The 2025 Osaka Expo marked its national day for Japan on Thursday with a celebration of the host country's culture — from the contemporary to the ancient — in a ceremony featuring a spirited calligraphy presentation and a gagaku performance followed by a parade featuring Myaku-Myaku and Hello Kitty.
Still, there’s little doubt who stole the show.
Best-selling singer Misia thrilled dignitaries and members of the public alike as her powerful voice echoed throughout the expo’s Shining Hat venue during the ceremony’s feature performance.
Wearing an extravagant floral dress in line with the ceremony's theme of “Life Will Bloom,” the Nagasaki Prefecture native belted out familiar hits such as “Ashita e” (“Toward Tomorrow”) and “Ai no Katachi” (literally “Shape of Love”) to the enthusiastic approval of an audience that included Crown Prince Akishino and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
Each country, region and organization that participates at the Osaka Expo gets their own national day to showcase their country’s culture.
Before Misia and other performers took to the stage, the crown prince — the honorary president of the expo — remarked that the day and the expo itself represent a great opportunity for Japan.
“Nowadays, content created by Japan, including anime and manga, transcends borders and connects many people worldwide,” he said. “Japan can continue to link countries and regions around the world and also contribute to the future. In this respect, the expo can be regarded as offering one opportunity.”
Amid a tense geopolitical environment, Ishiba used his short speech to stress the expo’s potential to build unity.
“We are here to witness and celebrate a Japan that stands as one with the world through the expo. A Japan that is shaping the future together with the world,” he said.
It was a fitting time for Japan to have its national day.
After a tumultuous buildup amid concerns over budget overruns and a lack of enthusiasm among the public, the six-month event is approaching its midway point.
The expo has not gone off without a hitch: Swarms of midges near the signature Grand Ring prompted officials to work on pest control measures and high levels of Legionella bacteria were found in samples from the Water Plaza, forcing a halt of the water show.
But despite the concerns prior to its opening on April 13, the expo has proven popular with the public, with attendance growing as word of mouth has spread about top attractions and experiences — creating long lines at pavilions and shops.
The event welcomed its 10 millionth visitor on Sunday and crowds have grown in recent weeks, with single-day attendance passing 200,000 for the first time on Saturday.
It remains to be seen whether that positive momentum will be enough to help the expo reach its target of 28.2 million visitors throughout its six-month run, but a bigger question might be whether organizers can ensure the safety of guests during Osaka’s scorching summer.
Despite countermeasures ranging from powerful fans and mist stations to parked buses set up as makeshift cooling centers, heatstroke concerns remain a focal point for all involved with the expo, including the prime minister.
“Now that the weather is getting hotter, as the host country's government we remain committed to our responsibility of ensuring the safety of visitors,” Ishiba said during the ceremony.
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