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The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition (hereinafter referred to as “the Association”) has released details of the character designs, theme song, and voice cast for A Spectacular Show of Air and Water “Under The Midnight Rainbow”, which will be held at the Water Plaza as a part of the “Future Society Showcase Project” at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan (hereinafter referred to as “the Expo”).
The main character, “Ao”, will be voiced by the young actor MOURI Hana (16 years old). She has been acting in stage plays and musicals since she was a first year in primary school, and has been garnering attention for her outstanding singing ability. The role of “Dodo”, the spirit of air and water, will be voiced by the TV personality TOMOCHIKA, and the role of “Ao’s Grandma” will be voiced by the actor NATSUKI Mari.
Additionally, there will be three daytime productions featuring entertainment linked to “Under the Midnight Rainbow”, centred on the Water Plaza. The water show “A Symphony of Air and Water” will feature fountains moving to music composed by KANNO Yoko. The same music will also be used in the main show. “A Synchronization of Air and Water” will be a participatory show in which the audience can control approximately 300 fountain devices. Finally, “The AR Parade of Air and water” will utilise augmented reality (AR) technology, enabling visitors to see living creatures parading in various locations around the Expo site.
“Under The Midnight Rainbow” Character Design, Voice Cast, and Theme Song
■ Character Design
“Ao” , Main character
“Dodo”, the spirit of air and water
■ Voice Actors
MOURI Hana (Voice of main character Ao)
Born in 2008, age 16. (B-Pro) She joined the Ookina Yume children’s theatre group in her first year of elementary school. She has been active primarily in musicals, including the role of young Nala in the Fukuoka production of the Shiki Theatre Company’s “the Lion King” (2019-2020). She has won numerous awards, including the Grand Prize in the Intermediate Division of the English Vocal Election (2021) and Gold/Grand Prix award in the All Japan Children’s Singing Competition Middle School Division (2024).
TOMOCHIKA (Voice of Dodo)
NATSUKI Mari (Voice of Ao’s Grandmother)
Comments from the Cast
・MOURI Hana (Main character “Ao”)
When I first heard the folk song sung by Ao, I felt nostalgic and strongly drawn to this mysterious world, and I really wanted to sing this song in my own voice. Ao’s energetic and curious nature was just like me when I was 10 years old, so I played the role while remembering myself in that time. It is a very beautiful work, filled with the enthusiasm and kindness of many people, not to mention technology. If we can make people take another look at air, water , and earth, I think our future will be better. Please come and see it at the Expo Site!
・TOMOCHIKA (“Dodo”, the spirit of air and water)
In my mind, dodos are cute, funny, nosy, and likable creatures. I played the role of Dodo with these things in mind. I hope that not only children but also adults will be impressed with this show and be left with a warm feeling. I am honoured to be involved in Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan in this way. Please come and see the show at the Expo Site.
・NATSUKI Mari (“Ao’s Grandmother”)
As a senior in life, I put all my energy into playing the role of Ao’s grandmother to convey the joys of life and the future to my grandchildren. More than 50 years after Japan World Exposition Osaka 1970, it is time to reconnect Japan’s power to the future. Please come to the Expo Site and enjoy the People’s Living Lab.
■ Theme song
The music video of the theme song “Niji-matsuri – Dancing under the Rainbow -”, composed and produced by KANNO Yoko, the composer/arranger/music producer of the music for the water show, is available now. The song “Niji-matsuri – Dancing under the Rainbow -”, a traditional song from the island where the show takes place, is inspired by traditional music such as folk songs, island songs, and nursery rhymes and was created in search of a melody stored in our DNA, transcending time and space. It powerfully expresses the life force of living creatures connected through air and water.
The music video is illustrated by KATO Ryu, a filmmaker who has collaborated with many famous artists. As “episode zero” of the story, it depicts a midnight rainbow that occurred on the island long before the main character, “Ao”, was born, linking the traditional song with the show’s story.
Music Video: https://youtu.be/PueVHes4weo
High-resolution versions of these images can be found here: https://www.suntory.co.jp/news/article/14721.html (Japanese)
High-resolution versions of these images can be found here: https://www.suntory.co.jp/news/article/14721.html (Japanese)
Music: KANNO Yoko
KANNO Yoko is a composer/arranger/music producer whose work includes “Flowers Will Bloom”, an NHK charity song for the reconstruction efforts after the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake. She also composes soundtracks for anime, tv shows, and movies including “Cowboy Bebop” (both the 1998 Japanese anime, and the 2021 American live-action version)”, “Macross Frontier”, “Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex”, and Netflix’s “The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House” (Director: KOREEDA Hirokazu). In 2019, she composed, arranged, and conducted “Ray of Water” to celebrate Emperor Naruhito’s accession to the throne. She was selected as one of Newsweek’s “100 Globally Respected Japanese People” in 2023.
Daytime Shows at the Water Plaza
■ A captivating show with music and fountains “A Symphony of Air and Water”
This is a 5-minute daytime water show held at the Water Plaza. The fountains move to the light melody of a piano arrangement composed by KANNO Yoko, which will also be used in the nighttime show. A 3D jet built into the top of the 18m-high sculpture in the middle of the water will spray water up to a height of 20m, and, together with the approximately 300 fountains surrounding the sculpture, expresses the show’s theme of “Air and Water”. Visitors can enjoy the harmony of air, water, music, and fountains at the Water Plaza, which is open to the sea and sky.
・Date: Every day during the Expo.
・Time: On the hour, every hour between 11:00 and 16:00. Around 5 minutes long.
・Location: Water Plaza
・How to Watch: Free viewing (free of charge, no reservation required)
■ Wonder Experience “A Synchronization of Air and Water”
This is an audience-participation event where the fountains shoot water in response to people’s gestures, creating a magical experience as if they were controlling a giant fountain. After the end of the “A Symphony of Air and Water” a facilitator staff member will appear in the “Water Plaza” and nominates some audience members. The nominated audience members will be invited to move freely and the fountains will shoot water in various patterns in response to their body movements, giving the audience a magical feeling as if they were magicians.
・Date: Held at irregular intervals during the Expo. *Will be held without prior notice.
・Time: Approximately 20 minutes after the end of the “A Symphony of Air and Water”.
・Location: Water Plaza
・How to Watch: Free viewing (free of charge, no reservation required)
■ “The AR Parade of Air and water” – A digital experience where you can interact with various creatures
When visitors hold up their smartphones inside the Expo site, they can see creatures parading through the air using AR technology. The creatures will parade from various locations around the site towards the Water Plaza, inviting visitors to join in the daytime entertainment. Visitors can also take photos with the creatures and keep them as a memento of the Expo. The two-dimensional (QR) codes placed throughout the venue can be read with a smartphone or tablet, making it easy for anyone to enjoy the event without obtaining a special app.
・Period: Sunday, 13 April 2025 to Monday, 13 October 2025
・Location of 2D (QR) codes: To be published on the official website of the Water Show
＜For Reference＞
▽Outline of the Event
Project title: Water Plaza Water Show
Venue: Water Plaza, inside the Expo Site
Period: Sunday, 13 April, 2025 to Monday, 13 October, 2025 (planned)
Title: Under the Midnight Rainbow
Story: “Under the Midnight Rainbow” is a spectacular water show that uses air, water, light, fire, images, and music to tell the story of life on a grand scale.
The story unfolds on an island where they say when a rainbow appears on a moonlit night, all the creatures hold a festival. The main character, the child “Ao” and the air and water spirit “Dodo” meet under the rainbow on a mysterious night, and a joyous and spectacular festival of creatures unfolds.
Sponsor companies: Suntory Holdings Limited, Daikin Industries, Ltd.
▽About the Future Society Showcase Project
The Future Society Showcase Project is a general term referring to a group of projects that provide experiences to a wide range of participants and visitors from Japan and abroad by utilising technologies and services that support the theme of the Expo, “Designing Future Society for Our Lives” for the development, operation, exhibition, and events of the Expo site, in the form of “demonstrations” that give a sense of the future beyond 2025, and “implementation” that is suitable for the Expo.
▽ Related information
・Press Release (Official website of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan)
Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan “Future Society Showcase Projects Exhibition”: Title of ‘Water Plaza Water Show‘ Decided:
https://www.expo2025.or.jp/en/news/news-20231213-01/
＜For Reference＞
▽Outline of the Event
Project title: Water Plaza Water Show
Venue: Water Plaza, inside the Expo Site
Period: Sunday, 13 April, 2025 to Monday, 13 October, 2025 (planned)
Title: Under the Midnight Rainbow
Story: “Under the Midnight Rainbow” is a spectacular water show that uses air, water, light, fire, images, and music to tell the story of life on a grand scale.
The story unfolds on an island where they say when a rainbow appears on a moonlit night, all the creatures hold a festival. The main character, the child “Ao” and the air and water spirit “Dodo” meet under the rainbow on a mysterious night, and a joyous and spectacular festival of creatures unfolds.
Sponsor companies: Suntory Holdings Limited, Daikin Industries, Ltd.
▽About the Future Society Showcase Project
The Future Society Showcase Project is a general term referring to a group of projects that provide experiences to a wide range of participants and visitors from Japan and abroad by utilising technologies and services that support the theme of the Expo, “Designing Future Society for Our Lives” for the development, operation, exhibition, and events of the Expo site, in the form of “demonstrations” that give a sense of the future beyond 2025, and “implementation” that is suitable for the Expo.
▽ Related information
・Press Release (Official website of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan)
Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan “Future Society Showcase Projects Exhibition”: Title of ‘Water Plaza Water Show‘ Decided:
https://www.expo2025.or.jp/en/news/news-20231213-01/
・A Spectacle of Air and Water / Under the Midnight Rainbow:
https://www.expo2025.airandwatershow.jp/en/
・Promotion Movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW7Pv1p-nbQ
・Suntory Expo Special Site: https://www.suntory.co.jp/events/expo/2025/en/
・Daikin Expo Special Site: https://www.daikin.com/air/daikin_achievements/expo2025