Latest news with #Myaku-Myaku
Straits Times
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Osaka expo welcomes 10 millionth visitor at halfway stage
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox A general view shows the "Myaku-Myaku", the mascot of the 2025 Osaka Expo as the Gundam pavilion is seen behind on the first day of the six-month event on April 13. OSAKA - The number of visitors to the World Exposition in Osaka has topped 10 million, reaching the milestone at the halfway point of the six-month event, the Japanese expo association said on July 13. The expo had welcomed 10.08 million visitors as of July 12, three months since its April 13 opening, the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition said. The number of daily visitors started picking up four weeks after the opening, which was marred by news of unfinished pavilions, with a record 184,990 entering the venue on June 28. However, ticket sales slowed from late June as the rainy season drew to a close in the region and intense heat arrived, causing concerns for organisers who need 22 million visitors to reach the event's break-even point. KYODO NEWS
Time Out
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Japan Day lights up the Osaka Expo with Misia, mascots and traditional arts
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.
The Mainichi
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
Myaku-Myaku, other mascots show off moves at Osaka Expo dance event
6375151122112@brightcove OSAKA -- Visitors to Osaka Expo were treated to a dance recital by mascot characters from various countries in a recent event organized by the Australian pavilion to entertain guests. The June 30 dance event at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, was joined by 20 mascots including those from Australia, the United States and the European Union. On the Australian pavilion stage, they jumped up and down, showed off their moves to the song "Hot Potato" by The Wiggles, a children's music group from the country. Osaka Expo's official mascot Myaku-Myaku also made an appearance, exciting the audience as they called for an encore. (Japanese original by Takehiko Onishi, Osaka Photo and Video Department)
The Mainichi
27-06-2025
- The Mainichi
2 university students arrested for allegedly shoplifting Osaka Expo mascot goods
OSAKA -- The prefectural police here on June 27 arrested two university students for allegedly shoplifting about 330,000 yen (roughly $2,280) worth of official mascot goods at the venue of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. Both suspects are male university students aged 20 and 22 who live in Tokyo, and the two are reportedly friends. The pair are suspected of stealing 73 Myaku-Myaku related items, including plush toys and fans, from the official store at the expo site in Osaka's Konohana Ward between around 1:15 and 1:40 p.m. on June 26. Osaka Prefectural Police have not disclosed whether the suspects have admitted to the allegations. According to Konohana Police Station, a customer in the store witnessed the shoplifting. After being notified, a store employee stopped the two as they left the store and handed them over to police officers. (Japanese original by Tatsuya Naganuma, Osaka City News Department)
Yomiuri Shimbun
24-06-2025
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Police Eager to Publicize Ban on Flying Drones near Osaka-Kansai Expo; Multilingual Events Held to Raise Awareness
OSAKA — The Osaka prefectural police is making efforts to keep people informed about an Osaka prefectural ordinance banning drones from being flown near the venue of the Osaka-Kansai Expo. With many foreign nationals visiting the Expo, the prefectural police believe it is important to publicize the ordinance to non-Japanese as well as Japanese people. Under the ordinance, flying drones without authorization is prohibited in a 1-kilometer radius around Yumeshima, the artificial island on which the Expo venue is built. A fine of up to ¥500,000 is among the penalties that can be applied to those who violate the ordinance. To enforce the no-drone measures, the prefectural police have formed a unit equipped with a jamming system that can make it impossible to navigate a drone in the area. On June 18, members of the prefectural police's rugby team and others distributed flyers explaining the ordinance to pedestrians at Yumeshima Station on the Osaka Metro Chuo Line, which is near the Expo venue. They also used loudspeakers to inform people about the ban in four languages — Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean. The next day, Suminoe Police Station held an event on the ordinance at Cosmosquare Station on the same subway line. The event was attended by Expo mascot Myaku-Myaku and the police station's mascot Noe-nyan. The mascots and police officers from the station handed out 100 flyers to residents and visitors. 'If a drone crashes, it could hurt visitors or damage facilities,' said an official of the prefectural police. 'For the sake of safety and security, we're asking for people's understanding and cooperation.'
