2022.06.22
Press Conference
 Brand New Expo Character Design Revealed
Photo session at the press conference of the presentation of the best official character design
(From the left: MATSUMOTO Koshiro, Osaka Kansai Expo 2025 Ambassador; ISHIGE Hiroyuki, Secretary General, Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition; YAMASHITA Kouhei, Representative of mountain mountain; HARA Kenya, Chairperson of selection committee; and NAKAGAWA Shoko, selection committee member)

On March 22, 2022, a press conference of the presentation of the best official character design of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan was held in Tokyo, and the best work, which was decided on the same day, was revealed.

Official character design, best work

The best design was selected among 1,898 entries submitted to the open call for character design from November 1 to December 1, 2021.
On March 2, 2022, three final candidate works, selected through each selection process, were announced. A total of 40,704 opinions were received in the general opinion solicitation for the final candidate works, which was held until March 10.
At the final selection committee held on March 22, the same day of the press conference, the best design was selected by referring to the public opinions on each final candidate work.

■Greetings from WAKAMIYA Kenji, Minister for the World Expo 2025, and explanation of progress from ISHIGE Hiroyuki, Secretary General, Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition.
At the beginning of the press conference, Minister WAKAMIYA Kenji gave a greeting, and then Secretary General ISHIGE Hiroyuki, as host, also gave a greeting and an explanation of progress.

WAKAMIYA Kenji, Minister for the World Expo 2025
ISHIGE Hiroyuki, Secretary General, Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition

■Announcement of the best official character design
WAKAMIYA Kenji, Minister for the World Expo 2025; MATSUMOTO Koshiro, Kabuki actor and Osaka Kansai Expo 2025 Ambassador; and ISHIGE Hiroyuki, Secretary General, Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, announced the best work of the official character design of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan

The moment the best official character design was revealed.
(From the left: ISHIGE Hiroyuki, Secretary General, Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, WAKAMIYA Kenji, Minister for the World Expo 2025; MATSUMOTO Koshiro, Osaka Kansai Expo 2025 Ambassador)

■Award presentation to the creator of the best work – Comments
The design created by “mountain mountain” was selected as the best work, and Secretary General ISHIGE presented a certificate and a commemorative trophy to Mr. YAMASHITA Kouhei, representative of “mountain mountain.”

Secretary General ISHIGE Hiroyuki presents a certificate to YAMASHITA Kouhei, representative of “mountain mountain.”

After receiving joyful comments from YAMASHITA Kouhei, representative of “mountain mountain,” whose design was selected as the best work, comments were received from HARA Kenya, chairman of the selection committee, NAKAGAWA Shoko, selection committee member, and MATSUMOTO Koshiro, Osaka Kansai Expo 2025 Ambassador.

・A comment from YAMASHITA Kouhei, representative of “mountain mountain.”
“I have never dreamed that my design would be selected as the best work.
I grew up in Kobe, graduated from Osaka University of Arts, and worked in Kansai. I am very pleased to be involved in the Expo held in Kansai – where I have a connection and my family lives – in the form of a character.”

・A comment form HARA Kenya, chairperson of selection committee
“What was evaluated is that the shape changes flexibly.
The character will be expanded to various media such as Metaverse and the world of the internet, and I am very much looking forward to how this flexibility will be utilized.
As a character that responds to diversity, I hope that its potential will reach many people.
In addition, we received more than 40,000 opinions from the general public upon the character screening this time.
On behalf of the Committee, I would like to thank you for your many opinions.”

・A comment from NAKAGAWA Shoko, selection committee member
“All the works were wonderful, and I was fascinated by this work in the design proposal that was packed with various elements such as individuality, cuteness, splendor, and fun that are conceived because it’s Japan.
As you can imagine from the city of water, the character can be developed into various shapes like water. There are many examples of development, and it is also fun to be able to choose whatever you like depending on each person.
Judging from the history so far, I think it is very novel that a crazy design was selected for the character of the Expo.
I hope that it will become more and more talked about and become popular not only in Osaka but also all over Japan and overseas. I would like to support this character.
Let’s continue to love this character together!”

・A comment from MATSUMOTO Koshiro, Osaka Kansai Expo 2025 Ambassador
“Congratulations to ‘mountain mountain!’
I felt the future very much from everyone’s works which remained in the final selection. It was also the moment when I received the courage and energy to realize the clear goal of 2025, to create various things, and to realize it.
The logo mark was announced two years ago, and the character was announced today. While the logo mark is like a family crest, I think that the character decided this time is, metaphorically speaking in the Kabuki world, an ‘actor.’
One more thing toward Expo 2025 has been given form. I think this was a moment of birth.
As an ambassador, I would like to promote Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan with this new character on the road to 2025.
Let’s liven up the Expo toward 2025 together with this character.”

Related links

(Press release)
Brand New Expo Character Design Revealed
https://www.expo2025.or.jp/en/news/news-20220322/ (English)
(Movie)
Recorded video: a road to the decision of official character design for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xegCoPZ0dts (Japanese)

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