Osaka Gave Czech Artists Another Standing Ovation as Nearly 3700 Visitors Attended the National Day Cultural Programme at EXPO 2025 Opened by President Pavel

“Our participation in World Expositions has a long and rich tradition. At past EXPOs – whether as Czechoslovakia or Czechia – we have shown how we can combine technical skill with cultural richness. A prime example is EXPO 58 in Brussels. Czechoslovakia won nearly every possible award at the time, but more importantly, its presence there gave rise to the so-called Brussels style, which went on to influence design for decades. I am convinced that this year’s EXPO will leave an equally lasting mark. The joint performance of the Czech Philharmonic, Cirk La Putyka, the Czech Radio Children’s Choir and singer Aiko was the highlight of the cultural programme at our pavilion. It left me with many impressions and emotions, but above all with the feeling that we, as a nation, have much to be proud of,” said President Petr Pavel in his afternoon address at the Czech National Pavilion and during the subsequent press conference.

The highlight of Czech National Day was the cultural performance THE STRINGS, featuring Cirk La Putyka, the Czech Philharmonic, the Czech Radio Children’s Choir and musician AIKO. The title refers to the threads that connect tradition with the present, Czech roots with technological progress – and above all, Czech culture, talent and creativity. After all, Talent and Creativity for Life is the theme of Czechia’s participation at EXPO 2025. The artists selected several well-known Czech compositions, with parts of the show focusing on topics such as Czech sporting achievements, art and folklore. The fusion of classical music and contemporary work, modern circus and puppetry created a truly impressive and powerful experience.

“The organisers of EXPO 2025 told us after the performance that our cultural programme far exceeded their already high expectations and that no other country has presented such a complex project during their National Day so far. This was confirmed by the overwhelming standing ovation and praise from Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado,” said Ondřej Soška, Commissioner General of the Czech participation, adding: “I deeply appreciate the visit and support of the President – it is a tremendous honour for us. His presence was also highly valued by the Japanese themselves. In the long run, such gestures help us maintain our image as a reliable partner who respects Czech-Japanese relations and create opportunities to deepen these ties even further.”

As part of THE STRINGS performance, the Czech folk song Ej, lásko, lásko was combined with the Japanese song Akatombo. The Czech Radio Children’s Choir and the Czech Philharmonic accompanied the piece, which was interwoven with footage from the film I’m Not Who I Want to Be Yet by photographer Libuše Jarcovjáková, who photographed life in Japan and Tokyo in the 1980s.Later in the show, the artists paid tribute to Czech athletes to the sound of Largo by Antonín Dvořák. During Leoš Janáček’s Pilky, the Cirk La Putyka ensemble brought a traditional Czech carnival procession to the stage. The performance concluded with AIKO singing her Eurovision entry Pedestal.

“I’m very pleased that, after more than eighteen months since the original vision, inspiration and, not least, ambition, we have managed to prepare a national cultural presentation as innovative as the one at the Brussels World Expo, where Laterna Magika was introduced. Our aim was to create an artistically and conceptually original and inspiring performance that connects traditional and contemporary Czech culture in a broader societal context, also reflecting the host country,” said Přemysl Pela, Programme Director of Czechia’s participation at EXPO 2025.

In addition to the 46-minute performance of THE STRINGS, presented both in the morning and afternoon, visitors could enjoy two standalone performances by the Czech Radio Children’s Choir and three shows by singer AIKO. As a tribute to the host country and its rich cultural heritage, the Czech Pavilion also featured a demonstration of traditional Japanese Kyōgen theatre and martial arts, performed jointly by Japanese and Czech artists. Another performance took place outside the pavilion itself.

Czech visitors had the opportunity to join a special guided tour of the Czech Pavilion, enjoy Czech cuisine inspired by EXPO 1970, admire the original manuscript by Gregor Mendel, or see the vehicles from the Robot Expedition, which travelled over 14,000 kilometres from Czechia to Japan.

The Mendel manuscript is a handwritten document by Gregor Johann Mendel from 1865, titled Experiments on Plant Hybrids. It is considered the foundation of genetics, as it describes Mendel’s experiments with pea plants that led to the discovery of the laws of heredity. The original manuscript was brought to Japan under strict security measures by Father Wit, the Prior of the Augustinian Abbey, who travelled on a government aircraft together with President Pavel.

The expedition named Robot began in June 2025 from Prague Castle. Over the course of five weeks, seven Czech vintage vehicles travelled through Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, China and South Korea, finally arriving in Japan. The entire journey was a tribute to Czech technical skill, courage and the nation’s tradition of long-distance expeditions. The team was welcomed in Osaka by President Pavel.

More information about the program and the schedule of National Day can be found here.