Press Release

Featuring akane’s Choreography and SO-SO’s Music!

The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition (hereinafter referred to as “the Association”) has launched a present campaign “MYAKU-MYAKU PON!” for those who purchase tickets to Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan (hereinafter referred to as “the Expo”) on Friday, 7 June 2024. To further boost this campaign a “MYAKU-MYAKU PON!” dance video will be released on the Association’s official YouTube channel on Wednesday, 17 July.
The dance was choreographed by akane, one of Japan’s leading choreographers, and the music was provided by SO-SO, a beatboxer and music producer who is expanding his activities.
In the “Cha-cha-cha-chance!” version, MYAKU-MYAKU appears, and smoke pops out of blue and red boxes like a magic trick. Along with the smoke, the luxurious prizes of the “MYAKU-MYAKU PON!” campaign’s exciting prizes appear and MYAKU-MYAKU dances joyfully. The humorous performance, together with MYAKU_MYAKU’s fun dancing, is sure to excite everyone. A tutorial version, in which you can learn the choreography in time with MYAKU-MYAKU’s movements, will be released at the same time so that more people can enjoy the dance.

■ Overview of the original “MYAKU-MYAKU PON!” dance video
Release date: Wednesday, 17 July 2024
Appearance: MYAKU-MYAKU
Medium: Expo’s Official YouTube channel
Contents and Duration: “Cha cha cha chance!” version, 15seconds https://youtu.be/txHEJDdLnFQ
　　　　　　　　　　 :Tutorial version, 35 seconds https://youtu.be/ewu16rZVyC0

▽ Profile of akane

Born in Kishiwada City, Osaka, she is a multi-talented choreographer who is active in commercials and film productions. She began attending dance school since she was three years old and has been coaching the Osaka Prefectural Tomioka High School dance team since she was a university student, leading them to the national championships. In 2015, she started her dance company, Akane Kikaku, and in 2017, her “Bubbly Dance” received over 1000 million views on YouTube. She has attracted attention worldwide as the producer and choreographer of the mysterious school uniformed and bobbed hair group “avantgardey”. She has choreographed for foreign films and artists, as well as choreographed shows at the Anpanman Children’s Museum.

▽ Profile of SO-SO

SO-SO is a Beatboxer/ music producer/ DJ who has produced and released a number of dance music tracks using beatbox sounds alone, including his signature track “Interview 2.0”. He was the first Japanese person to participate and finish in the top 4 in the loopstation category at the Grand Beatbox Battle 2019 world championship In 2023 the beatbox crew SARUKANI, of which he was the leader was crowned world champion at the same competition.
He has also expanded his activities as a music producer, providing songs for numerous commercials and dramas, and in 2023 his song for Hey! Say! JUMP reached No. 1 on Billboard.

■ IHARA Rikka tries the “MYAKU-MYAKU PON!” dance!
As her first activity as a special supporter, IHARA Rikka tried dancing the “MYAKU-MYAKU PON!” dance. We will also release a video in which she talks about practicing with MYAKU-MYAKU, her thoughts on becoming a special supporter, and her expectations for the Expo.

▽ Overview of the “MYAKU-MYAKU PON!” dance promotion video
Release date: Wednesday, 17 July 2024
Appearances: IHARA Rikka and MYAKU-MYAKU
Medium: Expo’s Official YouTube channel
Contents:  Dance with IHARA Rikka https://youtu.be/G1ny5BeBrd0
Interview with IHARA Rikka https://youtu.be/PylJFzCJ_jg
Making & Interview https://youtu.be/D5EuSAGZ7yc

▽When the practice with MYAKU-MYAKU began, IHARA kindly advised it to ‘start off slow’, and they checked their movements together while counting. When she saw MYAKU-MYAKU dancing rhythmically, she commented, ‘MYAKU-MYAKU has a lot of potential!’. She told MYAKU-MYAKU that “it’s important to have fun.” When they danced to the music from start to finish, they exchanged high-fives, and the filming took place in a friendly atmosphere from start to finish.

▽ Interview with IHARA Rikka
This is your first job as a special supporter of the Expo. How did you feel when you were offered the position of special supporter? And what are your ambitions for the future as a special supporter?

Comment from IHARA
“When I heard about the offer, I was very happy!
Ever since it was decided that the World Expo would be held in Osaka, I have always thought that it would be great if I could be involved in some way, and that I should work hard to be involved, so I am happy to have been given this opportunity and I will do my best.”

The dance performed in the video was choreographed by akane, the choreographer of the Tomioka High School Bubbly Dance. How did you feel about dancing to your former teacher’s choreography for the first time in a long time?

Comment from IHARA
“It’s been a very long time since I danced with akane’s choreography. Akane always choreographs dances that everyone wants to imitate and that are full of excitement. Today, too, I had a lot of fun dancing with MYAKU-MYAKU to akane’s exciting choreography.”

Is there anything you particularly paid attention to with this dance?

Comment from IHARA
“Passion! (laughs) I just wanted to have fun and dance with MYAKU-MYAKU in  harmony, so I had nothing but fun!”

The Expo is coming up next year.  What do you think is the appeal of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan?

Comment from IHARA
This Expo will be a time of discovery with a lot of different themes being developed, and new technologies introduced which makes me feel like I can’t wait to see my future.. There is also an entertainment element, so I think one of the attractions is that we can get excited about it even now.

Today, you and MYAKU-MYAKU practiced dancing together, and MYAKU-MYAKU improved quickly. Not limited to dance, do you have any memorable phrases or advice you have received?

Comment from IHARA
My motto, or rather, the phrase I recall every time something happens to me is “Time is finite, effort is infinite”. It is a rather stoic phrase (laughs). My dance teacher in primary school said these words to me, which suddenly hit me, even as a primary school student. We all have the same amount of time flowing by, but it’s up to you to decide how much effort you want to put in. Even now, when I feel like taking a break, I remember these words and open my scripts.

▽ Profile of IHARA Rikka

IHARA was born in 1999. She is the former captain of the dance club at Osaka Prefectural Tomioka High School, which came to prominence with its ‘bubbly dance’. In addition to film and theatre roles, she has also appeared in TV dramas including NHK TV series. In April 2024 she starred in the NTV drama ‘The Wife Who Was Deprived of Her Liver (Kanzo wo Ubawareta Tsuma)’ and became a personality on MBS radio’s ‘Young Town’.

■ For Reference
“MYAKU-MYAKU PON!” Present Campaign for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan Ticket Purchasers Launches! | Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan Official Website


(Enquiries)　　
Global Communication Department, Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition
Email: globalpr@expo2025.or.jp