logo
Japan Day lights up the Osaka Expo with Misia, mascots and traditional arts

Japan Day lights up the Osaka Expo with Misia, mascots and traditional arts

Time Out10-07-2025
Japan Day at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai was held on July 3, one of many national days during which each participating country celebrates and shares its culture with the world.
The host nation marked the occasion with a vibrant showcase of both tradition and innovation, featuring performances of calligraphy and gagaku (ancient court music), alongside a lively parade starring mascots like the Expo's own Myaku-Myaku, Kumamon, Hikonyan and Hello Kitty.
The highlight of the day was a powerful three-song set by Misia, the acclaimed R&B singer known for her soaring vocals and dedication to social causes. Dressed in a dramatic red floral gown that echoed the ceremony's theme, 'Life Will Bloom', Misia captivated an audience of 1,500 that included Crown Prince Akishino and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
The Expo will continue until October 13 – learn how to purchase your tickets here.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Chefs from Portugal and Japan come together for The Art of Tasting Portugal in Osaka
Chefs from Portugal and Japan come together for The Art of Tasting Portugal in Osaka

Time Out

timea day ago

  • Time Out

Chefs from Portugal and Japan come together for The Art of Tasting Portugal in Osaka

While dozens of countries have gathered at Expo 2025 in Osaka to showcase their innovative technologies and sustainable solutions for a better future, another exciting highlight at the mega-event is the remarkable gastronomic collaborations on show. One such project is The Art of Tasting Portugal supported by VisitPortugal, which showcases the culinary creativity of Portuguese chefs on a global stage. As part of the lead-up to the Expo, a special dinner brought together culinary visionaries from two Michelin-starred restaurants: Portuguese chef Vasco Coelho Santos of Euskalduna in Porto and Yuji Fujita, executive chef of Chi-Fu in Osaka. The chefs crafted a menu highlighting the appreciation of seasonal ingredients shared by the two countries. Chef Vasco presented refined takes on Portuguese classics such as seafood rice, beef tongue and his signature Portuguese French toast – the perfect sweet ending and one of our favourite dishes of the night. Meanwhile, chef Fujita showcased his twist of Japanese and Chinese cuisine with dishes including Ise lobster and lamb chops. The menu was complemented by a curated pairing of Portuguese wines and Japanese sake, highlighting the growing interest in Portuguese wines in Japan. Chef Vasco is a key figure in contemporary Portuguese cuisine, known for blending tradition with innovation across multiple acclaimed restaurants, including his very own Euskalduna Studio which renewed its Michelin star in 2025. In 2024, he contributed some of his signature dishes from Euskalduna Studio at Time Out Market Porto. Yuji Fujita, head of Chi-Fu since 2018, has elevated the Osaka restaurant into a leading name in fusion dining, combining Chinese culinary traditions with Western and Japanese influences. Chi-Fu was awarded a Michelin star in 2025.

The European city with £15 flights that feels like ‘going to Japan without the cost'
The European city with £15 flights that feels like ‘going to Japan without the cost'

The Sun

time13-07-2025

  • The Sun

The European city with £15 flights that feels like ‘going to Japan without the cost'

JAPAN is 8,000 miles away from the UK - but what if we told you there's a version of the incredible city much closer to home? Düsseldorf has the third largest Japanese community in Europe, and the city even has its own Little Tokyo. 7 7 Little Tokyo is full of shops, cafes and restaurants that will transport you to Japan. You'll find the miniature Japanese city between the main station and city centre down two streets called Immermannstraße and Klosterstraße. Little Tokyo can be bustling, especially for anyone looking for something delicious to eat. There are places to pick up ramen and noodle dishes, sushi, as well as izakaya tapas, even baked goods. One of the most popular restaurants in Little Tokyo is Takumi which has very high ratings on Tripadvisor. The menu includes various types of ramen, soups and gyozas. The market Shochiku sells fresh fish and even has sushi counters. There are lots of shops in the city that sell Japanese books, manga, and origami paper. Another popular spot is Lime Light Karaoke Box which is in the basement of the Clayton Hotel. You can go there for a sing song in a private room that is rented out by the hour. Sample the atmosphere of welcoming Dusseldorf 7 7 One day a year, the Japanese community gathers in Little Tokyo to celebrate Japan Day. It's known as Europe's largest Japanese cultural festival and is usually celebrated at the end of May. There are lots of events like music, dancing, food festivals, and it all ends with a fireworks display. Little Tokyo is a popular spot with tourists, one visitor said: "One of the must-visit places in Düsseldorf is undoubtedly this lively street that has become a hub for lovers of Japanese cuisine and culture. "Along this bustling street, you will find several top ramen locations, each offering a slightly different style and flavor, making it a perfect spot for ramen enthusiasts eager to sample a variety of authentic dishes." Another added: "My wife and I have been missing the charm of Japan, so we decided to take a two-day, one-night trip to Düsseldorf." They continued to add that they were "enchanted" by the Japanese alleyways and that it transported them to the outskirts of Tokyo. 7 7 Japan is known for having beautiful gardens with bright flowers and plants. Düsseldorf has its own version of those too and it's literally called Japanischer Garten. The garden was created in the 1970s and has pine trees, Japanese maples that surround a pond. It's also called the 'Garden of Reflection' and is considered a good place for quiet and to relax. Sun Travel found flights from Edinburgh to Düsseldorf with Ryanair on July 16 for the cheapest flight at £14.99. Here are even more holiday destinations that you can fly to for under £15. 7

This thought-provoking Osaka exhibition features 39 hyperrealistic human sculptures
This thought-provoking Osaka exhibition features 39 hyperrealistic human sculptures

Time Out

time10-07-2025

  • Time Out

This thought-provoking Osaka exhibition features 39 hyperrealistic human sculptures

While Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan explores the future in shapes including humanoid robots, a cultural centre on the other side of Osaka Bay is exhibiting another kind of human form – hyperrealistic sculptures of the body. ' Reshaped Reality: 50 Years of Hyperrealistic Sculpture ' is a highly acclaimed travelling exhibition currently on show at the architecturally striking Osaka Culturarium, Tempozan (designed by Osaka-born starchitect Tadao Ando) until October 13. It features 39 hyperrealistic human sculptures by 27 world-renowned artists. This is the exhibition's first showing in Japan, held as part of the Study: Osaka Kansai International Art Festival 2025, and follows successful runs in Spain and the Netherlands. The sculptures on show are uncannily lifelike; at times unnerving, yet deeply captivating. The human forms they portray may appear distorted or transformed, but are still startlingly realistic. They are awe-inspiring, yet they also prompt us to reflect on our own humanity, which is the exhibition's main intention. Some of the standout works include ' Untitled (Man in a sheet) ' by the UK-based Ron Mueck, ' Woman and Child ' by Australian artist Sam Jinks, and ' Ave Maria ' by Maurizio Cattelan, the Italian artist best known for his viral banana-taped-to-a-wall installation at 2019 Art Basel Miami Beach. With such a diverse array of works, you'll want to catch one of the guided weekend tours led by Atsuhito Miyake, the exhibition's coordinator. These hour-long walkthroughs offer insights into the historical context and artistic intentions behind the works. Tours start at 2pm and are free with an exhibition ticket. As space is limited to 20 participants, be sure to arrive by 1.45pm to register. Upcoming tour dates are July 20, 21, 22, 23; August 10, 11, 23; September 6; and October 11, 12. We're hoping this exhibition offers more meaningful answers to the question 'What does it mean to be human?' than the series finale of Squid Game... For more information, see the exhibition website.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store