Impressions of Plastic Japan Trade Show in Osaka

“Konnichiwa" and "Arigato". These are probably the only two words I know in Japanese. Their meaning can be translated as “good day” and “thank you”. Beyond that, my vocabulary is unfortunately very limited. Nevertheless, I attended the “Highly-Functional Material Week” in Osaka, Japan, and was able to immerse myself in a world in which many things work a little differently than in Germany. You can read about my impressions and the differences to German trade fairs in this blog entry.

As soon as I entered the trade fair building, I noticed how well-organized everything was. I was welcomed with open arms and was able to print out my admission pass straight away, which I was also helped with. Once I arrived in the huge entrance hall, I briefly felt overwhelmed, but everything was very well signposted and there were a few helpers who were able to point me in the right direction. The “Highly-Functional Material Week” is the world's largest trade fair where state-of-the-art material technologies such as functional films, plastics, cellulose, carbon fiber composites, metals and ceramics are presented. My main focus here was on plastics, as this is the most interesting for our company. But of course I also walked through the other halls to see who was exhibiting there.

Focus on chemistry

There was also a separate section on the topic of plastic and plastic recycling. What particularly surprised me here: The focus was not on mechanical recycling or design for recycling, as is the case at many European trade fairs, but often on the chemical processes behind it. Many companies presented highly specialized processes that were very fascinating, but also technically complex, so that I could only guess what exactly was being shown without an explanatory conversation partner (and knowledge of English). I mentioned at the beginning that my knowledge of Japanese is very limited, which unfortunately turned out to be difficult at this trade fair. In general, there weren't many people who could speak any English at all and even fewer who could speak it fluently. And if there was someone at the stand who could speak English (usually one), then that person was in high demand. Despite the language barrier, I managed to have a few conversations and learned straight away: business cards are not a casual act in Japan, but a ritual gesture of respect. They are handed over with both hands and accompanied by a slight bow. I had actually read up on this beforehand as I had already heard about it and was glad I had. Because it is considered rude to give the card with one hand and as if you don't take the other person seriously. In many cases, however, I didn't even need the business card, because all the tickets had a QR code that you could simply scan and which was a kind of digital business card.

Music at a trade show?

Another detail that surprised me less after 2 weeks in Japan, but is certainly not yet normal for me, was the music at the fair. The stereotypical, cheerful background music familiar from Japanese commercials or videos could be heard throughout the fair. Quiet in the halls, it could not be ignored during the breaks, both indoors and outdoors. I have never experienced anything like it at a trade fair in Germany. The lunch break was also an experience in itself. Even before 12 noon, people were lining up (in rows, of course) at the food stands. There was a large selection and many food trucks set up all over the place. There were not only Japanese specialties, but also Western ones such as burgers and fries. To complete my experience, I naturally opted for ramen.

Another thing I hadn't seen before in Germany was that there was a VIP lounge. All visitors or exhibitors whose job title included manager or higher could register for this. Unfortunately, I can't say anything about the special features there, but it was still very interesting.

The giveaways that you get were also very interesting. From cookies, to rotating wheels (which help with food selection), to slime, which is usually popular with children.

Conclusion

To summarize, I can say that my visit to the Plastic Japan Messe 2025 was a worthwhile and very unique experience. In addition to the typical networking, I was also able to learn many new things about business in Japan and, of course, how a trade fair works there. In technical terms, the trade fair offered complex insights into the topic of plastics and recycling, albeit with a different focus. It's also very much about selling, and in my opinion perhaps even more than “just” networking as a first step. I took away an incredible amount, not only professionally, but also culturally and personally. I'm excited to see how trade fairs in Germany will affect me in the future and what big differences I might notice again.