Latest news with #MYAKU-MYAKU
Barnama
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Barnama
Tohoku Region Showcases Culture, Recovery At Osaka Expo 2025
GENERAL KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 (Bernama) -- The six Tohoku prefectures, in collaboration with the Tohoku Tourism Promotion Organization and the Tohoku Kizuna Festival Executive Committee, successfully hosted the 'Tohoku Four Seasons & Tohoku Kizuna Festival' at the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, from June 13 to 15. In a statement, the organisers said the event served to express gratitude for the international support received following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and to highlight the region's recovery and development. The festival aimed to promote the appeal of the Tohoku region, both domestically and internationally, showcasing its natural beauty, traditional culture, local cuisine, cutting-edge technology and warm hospitality, with the goal of attracting more visitors to the region. An opening ceremony was held on June 13, with the participation of the governors of the six Tohoku prefectures, other regional officials, local mascots, and MYAKU-MYAKU, the official mascot of Expo 2025. The event included a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a special showcase of signature festivals from each of the six prefectural capitals. The Tohoku Kizuna Festival, which featured summer festivals from Aomori, Morioka, Akita, Sendai, Yamagata and Fukushima, was initially scheduled for June 14 and 15; however due to inclement weather, performances on June 14 were moved indoors, while two outdoor parades were successfully held the following day. The Tohoku Kizuna Festival is a successor to the Tohoku Rokkon Festival, established to honour the memory of lives lost in the 2011 disaster and to support the region's reconstruction. While it is usually held within the Tohoku region, this year's edition was specially organised at the Osaka Kansai Expo. The six festivals represented were the Aomori Nebuta Festival, Morioka Sansa Odori Festival, Akita Kanto Festival, Sendai Tanabata Festival, Yamagata Hanagasa Festival and Fukushima Waraji Festival. The venue also featured large Nebuta and Tanabata decorations. Approximately 550 dancers participated in the parades, enthralling visitors with vibrant and powerful performances. Meanwhile, the 'Tohoku Four Seasons' event ran concurrently over the three-day period, featuring promotional booths from each prefecture, stage presentations, traditional craft workshops and local food tastings and sales—all contributing to a lively showcase of the region's rich heritage and tourism potential.
Barnama
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Barnama
Tohoku Kizuna Festival Parade Brings Together Six Tohoku Festivals To Captivate Audience: "Tohoku Four Seasons & Tohoku Kizuna Festival" At EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan
SENDAI, Japan, June 26 (Bernama) -- The six Tohoku prefectures, Tohoku Tourism Promotion Organization, and Tohoku Kizuna Festival Executive Committee held the "Tohoku Four Seasons & Tohoku Kizuna Festival" at 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Expo from Friday, June 13, to Sunday, June 15, 2025. The festival united the Tohoku region to show its gratitude for the support it received from around the world in the aftermath of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and show the state of recovery. The festivities also communicated information about Tohoku's world-class tourist attractions, such as its nature, culture, cuisine, advanced technology, and people, both domestically and internationally, and to attract more visitors. Images: At an opening ceremony on Friday, June 13, the governors of the six Tohoku prefectures, other Tohoku officials, the region's local mascots, and MYAKU-MYAKU, the official mascot for 2025 Osaka, Kansai Expo, took to the stage to greet guests and hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Afterwards, a special event was held showcasing the festivals from the six Tohoku prefectural capitals. The Tohoku Kizuna Festival, featuring the summer festivals from six Tohoku cities, was originally slated for Saturday, June 14, and Sunday, June 15. Due to inclement weather on June 14, the two performances were held indoors. After the weather recovered on June 15, the parade was held twice.
Japan Forward
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Forward
Baltic Pavilion to Donate 140 Expo Mascot Plushies After Theft
このページを 日本語 で読む In mid-May, a MYAKU-MYAKU mascot was stolen from the Baltic Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. MYAKU-MYAKU, the official character of the Expo, had been displayed alongside Barabi-chan, the pavilion's own mascot. The Baltic Pavilion is jointly presented by Lithuania and Latvia. After the theft was reported, visitors began bringing MYAKU-MYAKU plushies in support. Around 140 items were collected and displayed at the pavilion until May 30. Now, the pavilion is passing on that goodwill by donating the items to various institutions, including children's facilities. A pavilion representative said, "In the Baltic countries, there's a saying that even if life takes something away, it gives back something even more wonderful." They added that although Barabi-chan lost the original MYAKU-MYAKU, "she has made new friends and is feeling happy again." Screenshot of the Baltics Pavilion's Instagram post featuring Barabi-chan. "Now it's our turn to bring joy," the message continued, noting that the donated items will be "sent to people who need a smile." According to the Expo's website, MYAKU-MYAKU is a mysterious creature made of red cells that can divide and multiply, and blue water that flows and changes shape freely. Its name comes from myaku , meaning "pulse" in Japanese, with the repetition symbolizing the continuous flow of life, knowledge, and culture. Barabi-chan, on the other hand, is a talking mushroom named after the Latvian and Lithuanian word for porcini. He represents the spirit of the Baltic forests. MYAKU-MYAKU poses in front of the symbolic Grand Ring at the Osaka Expo. Author: Nobuo Kurokawa, The Sankei Shimbun このページを 日本語 で読む
