Advancements in science and technology in modern times have led to the development of industry, continuous growth of GDP per capita, and longer lifespans. They have also made consumer life more convenient and plentiful. Unfortunately, the pursuit of material wealth has caused a variety of problems that threaten Inochi, both that of humans and other organisms and of the earth itself. In the middle of the 19th century, the population reached one billion. Since then the population exploded and is expected to exceed nine billion by 2050. However, there are some countries, like Japan, that face a shrinking population due to declining birthrates and an increasing aged population.

Against this background, the UN established the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be achieved by 2030. Under the slogan “leave no one behind,” humanity pledged to work together to tackle problems such as the destruction of the environment, depletion of natural resources, lack of energy and food, spread of infectious diseases, economic stagnation, disparities, poverty, conflict, and war.

Since the beginning of the 2020s, we have experienced the COVID-19 pandemic and the horrors of war in Ukraine. One thing they have taught us is that anyone can become someone in need of help. We must leverage these experiences to respect each other’s lives, help one another, and carry out activities that enrich all lives in line with the “leave no one behind” pledge of the SDGs.

In response to these challenges, we have decided to launch the Inochi Forum for the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. In this project, we will confirm the principles and implementation progress of the SDGs, propose measures to achieve a society that “leaves no one behind,” and show the role that science and technology plays in that. Then we will discuss what goals humanity should start reaching for from 2031 once the SDGs are attained. We will announce the results of these discussions to the world at the Expo 2025 in the form of the Inochi Declaration. As we proceed with the project, we also plan to build an inclusive “Co-Creation Network” that encompasses people of all genders, ages, regions, occupations, cultures, and ethnicities, which we hope to leave as a legacy that will form a foundation for creating the future for the earth.

What should we do and what can we do to pave the way for a new era where all lives shine brilliantly? Our hope for the Inochi Forum project is that it will lead to a global movement in which everyone shares the same awareness on all living things on the earth, speaks out, listens to each other, thinks, and talks as one, in order to respond to this question. We look forward to your kind understanding and support.

March 24, 2023

Inochi Forum Founders
Shojiro Nishio, President of Osaka University
Masayoshi Matsumoto, Chairman of the Kansai Economic Federation
Shingo Torii, Chairperson of the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Kyoco Ikoma, Co-chairperson of the Kansai Association of Corporate Executives
Keiji Kakumoto, Co-chairperson of the Kansai Association of Corporate Executives

*Inochi: Something to be protected, nurtured, and bonded in order to live well. By respecting inochi and creating a society where our individuality and full potential are celebrated, we embody Henri Bergston’s words, “elan vital”, or a vibrant experience of life.

---

Osaka University, in collaboration with the economic sector and others, will launch the Inochi Forum project. Through discussions and activities aimed at realizing a “Society where inochi shines,” we will begin preparations to declare the Inochi Declaration at the Osaka-Kansai Expo in 2025. The issuance of the Inochi Declaration will not only serve as a significant soft legacy of the Expo in 2025 but also carry a profound importance as Japan reaffirms the weight and preciousness of inochi, projecting it to the world.

In collaboration with corporations, government agencies, local governments, NPOs/NGOs, and expo associations, we will actively encourage the participation of young people, particularly students, who will be the leaders of the next generation, while also coordinating with other domestic and international universities. We aim to evolve this project into a platform that generates a valuable declaration aimed at achieving a world of peace and prosperity, where no one is left behind, thus creating a soft legacy that continues beyond 2025.

Shojiro Nishio
Representative of Inochi Forum Founders
President of Osaka University
(Press release on March 24, 2023)

About the Logo of the Inochi Forum