Expo 2025: Italian Pavilion Italian Week kicks off, record number of visitors
Overhead, more than 100 tricolour ribbons join the Italian Pavilion to Sou Fujimoto's Grand Ring. Over 70 dancers perform the traditional Japanese dance of Awa Odori to the rhythm of drums
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The Italian Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka inaugurated its Italian Week with a special event: on Sunday 7 September, over 100 tricolour ribbons united the Italian Pavilion with the Grand Ring, the symbolic work of Expo 2025 Osaka designed by architect Sou Fujimoto.
An initiative that underlines the special union between Italy and Japan, explain the Pavilion. which also finds strength in the fact that the Italian Pavilion was the only one so far to also physically connect itself, through ribbons, to the imposing wooden ring that perimeters the universal exhibition.
The event
.The traditional ritual of the Awa Odori staged by 70 dancers of the Awa Odori Association & Awa Odori Promotion Association of the Tokushima Prefecture enchanted the audience of spectators and the press, with over 60 accredited media, including helicopters. Ahead of National Day on 12 September, Italy is confirmed as the protagonist of Expo 2025 in Osaka and is the only country to dedicate seven days to the event. Again, Italy will be the first country (except for the host country) to reserve the largest hall at Expo 2025 Osaka for the National Day ceremony, the Shining Hat.
Many visitors stopped by to admire this spectacle of light and colour. Numerous authorities were present at the inauguration, led by the Commissioner General for Italy at Expo 2025 Osaka, Mario Vattani. Also present were the top management of the Universal Exhibition, such as Dimitri Kerkentzes, Secretary General of the Bureau international des expositions (Bie), Koji Haneda, Commissioner General of Expo 2025 Osaka, Hiroyuki Ishige, Secretary General of the Japan Association for Expo 2025 Osaka.
Commissioner General Vattani commented, 'An exceptional day, from sport to design, to economy and robotics. This is the Italy that we tell and it is also a symbol of the relationship we have with Japan, because here it is not only about bringing excellent and very high quality products, it is also about creating collaborations, we do this every day and we will continue to do it in this last month'.
