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Far and away the best thing at the Aichi World Expo is the Toyota robot show. Nothing else comes close to seeing a five piece humanoid shaped robot brass band with drums playing “When the Saints go marching in.” The most impressive thing was watching the robot drummer drum away on the electronic drum kit attached to his body. More scary was the robot “rapper” with helium-laced Japanese voice. Not being able to understand whether he was saying “I`m the coolest damn robot there ever may be - wiggity wiggity.” or “Bow down to me now foolish mortal humans else feel the heat of my ray gun.” leant a certain menace to the otherwise innocuous proceedings. This we shall see is the one worrying trend when confronted with robots at the the Expo.

Take for example the exhibit on the right. Meant as a toy for children that responds in certain ways when rubbed or stroked. Yet a closer glance reveals sinister undertones. The boy is being held back by an assistant or parent, note also the vacant robotic eyes . Of course I may be wrong. I see horror in clowns. Besides an even closer look at the robot reveals it`s similarity (and possible dual purpose) to a rice cooker.

Hundreds of countries are represented there each with there own large room/small warehouse exhibiting present technological achievements, future hopes for the world and in the case of Australia a massive platypus. England`s one was of course the best (Of course :-)) including a large computer generated book you turned with your hands, spiderman climbing the gherkin in London and best of all a free paper leaf in an effort to remind you to conserve and be eco friendly. The French pavillion had an excellent film showing different parts of it on four walls and the ceiling showing how humans were destroying the world as we have all seen a million times however conveniently glossing over any rainforest destruction in French controlled countries and also featuring a truly heartbreaking life account from a ten year old African boy left to fend for himself on city streets of how the world had neglected him.

The best pavillions were often the smaller or poorer countries such as Sri Lanka which had people weaving stuningly ornate carpets and tapestries from vivid strands and chiselling decorative faces out of wood. I didn`t get to see the American pavillion as they had decided to place their lot on a far corner of the massive site. I fully intend to go again (it runs until late September) and visit it though.

In my opinion Miss Fish, the Aichi World Expo is far better than a school trip to Spa Land. The day out, although necesitating six separate train journeys and requiring me to wake up at 5:30 in the morning, ranks up there with the danjiri and the sumo as one of the highlights of my stay here in Japan. If you are coming to Japan or live here you`d be a fool not to go.