The Czech National Pavilion at EXPO 2025 commemorated the anniversary of the occupation of Czechoslovakia with an exceptional cultural program
Visitors to the World EXPO in distant Osaka joined the Czech team in commemorating an important anniversary of Czech history. The Czech National Pavilion honoured the 57th anniversary of the occupation of Czechoslovakia with two special programs – the Czech-Japanese puppet production Čáslavská – Tokyo – 1964 and concerts by soloists of the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra. The program offered visitors not only a glimpse into the dramatic history of our country, but also highlighted the tradition of strong Czech-Japanese relations and the cultural ties between the two nations.
The first program was the puppet production Čáslavská – Tokyo – 1964, created in collaboration between Alfa Theatre in Plzeň and the PUK Theatre in Tokyo. Following its Japanese premiere this August, it was presented at EXPO in the largest indoor venue, the Shining Hat Hall, with an audience of approximately 900 people.
The performance is inspired by the life of the legendary Czech gymnast Věra Čáslavská, who protested against the occupation of Czechoslovakia with a silent gesture during the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico. Rather than a traditional historical reconstruction, the creators combine elements of fantasy and fairy tales with the atmosphere of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, framed by a Czech and a Japanese commentator in the style of a live sports broadcast. On stage, Czech and Japanese puppeteers and actors perform together, with the puppets themselves created both in Tokyo and in Plzeň. The music includes, among others, the iconic song A Prayer for Marta as well as Japanese compositions. The production blends puppet, object, and shadow theatre with projections. It has already received two Czech awards, and thanks to its Czech-Japanese staging, it is easily accessible even to audiences who understand only one of the two languages.
"The story of Věra Čáslavská reminds us of courage and determination—values that also resonate with the motto of Czechia’s participation at EXPO 2025: Talent and Creativity for Life. The anniversary of the August occupation is not only an important reminder of Czechoslovak history, but also a symbol of bravery and human dignity. We wanted these values to be spoken about on the international stage of the World Expo, where nations from all over the world meet,” said Ondřej Soška, Commissioner General of Czechia’s participation at EXPO 2025.
On the very day of the anniversary, 21 August, the second part of the program followed—two special concerts by soloists of the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra in the main EXPO National Day Hall. In two fully packed auditoriums, works by Mozart, Janáček, and Dvořák were performed, including the famous Humoresque and the Largo from the New World Symphony, which the moved audience rewarded with a standing ovation as an encore. The opening address by Czech representatives, focused on the circumstances of the 1968 occupation of Czechoslovakia, also symbolically recalled the role of Czech Radio during those dramatic events, when the station, despite the occupation, played a crucial role in keeping citizens informed. The second concert was also broadcast live on the YouTube channel of Czechia’s participation, allowing viewers back home to join in.
Beyond this exceptional program, Czech soloists also performed directly at the Czech National Pavilion. As part of the regularly changing cultural program, they gave a series of concerts over two weekends (Friday to Sunday). “The opportunity to perform in the Czech National Pavilion is very special for us—whether because of its duration, the setting itself, or the format, including the special concerts in the National Day Hall,” said orchestra producer and violinist Markéta Kohoutová.
According to her, the concerts attract both visitors who are well familiar with Czech classical music and those discovering it for the very first time: “I believe we have opened the door to Czech classical music a little wider here—even if only for a single listener.” She also considers the Daisue Hall inside the pavilion to be exceptional. “Its spiral-shaped auditorium is very different from a traditional concert hall, but it pleasantly surprised us. We love performing here—it is a space prepared for professionals. We play five times a day and vary the program, so every performance is unique. From the stage we can directly see how the energy of the music reaches even the very quiet and respectful Japanese audience, who visibly come alive during the concerts.”
Kohoutová also described the performance in the National Day Hall as an extraordinary experience: “For us, it was a wonderful bonus—it was truly felt how much the Japanese love our music. We are glad that we could be here at the time of the anniversary of the occupation of Czechoslovakia and, through music, remind them of this event and of the role Czech Radio played in it.