EXPO 2025 mascot MYAKU-MYAKU statues relocated to the Tower of the Sun
In Suita, Osaka Prefecture, a ceremonial event was held on February 21, 2026, to mark the relocation of two statues of MYAKU-MYAKU, the official mascot of EXPO 2025, to the vicinity of the Tower of the Sun monument. The Tower was a symbol of EXPO 1970, according to Nippon.com and the newsletter of the Bureau International des Expositions.
The MYAKU-MYAKU statues, which welcomed over 29 million visitors on Yumeshima Island in Osaka Bay from April 13 to October 13 last year, were moved to the Expo ’70 Commemorative Park in Suita, Osaka Prefecture. The park is approximately a 50-minute subway ride north of Osaka city.
Originally, the statues were located at the East and West Gates of the EXPO 2025 site and were popular photo spots with long lines. In their new home, they are intended to remind visitors not only of the exhibition itself but also of its legacy and significance for future generations.
“MYAKU-MYAKU and the Tower of the Sun are connected through an imaginary relay baton in the form of the EXPO,” said Osaka Prefecture Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura during the ceremony.
About 400 local residents, selected by lottery from over 40,000 applicants, attended the ceremony.
MYAKU-MYAKU is the official mascot of EXPO 2025, held on Yumeshima Island in Osaka, Japan. Its design reflects the idea of a continuous flow and interconnectedness of life—both organic and cellular forms—which is expressed in its unusual, playful, and colorful appearance with prominent eyes and a flexible, changing body. The mascot represents the main themes of EXPO 2025: innovation, sustainability, and global cooperation among people and cultures. During the exhibition, it served as a prominent visual icon welcoming visitors and accompanying official programs and promotional activities.
The Tower of the Sun is an iconic sculpture and symbol of Osaka, created by artist Tarō Okamoto for EXPO 1970. Located in the Expo ’70 Commemorative Park in Suita, Osaka, it represents a powerful artistic expression of human development, life, and cosmic energy. The structure features three “faces” symbolizing the past, present, and future, and is regarded as one of the most remarkable works of modern Japanese art as well as a lasting symbol of optimism and progress.
Source: BIE Newsletter, Czech News Agency, author’s own edits