Thu, 14 Nov 2024 16:00:00 +0900 hourly 1 /release/202411139861 Thu, 14 Nov 2024 16:00:00 +0900 Midosuji Party Executive Committee To build momentum for EXPO 2025 Osaka-Kansai, a large-scale special event dubbed "Midosuji Runway 20... Executive Committee of the Midosuji Party
To build momentum for EXPO 2025 Osaka-Kansai, a large-scale special event dubbed "Midosuji Runway 2024" was held along the Midosuji Avenue in Chuo Ward, Osaka, on Sunday, November 3, under the theme "OPEN UP!," attracting approximately 700,000 spectators.
 
Image: https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M106925/202411139861/_prw_PI1fl_Ddiv4mfg.jpg
 
It was held on a longer stretch of Midosuji, one of Osaka's main streets, than before to better promote the exposition, which is scheduled to open in less than six months. This time, the Midosuji Runway was expanded to include a wider variety of content, including an area to promote the expo and a display of classic cars.
 
"I hope everyone will enjoy this special event, which is being held half a year before the expo," said Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura.
 
A fashion show unique to Osaka, known as "the city of textiles," was also held as part of the event. On an approximately 1.1-kilometer stretch of the street, unparalleled anywhere in the world, former women's badminton Olympic team member Kumiko Ogura walked with models clad in items made from recycled materials by a designer from Osaka. Members of the all-boy pop group JO1 also participated in the event as models, as well as showcasing their performances.
 
In the "Tokyo Disney Resort (R) Special Parade," Disney characters paraded with local children to music. The event also brought together various festivals from all over Japan, including the "Nagasaki Jaodori" (dragon dance) that is known as one of Japan's traditional performing arts, as well as the "Uwajima Ushioni Matsuri" (Ushioni means ox demon) festival. Actor-singer Ken Matsudaira and the "Koshimoto" (maid servant) dancers sang and danced "Matsuken Samba" cheerfully and radiantly, enlivening the crowd.
 
J-pop duo Kobukuro from Osaka, serving as an ambassador for the expo, performed the fair's official theme song, "Kono Hoshi no Tsuzuki wo" ("Let’s see extension of this planet"). The expo's official character "MYAKU-MYAKU" also appeared on stage, joining about 600 dancers on the runway.
 
"You spectators really livened up the event," said Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama as he emphasized the success and excitement of this special event.
]]> /release/202312134273 Fri, 15 Dec 2023 15:00:00 +0900 Midosuji Party Executive Committee To gain momentum for EXPO 2025 Osaka-Kansai, a large-scale special event, "Midosuji Runway," was he... Executive Committee of the Midosuji Party
To gain momentum for EXPO 2025 Osaka-Kansai, a large-scale special event, "Midosuji Runway," was held by the Executive Committee of the Midosuji Party around the Midosuji Avenue in Chuo Ward, Osaka, on Friday, November 3, under the theme, "Be the Bridge!" The event fascinated approximately 300,000 spectators.
 
Image: https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M106925/202312134273/_prw_PI1fl_3MQofRZy.jpg
 
During a parade, world-renowned dancer KENTO MORI showed a dancing performance with about 380 other people. In the performance of "Iwami Kagura," a traditional performing art in Shimane Prefecture, great snakes made of paper dynamically danced to dynamic traditional Japanese drums and flute. In "Tohoku Kizuna Matsuri," which brought together six representative festivals from six Tohoku prefectures in northeastern Japan, audiences were impressed with dynamic "nebuta" big paper lanterns (Nebuta Festival in Aomori), "kanto" bamboo poles (Kanto Festival in Akita), "waraji" straw sandals (Waraji Festival in Fukushima), "hanagasa" flower hats (Hanagasa Festival in Yamagata), "Sansa"-style dance (Morioka Sansa Odori Festival in Iwate) and "Tanabata" midsummer star festival of Miyagi.
 
Osaka-born model Ayami Nakajo, AHN MIKA who serves as ambassador for the "Come-to-Osaka! Campaign," and other models appeared in an EXPO uniform fashion show, "Road to 2025 Midosuji EXPO Fashion Runway!" attracting crowds of spectators.
 
In a special program at the end of the event, MISIA, an iconic singer in Japan, moved onlookers with her overwhelming singing while riding on a float with a colorful goldfish motif, and sent a message to the world, saying, "Music is a 'bridge' that connects people’s hearts. I’d like to continue to connect people’s hearts."
 
In the grand finale, Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama told performers and spectators that he "would like to pick up steam with you toward the EXPO." Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura also said, "I’d like to enliven Osaka."
 
Dance and vocal unit GENERATIONS from EXILE TRIBE collaborated with more than 150 high school students in a dancing performance while children also danced to the EXPO's official theme song, "Kono Hoshi no Tsuzuki wo" (meaning "extension of this planet" in Japanese), highlighting the vigorousness of Osaka as one of the 2025 EXPO hosts.
]]> /release/202211240329 Fri, 25 Nov 2022 17:00:00 +0900 Midosuji Party Executive Committee The Executive Committee of the Midosuji Party held the "Midosuji Runway" around the Midosuji Avenue... Executive Committee of the Midosuji Party
The Executive Committee of the Midosuji Party held the "Midosuji Runway" around the Midosuji Avenue in Osaka’s Chuo Ward on November 3, as part of its efforts to gain momentum for the EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. The popular autumn event in Osaka’s largest thoroughfare and shopping district was held after a two-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The event's theme was "SPARK" with a message that Osaka's power will spark for the future, partly because it was held for the first time since Osaka was selected to host the EXPO 2025. About 300,000 spectators were fascinated by this large-scale event.
 
On a special stage during the event, Kobukuro, a popular male pop duo from Osaka who have been appointed as EXPO ambassadors, sang the EXPO’s official theme song, "Kono Hoshi no Tsuzuki wo" (meaning "extension of this planet" in Japanese). "There are less than 900 days before the EXPO," they said. "We’ll be able to see what nobody has ever seen. Nothing is more exciting than that." The pop unit emphasized to continue singing the song over the next three years so that it will be known to as many people as possible.
 
Various iconic mascots in Osaka appeared during the parade. Popular characters such as Woody Woodpecker, Winnie Woodpecker and Snoopy as well as Sesame Street characters joined Universal Studios Japan’s performance. Mario and Pikachu appeared on a float and said hello, pleasing spectators.
 
Cheers erupted among spectators when Downtown, a popular comedy duo who also serve as EXPO ambassadors, appeared on stage during a Special Runway at the end of the event. "We’re in the groove here today," said Hitoshi Matsumoto, a member of Downtown. When Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura asked Masatoshi Hamada, Matsumoto’s partner, to paint the Osaka Pavilion, he agreed, saying, "Of course, I’ll do it as long as I have enough time." Yoshimura said, "I’d like to build momentum for the EXPO Osaka, Kansai with all of you." Osaka Mayor Ichiro Matsui told visitors and participants, "We have a dream for the future of Osaka, and in 2025 we want to hold the EXPO in which your dreams will come true, so please support us."
 
Moreover, Shuhei Tada, a "2020 Tokyo Olympics" sprinter, and other athletes participated in an "Athletes Runway," while prizewinning dancers performed, demonstrating Osaka’s vibrancy as the EXPO 2025 is drawing near.
]]> /release/202111304122 Mon, 06 Dec 2021 15:00:00 +0900 Midosuji Party Executive Committee To build momentum for the EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, “Nakanoshima Winter Party -Road to EXPO 2025 -” ... Executive Committee of the Midosuji Party
To build momentum for the EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, “Nakanoshima Winter Party -Road to EXPO 2025 -” was held in the city of Osaka on November 28.
 
The event was organized by the Executive Committee of the Midosuji Party comprising the Osaka prefectural and municipal governments and other entities.
 
Photos: /release/202111304122?p=images
 
Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura and Mayor Ichiro Matsui declared the party open.
 
Kenji Wakamiya, minister for the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka, told an audience of some 4,500 people, “I’d like you to help build momentum for the EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai.”
 
Wakamiya urged the audience to encourage more countries to participate in the expo. “We plan to invite 150 countries to participate in the expo. But to achieve that, we need to secure participation by 90 more countries. I’d like you to share the attractions of the expo with the world through social media.”
 
Two groups, who will perform in the Dubai Expo’s Japan Day on December 11, also participated in the party. A special unit comprising local vocational school students and comedian Charlotte, who has over 1.35 million followers overseas, sang songs, and OSK Nippon Revue Company celebrating the 100th anniversary of its founding in 2022 performed a dance.
 
Hiroyuki Ishige, secretary-general of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, said the organizer will try to reduce waiting time before entering pavilions during the expo. “People have the image that they have to wait a long time to enter a pavilion at an expo, but we’d like to reduce it as much as possible, preferably to zero,” he said.
 
Noting “Reborn” is the theme of the Osaka Prefecture/City pavilion, Mayor Matsui said he expects the pavilion to show Osaka is actively promoting people’s health.
 
“We’d like to create an Osaka health pavilion to provide visitors with opportunities to have various experiences, including those involving preventive medicine, to help people enjoy a long life, and demonstrate to the world that Osaka is playing a key role in promoting health,” the mayor said.
 
The popular pop duo and expo ambassadors Kobukuro capped the party with a live performance.
]]>