The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition (hereinafter referred to as “the Association”) is pleased to announce that in order to build momentum for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan (hereinafter referred to as “the Expo”), a relay race named “Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan Commemorative EXPO EKIDEN 2025” (hereinafter referred to as “EXPO EKIDEN”) will be held on Sunday, March 16, 2025 (organizer: Asahi Broadcasting Group Holdings Corporation; co-organizers: the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, Osaka Prefecture, the City of Osaka, Suita City, Toyonaka City, and The Asahi Shimbun Company).
The EXPO EKIDEN course will connect two Expo sites, from the Expo ‘70 Commemorative Park, the site of Japan World Exposition Osaka 1970, to the Yumeshima area, the site of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.
The elite members of Japan’s leading businesses and universities will work together as a team to unite their “dreams” and “future aspirations” with a ‘tasuki’, which is a sash that is used instead of a baton by relay runners, and run through the EXPO EKIDEN race to the goal of the race in Yumeshima to raise excitement for the Expo.
▽ About EXPO EKIDEN 2025
The relay race starts at the Expo ‘70 Commemorative Park, the site of Japan World Exposition Osaka 1970, and finishes around Yumeshima, the site of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.
Fifty-five years after Expo ’70 was held in Japan for the first time, a large-scale expo will be held again in Osaka, Kansai. In this world-class city, we will pass the “tasuki” from “Progress and Harmony for Mankind” (1970) to “Designing Future Society for Our Lives” (2025).
The participating teams are leading university students and businesses. The “dreams” and “future aspirations” of the people of Osaka and the Kansai region will be shared via “Tasuki” to across the country through the broadcast of this dream race.
▽ Overview of the race
Title of the race: Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan Commemorative EXPO EKIDEN 2025
Organizer: Asahi Broadcasting Group Holdings Corporation (Osaka City, Representative Director and President OKINAKA Susumu)
Co-organizers: The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, Osaka Prefecture, the City of Osaka, Suita City, Toyonaka City and The Asahi Shimbun Company
Managed by: Osaka Athletics
Event date and time: Sunday, March 16, 2025 (no postponement in the case of rain)
※Scheduled to be broadcast live on TV networks nationwide
Planned course: The course will start at the Expo 70’ Commemorative Park, pass through the city of Osaka, and finish at Yumeshima (the site of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan) (details to be determined)
Participating teams: A total of around 20 teams from businesses and universities (to be determined)
※ No participation by runners from the general public is allowed
Preparatory Office for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan of Asahi Broadcasting Group Holdings Corporation
Tel: +81-80-9935-6961, +81-80-8541-8820
Public Relations Department, Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition
E-mail: media@expo2025.or.jp