European Countries Celebrate EU Day with Ambassadors, Mascots, and the Public
On Friday, May 9, 2025, the European Union (EU) celebrated Europe Day at the World EXPO. The event emphasised unity, creativity, and shared values. It brought together visitors from around the world through the discovery of European culture and its long-standing partnership with Japan.
The official opening ceremony took place in the National Day Hall “Ray Garden,” with the participation of EU ambassadors and ambassadors of EU Member States in Japan. European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Maroš Šefčovič, the ceremony’s guest of honor, highlighted the depth of EU–Japan relations in his speech: "This close partnership with Japan is founded on shared values such as human rights, freedom and democracy, and on common interests like multilateralism and a fair, open world trade system”.
Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Yuichiro Koga, also spoke at the ceremony. He emphasized the importance of strengthening Japan’s ties with the European Union and praised the mutual cooperation between both partners at EXPO 2025 in Osaka.
Throughout the day, the EXPO site came alive with stories of Europe. Visitors could stop by the Jellyfish Pavilion for the “Fairy Tales from Europe” event, which featured storytelling and creative workshops for both children and adults. Czech participation at EXPO 2025 was represented by mascot René, who joined a reading of the Czech fairy tale All About Doggie and Pussycat by Josef Čapek. Guests also enjoyed the interactive EU Stamp Rally, a fun activity guiding them through the pavilions of EU Member States. At each pavilion, visitors could collect a stamp representing that country.
The heart of the ceremony was the National Day Hall, where artistic exchanges between Europe and Japan took center stage. The program opened with a performance by Pianographique, featuring Maki Namekawa and Cori O’Lan, who poetically blended piano music with visual projections. The duo also performed later that weekend in the Czech National Pavilion. Their act was followed by Breath, a dance performance by Gloria Benedikt exploring the emotional and physical dimensions of human connection. The evening atmosphere was energized by Back2Back DJ sets from Krikor Kouchian and MAYUDEPTH, accompanied by visual projections.
In the National Day Hall, mascots from EU Member States with official costumes at EXPO 2025 also made an appearance. Alongside our mascot René were Europa (EU), BeluBelu (Belgium), Aka-Shiro-Aka (Austria), UMI the seahorse (Portugal), and Oona the puffin (Ireland).
Throughout the day, visitors had the opportunity to explore European cultures within the individual pavilions of EU Member States. The Czech National Pavilion, for example, attracted guests with a Czech wine tasting experience from their partner winery, THAYA. To conclude the day, several EU countries joined the Union’s initiative by lighting up their pavilion façades or terraces in blue — a symbol of peace, unity, and shared values.
In the coming weeks, the EU will continue to engage with visitors at EXPO 2025 in Osaka through a diverse cultural program. The lineup will include concerts, film screenings, discussions, and design exhibitions, all showcasing European creativity, cultural diversity, and richness.
Source: The European Union at EXPO 2025 Osaka, author’s adaptations