EXPO 2025 has its own comic book, featuring Dvořák, Mucha, and Smetana, as well as nanotechnology, Nobel Prizes, and Czech beer

The title is Czech-Japanese-English and reflects the main motto of the Czech National Pavilion: "Talent and Creativity for Life". The comic was created as a collective work by students and professionals and represents an exceptional educational output that connects Czech history, culture, innovation, and the current thinking of the younger generation.

"This comic is the result of a unique collaboration involving nearly thirty people. Fourteen students from a secondary pedagogical school created over sixty illustrations. It is a statement about what young people consider valuable, creative, and communicable to the world. It is a comic about us – about what we have given to the world and in what ways we are unique," says the project coordinator and concept author, Petra Čiháková.

The comic was symbolically christened by distinguished guests who have long been dedicated to improving education, art, and global discourse. Among them were Ondřej Hýbl, chairman of the Czech-Japanese Society, and visual artist Michaela Lesařová Roubíčková, daughter of the legendary glassmaker René Roubíček, whose work inspired the EXPO 2025 mascot.

"The book Talent and Creativity for Life demonstrates the deep meaning of connecting cultures, generations, and education with global events. Czechia and Japan are not just business partners – we share values that the whole world needs today: emphasis on mutual respect, quality, and innovation," explains Ondřej Hýbl, chairman of the Czech-Japanese Society.

"My father believed that glass is not just a material, but a language – transparent, strong, and playful at the same time. The fact that his work has become the inspiration for the EXPO 2025 mascot is not only an honor to him, but also to Czech glassmaking as a whole. I am pleased to see that students and teachers in schools are working with these motifs today," says Michaela Lesařová Roubíčková.

The event also featured the opening of two thematic exhibitions: • 100 years of Czechoslovak and Czech exhibitionism at world EXPOs – a comic series inspired by historical events • 100 years of Czech literature in Japan – author-made hand-drawn comics based on classic works

The comic Talent and Creativity for Life is also part of a broader program of activities within the Czech participation at EXPO 2025. This includes the competition Creative Teacher of the Year 2025, which is supported by the National Pedagogical Institute of the Czech Republic.

"Specific, sometimes unexpected topics – such as Japanese culture or technology – open up space for educators to explore unconventional teaching methods. The competition shows that teachers are not just conveyors of information, but guides to the creativity and initiative of the younger generation. A great example is the comic Talent and Creativity for Life, which we are christening today – it was created through collaboration between students and professionals, and perfectly reflects what education of the future might look like: connected, creative, international, and deeply human," adds Kamil Ubr, a member of the Curriculum project leadership.

The Knihy trochu jinak project is the only educational program for elementary schools, secondary schools, vocational schools, and grammar schools that is a partner of Czechia’s participation at EXPO 2025. It is created voluntarily, without institutional backing, and has been operating nationwide for the fifth year. Each year, it focuses on a different socially significant topic – this year, it’s the world’s exhibitions and their impact on the future.