Visitors to this year's Expo 2025, Osaka, Kansai, Japan will get to create digital art with a quantum computer—hardware so delicate it has to run at temperatures below those of outer space. In a collaboration with Tama Art University, guests will use Japan's newly launched, fully domestic quantum system to generate artwork in an unprecedented way.
Unveiled July 28 at the University of Osaka, the computer marks a milestone: Japan replaced every imported part with homegrown technology, researchers announced.
Quantum processors operate just a hair above absolute zero (-273°C), where atomic motion is barely detectable. Japan now manufactures the specialized dilution and pulse-tube refrigerators needed to hold those conditions—equipment it previously had to import, according to project engineers.
The August 14–20 exhibit "entangle moment – [quantum, ocean, universe] × art" lets attendees connect via cloud to run simple quantum programs, organizers said. Professor Akihiro Kubota of Tama Art University designed it for everyone—no technical background required.
Quantum Meets the Public
Unlike typical lab-only demos, the Expo exhibit brings people face-to-face with real components while introducing ideas like quantum entanglement—the strange linkage between particles that underpins much of quantum computing's power.
By letting visitors write and run simple programs, the team hopes to demystify technology that experts say could reshape areas like drug discovery and materials science. "This shows Japan's command of technologies needed to build a full quantum system," project leaders said.
Government backing signals what officials call a national bet on quantum independence. Japan joins a small group of countries building quantum computers end-to-end—and it's inviting the public to try one.
Breaking the Import Chain
The push was led by the University of Osaka's Center for Quantum Information and Quantum Biology (QIQB) with RIKEN, and powered by nine Japanese companies, officials confirmed. ULVAC Inc. and ULVAC CRYOGENICS built the refrigeration systems; e-trees.Japan, QuEL, QunaSys, Systems Engineering Consultants, TIS Inc., and Fujitsu Limited contributed hardware, software, and integration.
The stack runs on OQTOPUS, an open-source platform. In a field where most software is proprietary, this lets researchers and companies build on the system, developers explained.
The achievement ensures Japan won't depend on other nations for quantum technology access.
