Chairs Made from Timber from the Luxembourg Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan Donated to Sophia University
Design Inspired by a “Bridge” Representing the Strong Ties Between Sophia University and Luxembourg
Sophia University received three chairs donated by Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (DNP) on December 23, 2025. The chairs were crafted from repurposed timber from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. The donation celebrates the long‑standing ties between Luxembourg and the University and helps students experience the pavilion’s vision of a “circular society” firsthand.
Background of the Donation
Sophia University and Luxembourg have maintained a close relationship for many years. In 2012, the University established its first overseas office in Luxembourg, and in 2017 conferred an honorary doctorate upon then Grand Duke Henri. Cardinal Jean‑Claude Hollerich, Archbishop of Luxembourg, also served as Vice President of the University.
Today, the partnership continues through annual faculty and student exchanges with the University of Luxembourg, as well as internships for Sophia students at the Luxembourg Trade and Investment Office in Tokyo, fostering academic and cultural exchange.
The Luxembourg Pavilion at Expo 2025, themed “Doki Doki – The Luxembourg Heartbeat,” showcased the country’s vision for sustainability and a circular society and was widely acclaimed. DNP, responsible for the pavilion’s interior construction, recovered timber from tables, chairs, and interior fixtures after the Expo as part of a post‑Expo resource circularity plan. The wood was pulverized and pelletized, then used with 3D printing technology to fabricate three new chairs, which were donated to Sophia University in recognition of its close ties with Luxembourg.
About the Chair Design
The donated chairs feature a “bridge” motif, symbolizing the strong ties between Japan and Luxembourg.
The curved lines at the base evoke Luxembourg’s iconic Adolphe Bridge and the Yotsuya Mitsuke Bridge adjacent to Sophia’s Yotsuya Campus. At the center of each chair is the University’s eagle emblem.