Memories of EXPO 2025: The Czech Pavilion hosted Ostrava Days and baseball star Ondřej Satoria
For two days, the Czech Pavilion at EXPO 2025 belonged to Ostrava. The Ostrava Days program brought to Japan the atmosphere of a city that has successfully transformed its industrial heritage into a modern metropolis – a place of investment, innovation, culture, and sport. The September 2025 program included thematic presentations, a live puppet performance about the history of Ostrava, an aikido demonstration, and a meeting with one of the most popular Czech baseball players in Japan – Ondřej Satoria from the Arrows Ostrava team, who held two autograph sessions during the event.
Other partners of the Czech participation at EXPO 2025 also took part in the presentation, often closely connected to Ostrava and the region. These included the National Partner, the development company CTP, which has cooperated with the city for 20 years; the Official Partner Purposia Group, whose roots lie in Ostrava; and the agency CzechTrade, which presented the region as an important business hub in Central Europe. Discussions covered topics ranging from traditional metallurgy and heavy industry to infrastructure development and new directions for Ostrava.
“I grew up in the Moravian-Silesian Region and saw firsthand how Ostrava and the wider region managed to transform and open up to new partners—even from the other side of the world. This was exactly the goal behind the business program of the Czech Pavilion at EXPO 2025. Seeing Ostrava here together with our partners such as Purposia Group and CTP, opening new opportunities, confirms that we have much to show the world—not only Prague, but also other strong aspects of the Czech Republic, such as Ostrava,” explained the Commissioner General of the Czech participation at EXPO 2025, Ondřej Soška.
An important role was also played by Ostrava’s universities—VSB – Technical University of Ostrava and University of Ostrava—which presented not only their study programs and top fields in technology, medicine, and natural sciences, but also how they prepare a new generation shaping the future of the region, including through international mobility.
The program also included presentations of culture and tourism. Ostrava introduced its major festivals, such as Colours of Ostrava and Beats for Love, as well as its rich museum and gallery offerings. Culture and sport were presented as integral parts of the city’s identity during Ostrava Days.
“Across the world, you would find only a few cities that have transformed as successfully as Ostrava. We have found a new identity—a city of education, innovation, culture, and sport. We are not afraid of new projects; we host major international events, such as the Ice Hockey World Championship, and we are building a new concert hall designed by renowned American architect Steven Holl. I am very glad that we could present Ostrava here in Japan. We have held many informal meetings and established numerous new contacts and partnerships that will certainly move Ostrava forward,” said Ostrava Mayor Jan Dohnal at the Czech Pavilion.
Ostrava Days also included two meet-and-greet sessions and autograph signings with Ondřej Satoria, which attracted large numbers of local fans and Japanese journalists. Satoria became known to Japanese audiences primarily thanks to his performance at the World Baseball Classic 2023, where, as an electrician by profession, he struck out Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani.
“What I managed to do went around the world afterward. For me, it’s quite surreal, because as an ordinary guy from Ostrava, I never expected something like this could happen. In the Czech Republic, hardly anyone knows me, but here people at the Czech Pavilion recognized me. One woman I gave a signed card to even started crying when we took a photo together. I have to say it really moved me. People in Japan are very grateful and humble, and I really like that,” Satoria said modestly, adding that he felt at home in the Czech Pavilion.
A major baseball fan, Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama, also came to the Czech Pavilion to meet Satoria. They met at the so-called Wall of Fame created by Czech artist Jakub Matuška, which referenced the World Baseball Classic 2023 and depicted the “duel” between Satoria and Ohtani.
The wall was extremely popular among Japanese visitors and became a sought-after photo spot. It also served as a signing wall for distinguished guests visiting the Czech Pavilion—featuring, for example, the signature of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba with a drawing of the manga character Obakyu, Czech President Petr Pavel, and Japanese Princess Princess Takamado. The final collection includes nearly sixty signatures. Together with Mayor Jan Dohnal, Satoria presented Mayor Yokoyama with a puppet—a miniature of himself in a Czech uniform—and a personally signed baseball.
A major baseball fan, Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama, also came to the Czech Pavilion to meet Satoria. They met at the so-called Wall of Fame created by Czech artist Jakub Matuška, which referenced the World Baseball Classic 2023 and depicted the “duel” between Satoria and Ohtani.
The wall was extremely popular among Japanese visitors and became a sought-after photo spot. It also served as a signing wall for distinguished guests visiting the Czech Pavilion—featuring, for example, the signature of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba with a drawing of the manga character Obakyu, Czech President Petr Pavel, and Japanese Princess Princess Takamado. The final collection includes nearly sixty signatures. Together with Mayor Jan Dohnal, Satoria presented Mayor Yokoyama with a puppet—a miniature of himself in a Czech uniform—and a personally signed baseball.
