Changes

width: 220px250px; height: 270px300px;

| custom_value_2= Three5}}

==Pavilion History and Layout==Although a Japan pavilion had always been planned for Once it was decided that each World Showcasepavilion would have architecture and theming unique to the individual country, the pavilion went through many changes before its creation. Original WED 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 recognized, the whole pavilion had to be re-imagined<ref name= "Martin"> http://www. When the pavilion finally opened, it included three restaurants (Temoura Kiki, Matsu No Ma lounge, and the Teppanyaki Dining Room), a large store, and a museum (Bijutsu-kan)martinsvids.net/?p=90 </ref>. The icon final version 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 inspired by various structures from. Guests can often see live entertainment near the pagoda. There are two main buildings in the all of Japan pavilion; the first is large imposing building modeled after the Gosho Imperial Palace in Kyoto's different regions. Known as the Hall Of Ceremonies, the building holds the Mitshukishi department store on the first story Imagineers and the Tokyo Dining and Teppan Edo restaurants on the second. The back of consultants from Mitsukoshi designed the pavilion is themed to look like give guests a fortress which was modeled after Himeju Castle. The castle is surrounded by representative sampling of a moatvariety of traditional structures, and it currently houses a Kidcot station, a museum and a portion of the Mitsukoshi Department store. The pavilion which would also holds a garden which is centered around a koi pondserve practical needs. In 2007For example, the Japan’s Teppanyak Dining Room Restaurant pavilion's torii was completely redesigned and expandedmodeled after one found near Hiroshima Bay. The restaurant was divided into two restaurants, the Teppan Edo & Tokyo Dining. The two other restaurants in Japan Temoura Kiki, Matsu Goju No Ma lounge also closed. Later that year, the refurbishment To pagoda on the pavilion’s fortress other hand was also complete. In 2011, the Katsura Grill, based on a new restaurant opened. Bijutsu-kan is currently displaying, "Spirited Beasts: From Ancient Stories to Anime Stars" which shows how mythological creatures are being Incorporated into Japanese pop-culture. ===Meet the World===When the Japan pavilion was built, a massive show building was constructed behind the fortress. The building was going to be home an attraction known as "Meet the World". Meet the World was going to be built "carousel theater" type attraction built similar structure in Epcot and Tokyo Disneyland simultaneously. Unlike [[The Carousel of Progress]] which has stationary sets with a rotating theater, Meet the World was going to have stationary a stationary theater with rotating sets. The theater would feature six, 600 seat theaters, giving the ride an hourly capacity of 3,600 guestsNara.

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 would 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. The 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. 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 showed shown Japan just after the 1940s, now a modern nation, and once again reaching out to the world. A final T scene would then have featured the hosts saying goodbye<ref name= "Martin"/>. Unlike the Carousel of Progress, the seats would be [[Image:Gate.jpg|400px|thumb|The torii gate in the center and the scenes would rotateJapan pavilion. Photo by Harslight]]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 EPCOT Center already over budget, the attraction was eventually pushed to Phase II of Epcot, with the expectation that the attraction would open in late 1983. Unfortunatelypark, Phase II of Epcot never came to fruition. Funds that were originally earmarked for World Showcase were instead diverted to before the construction of Horizons, [[The Living Seas]] and the [[Journey Into Imagination]] attractionproject was cancelled <ref name= "Martin"/>. Others speculate, that Another reason the attraction was not built because may have been due to the fact that the show glossed over Japan's involvement in World War II<ref name= "Jack"/>. Either wayNo matter the reason behind the decision, since Meet the attraction World was never builtinstalled in the Japan pavilion.  Since Meet the World was cancelled, other ideas have been suggested for the empty show building. One idea, called for a Circlevision-360 film aboard a bullet train. In <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 coast 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.===History Since Opening Day===Throughout its history the Japan pavilion has seen a number of changes. 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 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 October 20, 2015 a new exhibit titled "Kawaii - Japan's Cute Culture" opened in the Japan pavilion. This gallery features various pieces that give guests a taste of Japan's Kawaii culture. <ref> http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/japan/news/20oct2015-photos---epcots-japan-pavilion-gallery-updated-with-new-kawaii---japan's-cute-culture-exhibit.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 Shishinden Shrine <Ref name= "name"/> . 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, which was modeled after a castle known as Shirasagijo in the city of Himejie <Ref name= "name"> https://www.disneydocs.net/_files/ugd/5db718_0b875a96406e4bc4a103b184e3d1dc11.pdf </ref>. 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.

Although not specific to Italy[[Image:drummers.jpg|400px|thumb|Matsuziza performing. Photo by Curtis Palmer]]At this time, guests travel to the Japan pavilion when playing does not feature any attractions. ==Exhibits=='''Kawaii - Japan's Cute Culture'''- This gallery gives guests a taste of Japan's Kawii culture. The exhibit opened on October 20, 2014 replacing the interactive Kim Possible World Showcase AdventureSpirited Beasts exhibit.

'''Mitsukoshi Department Store'''- This large store sells all kinds of authentic Japanese Merchandisemerchandise. Items sold here include, : clothing, jewelry, books, and toys.

''' [[ Kabuki Cafe]]''' - This quick service stand sells soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, and the popular kakigori (shaved ice with flavored syrup and condensed milk).

'''[[Katsura Grill]]''' - designed Designed to resemble an authentic tea house, this counter service restaurant specializes in sushi.

'''[[Tokyo Dining]]''' - This table service restaurant serves a traditional sushi meal. Tokyo Dining is located on the second floor of the Hall Of Ceremonies.

'''[[Teppan Edo]]'''- Located next to Tokyo Dining, Teppan Edo features chefs who prepare stir fry in front of guests.  '''[[Takumi-Tei]]'''- The Japan pavilion's signiture restaurant, Takumi-Tei offers guests both a la carte options, as well as a a multicourse tasting menu.

The Japan pavilion has no live entertainment at this time. ===Former Entertainment==='''Miyuki'''- Based near the Mitshukishi Department Store, Miyuki turned heated rice dough into different animals. Miyuki’s final performance at Epcot came in November of 2013. '''Matsuziza'''- This group of Japanese taiko drummers perform performed five days a week at the base of the pavilion's pagoda. Matsuzika'''Miyuki'''- Based near the Mitshukishi Department Stores final performance was on March 15, Miyuki turns heated rice dough into different animals2020.

* Original The original name for the planned Meet the World attraction was "Winds of Change"<ref name= "Jack"/>.

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

* The Sherman Brothers wrote a complete score and lyrics for the unbuilt Meet the World attraction<ref> https://waltdatedworld.com/id207.htm </ref>.

* The lanterns in the pavilion’s these lanterns Japan pavilion are illuminated three times each year. Once - once during the Setsubun Mantoro Festival in February, and then again twice during the Obon Mantoro Festival in August<ref name= "Spence">http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2012/02/epcots_japan_pavilion_part_two.html </ref>.

* The exhibits in the Bijutsu-kan, change every two to five years<ref name= "Spence"/>.