. This people-to-people exchange has forged robust economic and cultural bonds.

• Evolving Partnership
  Over the decades, Japan and Brazil’s partnership has grown from immigration to deep economic, scientific, and cultural collaboration. Brazil is a key export partner for Japan, and the countries share common visions on democracy, human rights, sustainable development, and innovation. Ongoing initiatives promote mutual language education and technology exchange

• Expo 2025: Celebrating Multiculturalism and Innovation
  At Expo 2025, the Brazil Pavilion, under the art direction of Bia Lessa, offers an immersive, interactive experience. Its two main structures (~1,000m² each) enable visitors to become active participants in the exhibits. Notable is the fusion of Japan’s “hagoromo” (traditional robe) with Brazil’s “parangolé” (folk costume) in the “Parangoromos,” which visitors can wear. This symbolizes cultural blending and shared creativity.

The Pavilion’s architecture and thematic narratives reflect Brazil’s commitment to sustainability and innovation. Exhibits explore existence, diversity, unity, environmental responsibility, and regeneration. Visitors can enjoy sensory features—music, poetry, dynamic lighting, and environmental data—that immerse them in Brazil’s rich cultural and ecological tapestry.

Looking to the Future

The Expo is not just a moment of celebration but a springboard for deeper cooperation. It showcases how Japanese-Brazilian relations are moving beyond history towards solving shared global challenges in sustainability, climate change, and social development. The year 2025, recognized by both governments as the “Japan-Brazil Friendship Exchange Year,” is fueling new exchanges in business, education, and culture, ensuring that this unique bilateral kinship will remain dynamic for the next generation.

In summary, the Japan-Brazil partnership—rooted in historic migration and nurtured over 130 years—finds new expression at the Osaka Expo, offering a vision of cross-cultural understanding and collaborative futures.

 

 

The Brazil Pavilion at EXPO 2025 Osaka-Kansai, operated by the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), emphasizes Brazil's natural beauty, culture, and economic richness. The pavilion consists of two exhibition buildings and is themed "Embracing Sustainability, Celebrating Life."

Visitors first experience artworks in the first exhibition building. Then, passing through the "Parangolomo Room" in the second building, they reach the final exhibition room where they can collect a Brazil Pavilion stamp and view various messages about Brazil displayed on LED screens. These messages are shown in eight colored ribbons with Japanese, English, and Portuguese.

The exhibition highlights Brazil's vast nature, including that Brazil has the world's 2nd largest forest area and that the Cerrado is a biodiversity-rich savanna hosting many endemic species. It also focuses on industrial ties, sharing facts such as Brazil producing 60% of the chicken consumed in Japan and Embraer being the world's third-largest private aircraft manufacturer, notably leading in jets under 150 seats.

The pavilion uses keywords like "diversity" and "connection" to present Brazil's dynamic nature, rich culture, and potential for economic cooperation in a multifaceted way. Visitors engage multiple senses through art, light, music, and design, with exhibitions moving from themes of life awakening to diversity blooming, collective connectivity, and reinventing in the face of crises.

Some Brazilian data highlights include:

Basic Information

• Population: 203,080,756 (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, IBGE)

• Indigenous peoples: approx. 1.7 million, or 0.83% of the population (IBGE)

• Major immigrant communities: German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Syrian, Turkish

• Number of trees per person: 1,494 (31st worldwide)

• Brazil has 26 states and one federal district, subdivided into 5,570 municipalities (IBGE)

Economy

• In 2024, Brazil's trade in goods and services reached about USD 760 billion, the highest since statistics began in 1995 (Brazilian Central Bank)

• Service exports hit a record USD 48.5 billion in 2024, a 6.8% increase from 2023

Indigenous Peoples

• Numerous groups, such as Aikanã, Akuntsu, Apinajé, Arara, among many others, live in Brazil

Nature

• Brazil's forest area covers 497,962,509 hectares, 58.5% of its landmass; 98% natural forest, 2% plantations

• The Amazon biome is the largest watercourse network globally, containing 15% of the Earth’s unfrozen surface freshwater

• The Amazon biome is Brazil’s largest, spanning over 4.19 million km², home to 2,500 tree species (one-third of the world's tropical trees) and 30,000 plant species in South America

The pavilion also acknowledges Brazil-Japan ties, highlighting that the two countries celebrate 130 years of diplomatic relations in 2025, with a vibrant Japanese-Brazilian community.

Overall, the Brazil Pavilion invites visitors to appreciate Brazil’s diversity, celebrate life, and inspire international cooperation toward sustainable futures.

The Marshall Islands — History and a “Never Back Down” Spirit

The Marshall Islands will participate in the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo with a national pavilion, sharing their climate change initiatives and traditional culture with the world. Attention is focused on the unique history of this small island nation and its determination to confront challenges head-on.

A Unique History and Hardships
The history of the Marshall Islands began about 2,000 years ago, and since the 16th century, the islands have been ruled by major powers such as Spain, Germany, Japan, and the United States.

After World War II, the Marshall Islands became a U.S. Trust Territory. From 1946 to 1958, 67 nuclear tests were conducted at Bikini Atoll and other sites, causing many residents to suffer from radiation exposure and the loss of their homelands.

The Greatest Challenge — Climate Change
The average elevation of the Marshall Islands is about 2 meters. Global warming and rising sea levels threaten to submerge most of the country.

Although the Marshallese contribute little to global CO₂ emissions, they face daily risks such as storm surges, flooding, and food insecurity as a result of emissions from developed nations.

A Spirit That Never Backs Down
The Marshall Islands have formulated an adaptation plan worth $35 billion, appealing to the world for support to protect their people's lives and culture.
At the Expo pavilion, they plan to showcase their efforts in climate action, traditional navigation, and ecotourism, demonstrating how they are forging a future amid adversity.

“Raising our voices in the international community to protect our land and culture”—this is the very symbol of the Marshall Islands’ “never back down” spirit.

Mr. Goodwind Silk is a staff member at the Marshall Islands Pavilion.

With the spirit of ‘lakwe’—meaning love—he and his community face their challenging realities with a positive outlook and determination in their daily lives.

As a senior at the University of the Marshall Islands, Mr. Silk has served as a leader in student activities and now represents his country as a staff member at the Expo, introducing visitors to the culture and situation of the Marshall Islands.

He is also actively involved in raising awareness about climate change. For example, he is a member of Jo-Jikum, which means “your home” in Marshallese. Jo-Jikum is an educational organization that supports young Marshall Islanders in responding to climate change by organizing island-wide cleanups, climate change workshops, community movie nights, and other activities.

 

“Our culture and way of life are deeply connected to the environment. If we lose them, our very identity will be at risk.”
— Kathy Jetn̄il-Kijiner, Climate Envoy of the Marshall Islands