“Expo 2025 Osaka”: Declarations of Love for Lithuania, International Recognition of Lithuanian Creators, and the Sincere Friendship Between the People of Lithuania and Japan
Tranquillity, comfort reminiscent of home, a strong bond with nature and love for it, nature-inspired solutions to preserve the planet for future generations – these were the words most often heard from visitors to the Baltic Pavilion at the international exhibition “EXPO 2025 Osaka”. Today marks the end of the six-month-long event in Japan – the largest national showcase exhibition, which became a genuine bridge of friendship between the people of Lithuania and Japan, introducing visitors to Lithuania, its culture, and business opportunities.
The joint Lithuanian and Latvian Baltic Pavilion also earned international recognition – the pavilion guides’ uniforms, designed by Lithuanian designer Gabrielė Januškevičiūtė (LinenID), were recognised as the best by the prestigious Exhibitor Magazine. In the Themed Entertainment Design Association (TEDA) competition, the Baltic Pavilion won second place in the “Visitors’ Choice” category and fifth place for “Best Mascot”. Thousands of visitors participated in the pavilion’s unique initiative, in which half a million virtually planted trees will be physically planted in Lithuania and Latvia – in the “EXPO 2025 Osaka” forests.
Nearly one million visitors experienced the Baltic Pavilion, attended dozens of events presenting Lithuania, and saw thousands of media mentions in Japan, with tens of thousands of social media posts about the pavilion and Lithuania. These achievements significantly strengthened Lithuania’s visibility and image in Japan while fostering economic and cultural cooperation between the two countries.
Lithuania’s preparation for the world exhibition and its representation at “EXPO 2025 Osaka” were organised and implemented by the Office of the Government.
An Oasis of Calm in a Bustling Exhibition
The joint Lithuanian–Latvian Baltic Pavilion participated under the slogan We Are One, sending a message of unity and shared responsibility for every step and every decision – understanding deeply that what is done today will affect not only the future of the Baltic States but of the whole world. Visitors were invited to connect with Lithuania and the Baltic region, discovering balance between human activity, nature, and technology.
“The ‘EXPO 2025 Osaka’ exhibition became a true gateway for Japanese people to discover Lithuania – visitors to the Baltic Pavilion could explore our country, its culture and achievements, taste Lithuanian products, and connect with Lithuanian producers. Even more importantly, during the six months of the exhibition, many simple but heartfelt friendships were formed. Lithuania gained true friends who returned to the pavilion dozens of times wearing Lithuanian or pavilion-themed accessories. This is the real value of EXPO events – when we can get to know one another and create emotional connections that will stay in Japanese hearts for a long time,” said Marius Gurskas, Deputy General Commissioner of Lithuania at “EXPO 2025 Osaka”.
For most Japanese visitors (who made up 90% of attendees), the most memorable feature was the “nature’s pharmacy” – a display of about 300 different plants and herbs still widely used in both Lithuania and Latvia.
The Baltic Pavilion stood out for its brightness and multisensory experience – visitors could listen to the sounds of the forest and birdsong blending with fragments of M. K. Čiurlionis’s compositions, smell the aroma of mushrooms, touch the dew-covered green wall, and even paint with droplets of dew, leaving fleeting marks to reflect on humanity’s environmental footprint.
The Japanese public also took a liking to the pavilion’s mascot “Barabi-chan” (from baravykas, meaning boletus mushroom, and chan, a friendly Japanese suffix). This playful character, created by Lithuanian creative design studio “KOI” and produced by creative director Sergejus Grigorjevas, became a symbol of the pavilion.
Visitors could contribute to nature conservation by planting nearly half a million trees virtually in the “Virtual Forest Garden”, which will later be planted physically in Trakai, Joniškis, and Tauragė districts in Lithuania, and in Tērvete, Latvia.
Lithuanian Creators and Special Events Invited Visitors to Discover Lithuanian Culture and Shared Values
On 6 July – Statehood Day (commemorating the coronation of King Mindaugas of Lithuania) and the Day of the National Anthem – Lithuania’s National Day at “EXPO 2025 Osaka” became a vivid cultural highlight. The event featured the official flag-raising ceremony, the creative project MKČ Lab dedicated to the 150th anniversary of M. K. Čiurlionis’s birth, and a joint singing of the national anthem that brought together the Baltic Pavilion team and performers. Visitors also immersed themselves in Čiurlionis’s art through the “Angel Trails” virtual reality project.
During a special day dedicated to Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara, visitors learned about his actions in interwar Kaunas, where he helped save the liives of Lithuanian Jews, and the shared values linking Japan and Lithuania.
In August, artist Jolita Vaitkutė, ambassador of Vilnius – the 2025 European Green Capital – opened an exhibition and creative workshops, inviting visitors to reflect on the cities of the future and the parallels between Vilnius, Osaka, and Tokyo, where nature remains vital even in the context of modern urbanism.
On 23 August, the Baltic Day programme showcased Lithuania’s UNESCO heritage – the Song and Dance Celebration. Performing groups swept visitors into the rhythm of dance and song, while guests also joined workshops on traditional straw ornament making. The event was further enlivened by the performance of the Japanese AK Choir, conducted by Akihito Kinashi, who sang in Lithuanian. Visitors were also invited to participate in a symbolic expression of solidarity and unity, We Are One. Human Circle, joining hands to the tune of The Awakening Baltics („Bunda jau Baltija“).
Lithuanian pop-up book artist and illustrator Elena Selena also presented her work at the exhibition, leading workshops titled The Imaginary Forest and Its Inhabitants for Europe Day. The European Film Days short film programme, featuring Lithuanian directors Vytautas Kazlauskas’s Blue Moon („Žydrasis mėnulis“) and Jonas Juškaitis’s Roots („Šaknys“), attracted wide interest.
“EXPO 2025 Osaka” – Opportunities for Lithuanian Business and to Strengthen the Country’s Visibility and Reputation in Japan
The world exhibition “EXPO 2025 Osaka” also offered excellent opportunities for future partnerships and for Lithuanian companies seeking new markets. At events organised by the Innovation Agency, Lithuanian companies presented their products and services in the fields of smart cities, mobility, renewable energy, digital technologies, and the Internet of Things. On 15 May, Lithuanian firms participated in a dedicated event Smart City Solutions: Cooperation Between Lithuania and Global Partners, held during the exhibition’s thematic week The Future of Communities and Mobility, which attracted international decision-makers, investors, and urban development experts. The previous day, a networking session in Tokyo, organised with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), allowed Lithuanian businesses to connect with Japanese companies and partners.
During the Tourism Week at “EXPO 2025 Osaka”, Lithuania’s tourism potential was highlighted, emphasising the uniqueness of the Baltic sauna tradition and wellness tourism.
The Baltic Pavilion not only drew significant visitor numbers but also gained substantial attention from Japanese media and social networks. Detailed articles appeared in Nikkei, one of Japan’s leading economic publications, as well as in major design and architecture magazines such as MOe, among others.
A Gesture of Solidarity with Ukraine at the Baltic Pavilion at “EXPO 2025 Osaka”
On 4 August, Lithuania and Latvia invited visitors to join the symbolic initiative 1000 Cranes for Ukraine to mark Ukraine’s National Day at the world exhibition “EXPO 2025 Osaka”. In Japanese culture, the elegant crane (tsuru) is a national treasure symbolising good fortune, longevity, lasting peace, and enduring connections. The Baltic Pavilion’s initiative became part of the Ukrainian Pavilion’s exhibition, allowing visitors to learn about the campaign’s goals and admire the cranes coloured in the blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag.