Latest news with #TomiyoYamada
The Mainichi
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
'Expo lady' completes full circuit of Osaka pavilions on 46th consecutive visit
OSAKA -- A woman known for being a fan of Expo events has completed a full circuit of all pavilions at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, after visiting the venue for 46 consecutive days since its opening. Tomiyo Yamada, 76, also known by the nickname "Banpaku obaachan," or "Expo lady," completed the feat on May 28. Twenty years ago, Yamada visited the Expo 2005 Aichi, Japan, which was held in her home prefecture, every day it was open. From then on, she became famous for visiting Expo events on every opening day, including those in Shanghai and Yeosu, South Korea. Yamada smiled as she visited the Netherlands Pavilion, which was, by her count, the 219th place she had been to at the Expo. She commented, "I feel it is important to keep going. I'm so happy to have made it to today." There, she met Dutch Consul-General at the Osaka Consulate-General Marc Kuipers and others. During a commemorative ceremony held after the tour, a pinatalike "kusudama" exploded in celebration, and she was given a specially made plushie of the character "Miffy." As she aims to visit the Expo on all 184 days until the final day on Oct. 13, Yamada, her husband and son moved to an apartment block in nearby Suminoe Ward from their home in the Aichi Prefecture city of Seto last December. Yamada shared her aspirations as she completes a second go-around of the pavilions, saying, "From now on, I want to convey the splendor of Japanese culture to visitors from overseas." (Japanese original by Makiko Nagao, Student Newspapers Editorial Department)
Japan Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
'Expo grandma' completes tour of all Osaka Expo pavilions
A Japanese woman known as "Expo grandma" for visiting World Expositions around the globe has completed her visits to all open pavilions at the ongoing 2025 Osaka Expo. On Wednesday, the 46th day of the Osaka Expo, Tomiyo Yamada visited her last remaining pavilion, the Netherlands pavilion, where a celebration ceremony was held in her honor. "I finished with the Netherlands, which has had friendly relations with Japan for a long time," the 76-year-old said with a smile. "It's important not only to enter pavilions, but also to thoroughly digest (the exhibits) until the end," she said. The Netherlands pavilion presented her with commemorative gifts including a stuffed doll of the Dutch character Miffy. Yamada aims to visit the Osaka Expo every day until it closes. "I want to communicate with the staff (of pavilions) and feel the current situations of (exhibiting countries)," she said.
4 days ago
- Entertainment
Expo Grandma Completes Tour of All Osaka Expo Pavilions
News from Japan May 28, 2025 18:09 (JST) Osaka, May 28 (Jiji Press)--A Japanese woman known as "Expo grandma" for visiting World Expositions around the globe has completed her visits to all open pavilions at the ongoing 2025 Expo in the western Japan city of Osaka. On Wednesday, the 46th day of the Osaka Expo, Tomiyo Yamada, 76, visited the last remaining pavilion, the Netherlands pavilion, where a celebration ceremony was held in her honor. "I finished with the Netherlands, which has had friendly relations with Japan for a long time," Yamada said with a smile. "It's important not only to enter pavilions, but also to thoroughly digest (the exhibits) until the end," she noted. The Netherlands pavilion presented her with commemorative gifts including a stuffed doll of the Dutch character Miffy. Yamada aims to visit the Osaka Expo every day until it closes. "I want to communicate with the staff (of pavilions) and feel the current situations of (exhibiting countries)," she said. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
