The Sumitomo Pavilion will present, “UNKNOWN FOREST, Stories Waiting to be Discovered”. Sumitomo, throughout its time spent with the forest, has uncovered its various values to present. Here in this forest, people will discover “UNKNOWN” stories of life that have gone unheard, unseen, and overlooked until now.

A forest that embraces a diversity of life. It is a place that is home to vibrant life bursting with uniqueness and the joy of celebrating diversity. We hope to speak through this experience in the UNKNOWN FOREST about the values and the teachings that could only be told by a forest.

Approximately 400 million years ago, forests were born on this planet. Ever since, it has given life to countless beings, serving as a presence that man reveres and at the same time fears. Even today when civilization has developed, many “unknowns” still remain in the forest.

This story takes place in that, “UNKNOWN FOREST.”

Visitors to this forest are guided by a giant “Mother Tree.”

This tree, that has lived thousands of years, is approaching the end of her life.

She entrusts her final wish to her visitors, to “gather stories of life.”

The Mother Tree breathes the power of the forest wind into the lantern so that those who hold the lantern will be able to seek out the “stories of life.” Fairies of the wind appear on a breeze and kindly guides their visitors.

This forest will not speak a word unless people set out to make discoveries on their own.

Only when they score through the forest along with their comrades with a sense of adventure and imagination, will people find new discoveries that shake their souls.

There, they will find “stories waiting to be discovered.”

Approximately 400 million years ago, forests were born on this planet. Ever since, it has given life to countless beings, serving as a presence that man reveres and at the same time fears. Even today when civilization has developed, many “unknowns” still remain in the forest.

A tiny seed awakes inside the dark warm soil and grows into the Mother Tree, the caretaker of the forest. This is a story that follows her journey through the different fragments of her memory as we join her in her last moment. The “Performing Theater”, 20m wide and 7.5m tall, is a stage of gentle breeze and mist that speaks to the visitors’ emotions. Made from multiple layers of screens, coupled with music and performers, this is the extraordinary grand finale of the UNKNOWN FOREST.

The stage is comprised of three layers. At the back is a giant LED vision. The stage equipment is designed to highlight the performers’ movements and created by an art team with extensive experience in musicals. A mesh screen set up in front of the audience, delivers three-dimensional imagery. This is a symphony of imagery, music, and human movement.