Changes

==Pavilion History and Layout==Although a Japan pavilion had always been planned for World Showcase, the pavilion went through many changes before its creation. Original Imagineering building designs As early as 1977, Imagineers had planned an omnimover attraction for the Japan pavilion were based on the traditional Pagoda, which had actually originated in China. Once this error was recognized, the whole pavilion had to be re-imagined <ref name= "Martin"> http://wwwprogresscityusa.martinsvids.netcom/2012/06/16/a-secret-showcase/?p=90 </ref>. At this time, Disney still planned on having each World Showcase pavilion inside an identical semi-circular building. Inside however, guests would have boarded their ride vehicles and taken guests on a tour of a wide variety of Japan's landscapes and landmarks.

When Once it was decided that each World Showcase pavilion would have architecture and theming unique to the individual country, Imagineering initially chose building designs for the Japan pavilion were based on the traditional Pagoda, which had actually originated in China. Once this error was actually builtrecognized, a massive show building was constructed behind the fortress <ref name= "Book"> The Epcot Explorer's Encyclopedia: A Guide to Walt Disney World's Greatest Theme Park </ref>. The building was going whole pavilion had to be home an attraction known as "Meet the World"re- a "carousel theater" type show which was being developed for [[EPCOT Center]] and Tokyo Disneyland simultaneously imagined <ref name= "Martin"/>. Unlike [[The Carousel of Progress]] which used stationary sets with a rotating theater, Meet the World was going to have a stationary theater with rotating sets <ref name= "Jack"> http://landwww.allearsmartinsvids.net/blogs/jackspence/2012/02/epcots_japan_pavilion_part_one.html ?p=90 </ref>. The theater final version of the Japan pavilion was inspired by various structures from all of Japan's different regions. Imagineers and consultants from Mitsukoshi designed the pavilion to give guests a representative sampling of a variety of traditional structures, which would have featured sixalso serve practical needs. For example, 600 seat theaters, giving the ride an hourly capacity of 3,600 guests <ref name= "Martin"/>pavilion's torii was modeled after one found near Hiroshima Bay. The Goju No To pagoda on the other hand was based on a similar structure in Nara.

The Japan pavilion eventually opened with the rest of [[EPCOT Center]] on October 1, 1982. At this time, the pavilion included three restaurants (Temoura Kiki, Matsu No Ma lounge, and the Teppanyaki Dining Room), the Mitshukishi department store, and the Bijutsu-kan (a museum). The icon of the Japan pavilion is the Goju No To five-story pagoda, a building that is most associated with Buddhism. The five tiers of the pagoda each represent an element which Buddhists believe the universe was created from. Guests can often see live entertainment near the pagoda.===Meet The World===When the Japan was initially built, a massive show building was constructed behind the fortress <ref name= "Book"> The Epcot Explorer's Encyclopedia: A Guide to Walt Disney World's Greatest Theme Park </ref>. The building was going to be home to an attraction known as "Meet the World"- a "carousel theater" type show which was being developed for [[EPCOT Center]] and Tokyo Disneyland simultaneously <ref name= "Martin"/>. Unlike [[The Carousel of Progress]] which used stationary sets with a rotating theater, Meet the World was going to have a stationary theater with rotating sets <ref name= "Jack"> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2012/02/epcots_japan_pavilion_part_one.html </ref>. The theater would have featured six, 600 seat theaters, giving the ride an hourly capacity of 3,600 guests <ref name= "Martin"/>.  The Meet the World attraction would have followed a young boy, a young girl, and a magical crane, as they led the audience through Japan’s history<ref name= "Martin"/>. The show was to have consisted of four acts, which would use in-theater effects, projections, and Audio Animatronics, to tell the story. Act I of Meet the World was going to show the origin of Japan’s Japan's islands and their volcanic beginnings. In this scene, the audience would have been introduced to their hosts as they traveled back to islands' early history<ref name= "Martin"/>. Act II would have then featured Japan reaching out to the world, and the world coming to it. This scene would have ended with the country in self-imposed isolationism<ref name= "Martin"/>. Picking up here, Act III was going to show the battle between the proponents of isolationism and the proponents of expansionism<ref name= "Martin"/>. Finally, Act IV would have shown Japan just after the 1940s, now a modern nation, and once again reaching out to the world. A final scene would then have featured the hosts saying goodbye<ref name= "Martin"/>.

Although the show was designed and ready to go, Meet the World never made its debut in the Japan pavilion. The reason for this may have been that during construction, errors were found in the show building <ref name= "Martin"/>. It was decided that a new show building would need to be created, and this put the future of the attraction in jeopardy<ref name= "Martin"/>. With EPCOT Center already over budget, the attraction was eventually pushed to Phase II of the park, before its construction the project was cancelled <ref name= "Martin"/>. Another reason the attraction was not built may have been due to the fact that the show glossed over Japan's involvement in World War II <ref name= "Jack"/>. No matter the reason behind the decision, Meet the World was never installed in the Japan pavilion.  Since Meet the World was never built, other ideas have been suggested for the empty show building. One idea, called for a Circlevision-360 film aboard a bullet train <ref name= "Jack"/>, while in the early 1990s, Imagineers pitched an indoor roller coaster, which was to be housed inside a replica of Mount Fuji <ref name= "Martin"/>. Adding the potential of this proposal, Fuji Film offered to cover the cost of the coaster’s construction and operation in return for sponsorship <ref name= "Martin"/>. The deal stalled, however, due to Kodak’s (who sponsored [[Journey Into Imagination]] among other things in Walt Disney World) unhappiness with Fuji Film moving into Walt Disney World. Eventually, plans for the coaster fell through <ref name= "Martin"/> and the show building still remains unused. The Japan pavilion eventually opened with the rest of [[EPCOT Center]] on October 1, 1982. At this time, the pavilion included three restaurants (Temoura Kiki, Matsu No Ma lounge, and the Teppanyaki Dining Room), the Mitshukishi department store and the Bijutsu-kan (a museum). The icon of the Japan pavilion is a five-story pagoda, a building that is most associated with Buddhism. The five tiers of the pagoda each represent an element which Buddhists believe the universe was created from. Guests can often see live entertainment near the pagoda.

Throughout its history the Japan pavilion has seen a number of changes. In The first came in 1991, when the Yakitori House was expanded <ref name= "Martin"/>.

In 2007, the Japan’s Teppanyak Dining Room was completely redesigned and expanded <ref name= "Martin"/>. The restaurant eventually reopened as the more modern [[Teppan Edo]] <ref name= "Book"/>. The two other restaurants in Japan, Tempura Kiki and the Matsu No Ma lounge , were combined into a new dining location called [[Tokyo Dining]] <ref name= "Book"/>. Later that year, the refurbishment on the pavilion’s pavilion's fortress was also completed <ref name= "Martin"/>. In December 2011, the Yakitori House closed for refurbishment. When the restaurant reopened, its name was changed to [[Katsura Grill]] <ref> http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining/yakitori-house.htm </ref>.

 On July 5, 2019, [[Takumi-Tei]] opened in the Japan pavilion <Ref> https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2019/05/takumi-tei-restaurant-to-open-summer-2019-at-epcot/ </ref>. This new table service restaurant is operated by Mitsukoshi USA, and was designed to give the Japan pavilion a signature dining experience. ==Current Layout==There are two main buildings in the Japan pavilion; the first is large imposing building modeled after the Gosho Imperial Palace in Kyoto. Known as the Hall Of Ceremonies, this building holds the Mitshukishi department store on the first story, as well as [[Tokyo Dining ]] and [[Teppan Edo ]] on the second. The back of the pavilion is themed to look like a fortress, and it which was modeled after the Himeju Castle. The fortress is surrounded by a moat. Currently the fortress houses a Kidcot station, a museum , and a portion of the Mitsukoshi department store. The Japan pavilion also holds a garden which is centered around a koi pond. Perhaps the two most recognizable structures are the pavilion are the Goju No To pagoda and the torii gate located on the pavilion's shore.

'''Disney Phineas and Ferb: Agent P's World Showcase Adventure'''- On At this interactive adventuretime, guests use a "F.O.N.E." (Field Operative Notification Equipment) to help Agent P. stop Dr. Doofenshmirtz, by looking for clues throughout World Showcase. The adventure is based on the Disney cartoon Phineas and FerbJapan pavilion does not feature any attractions.

'''Matsuziza'''- This group of Japanese taiko drummers perform five days a week at the base of the The Japan pavilion's pagodahas no live entertainment at this time.

* The five elements represented on the Japan pavilionspavilion' s pagoda are: earth, wind, fire, water and sky <ref name= "Martin".