Press Release

The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition (hereinafter referred to as “the Association”) will hold a performance to promote Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan at the BIE Day on 30 March at Expo 2020 Dubai, which will close on 31 March. In addition, the Association will receive the BIE flag at the closing ceremony on 31 March as the next registered organiser of the Expo.
The Association plans to giverepresentatives of various countries and international organisations and visitors to Expo 2020 Dubai an impression of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan (hereinafter referred to as “the Expo”), which will be held after the Expo 2020 Dubai, and encourage active participation and momentum building.
Other events include a ceremony on 27 March at which one of the world’s largest solar ships, MS Porrima, a special supporter of the Expo, will deliver a message from the Association to the Bureau Expo Dubai 2020. As part of the co-creation challenge of the “TEAM EXPO 2025″ programme, MERRY PROJECT, a non-profit organisation, plans to use umbrellas and kites featuring smiles from children around the world at the Dubai Expo site. These will help to promote the next Expo and raise expectations and interest in the event.

Reference: BIE Day and Closing Ceremony Official Event Schedule *Includes information that is yet to be confirmed.

BIE Day
Date: Wednesday, 30 March 2022
Organiser: BIE Secretariat (in collaboration with Expo Dubai Public Corporation)
Venue: Dubai Expo site
Main Programme:
From 10:15: Ceremony (Morning) [Venue: Stage of Nations inside Al Wasl Plaza]
○Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan Performance
　・Freestyle Football performance
From 20:30: Ceremony (Afternoon) [Venue: Jubilee Park]
○Award Ceremony
○Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan Performance
　・Live performance of powerful sounds and calligraphy full of Japanese beauty, performed by a calligrapher and performers of kotsuzumi drums and shakuhachi flute.
　・Performance by Japanese drum groups from Japan and the UAE

Closing Ceremony
Date and Time: Thursday, 31 March 2022 from 19:00 to 20:00
Organiser: Expo Dubai Public Corporation
Venue: Al Wasl Plaza Ceremony Stage inside Expo Dubai venue
Main Programme: Flag Delivery Ceremony, etc.

Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan Performance on BIE Day
*Includes information that is yet to be confirmed.

■ Freestyle Football Performance
Transcending 1,400 years of time, the performance presents a new style of performance, a modern interpretation of the culture of kemari, which began in the Heian period.
The duo, who perform world-class freestyle football with a spectacular dance accompanied by Japanese background music and synchronised with the movement of the ball, express their hopes for the future in preparation for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　[LA CLASSIC]

■ Live performance of powerful sounds and calligraphy full of Japanese beauty, performed by a calligrapher and performers of kotsuzumi drum and shakuhachi flute.
The spectacular and dignified Japanese spirit, together with a sense of exuberance, will draw attention from visitors ears to the stage, where a dynamic performance of writing with a large brush on a large piece of Japanese paper will be presented.
The spirit of harmony will be expressed through ancient letter art and traditional Japanese music live entertainment, and will be linked to Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.

　　　　Calligrapher FUKUSHIMA Bisei Koshu (top), Kotsuzumi player ASO Kaho (lower left), and Shakuhachi player KOMINATO Akihisa (lower right)

■ Performance by Japanese Drum Groups from Japan and the UAE
Japanese and Emirati (people from the United Arab Emirates) will collaborate to build bridges between the UAE and Japan.
They will powerfully convey the splendour of traditional Japanese culture through static and dynamic expressions that bring out the charm of the Japanese drum and raise interest in the Expo.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　[Kharsha]

MS Porrima, a Special Supporter of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan
MS Porrima is one of the world’s largest solar ships, and is operated under project supported by ZERI JAPAN, a non-profit organisation. It will work to raise awareness and alert the world to issues such as plastic pollution and climate change, and will also work with scientists and entrepreneurs to find clues to lasting solutions and create new innovations using the numerous technologies on board. This activity has been registered as “Blue Odyssey Project” in the TEAM EXPO 2025 programme / Co-creation Challenge, one of the theme practices of the Expo.
As a special supporter, MS Porrima will promote the Expo through its project’s activities, sailing around the world until 2025, when the Expo will open.
MS Porrima is currently anchored in Dubai, and on 27 March, a ceremony will be held at the Expo site in Dubai to introduce its activities and deliver a message.

TEAM EXPO 2025 Programme/Co-Creation Challenge
[MERRY EXPO/DUBAI EXPO 2020 → EXPO 2025 , Osaka, Kansai, Japan]
The non-profit organisation MERRY PROJECT will participate in a kite event organised by the Malaysian Pavilion at the Dubai World Expo Al Forsan Park from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. (local time) on 27 March, and fly kites featuring the smiles of children from around the world and the Expo logo. In addition, smiling umbrellas and gozas (straw mats) will be lent out, and Expo goods and folded-paper cranes will be given to event participants. For more information on the activities, please click here.