Portugal Day celebrations at Expo 2025 Osaka

On the 10th of June, AICEP marked Portugal Day, Camões Day and the Day of the Portuguese Communities at Expo 2025 Osaka with a cultural and institutional programme aligned with the theme of Portugal's participation - Ocean, The Blue Dialogue. 
The celebrations began with the opening of the exhibition Ocean of Poetry / Oceano de Poesia, which featured "Vertical Poems" by authors such as Luís de Camões and José Saramago, in an installation inspired by the Japanese tradition of integrating poetry into decorative elements.

This was followed by the presentation of the artwork A Janela by the artist ADD FUEL. The piece incorporates hand-painted tiles produced by Fábrica Viúva Lamego and combines Portuguese ceramic heritage with a contemporary visual approach.

The cultural programme also included a concert by Carminho, held at the Expo's National Hall, as part of an initiative organised by Turismo de Portugal to mark Portugal Day. Despite adverse weather conditions, the event reached full capacity, with around 700 people attending the performance. The fado singer performed the traditional Japanese song Shirazu at the end of the concert.

At the official reception, Michelin-starred chef Vasco Coelho Santos, named Chef of the Year in 2023, presented a selection of dishes representative of Portuguese gastronomy.

As part of the day's official initiatives, the Umi in Dotonbori campaign was launched, showcasing a 3D projection of Portugal’s official mascot on a key digital screen in central Osaka. The campaign runs across over 300 screens and is expected to generate around three million impressions over two weeks.

In her official speech, the Commissioner-General, Joana Gomes Cardoso, noted that the Portugal Pavilion has already welcomed over 600,000 visitors since opening, accounting for 9% of all Expo visitors. Joana Cardoso also underlined the pavilion's role as a platform for promoting Portuguese culture, economy and innovation.

Portugal's Ambassador to Japan, Gilberto Jerónimo, recalled the 500th anniversary of Luís de Camões and five centuries of relations between Portugal and Japan. He also emphasised the core themes of Portugal's participation: the Portuguese language, ocean sustainability and intercultural dialogue.

AICEP Board Member Joana Gaspar also attended the celebrations, which included participation from Portuguese companies.