Featured Events in Osaka in May, 2025 (May Updated)

Overview Theme: Designing Future Society for Our Lives Subthemes: Saving Lives Empowering Lives Connecting Lives Concept: People's Living Lab 1. A space where 8 billion people from around the world will not only view exhibits but will co-create our future society. 2.Even before the Expo begins, an online platform for sharing challenges and solutions from around the world will be launched. 3.A place where the world’s knowledge such as cutting-edge technology will be brought together, used to create new ideas, and shared, all to help resolve global issues facing mankind. Purpose World Expo has both cohesive and communication capabilities. We will use these capabilities as a trigger to sustain growth and development of Osaka, Kansai as well as Japan following on from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. What is a World Expo? A World Expo is an event that brings together people and innovations from around the world in an effort to address issues facing humankind on a global scale. The Osaka Expo 1970, Japan’s, and Asia’s, first ever, became a symbol of Japan’s rapid economic growth and one of the country’s most lauded events. Twenty years after the Aichi Expo 2005, Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai will bring the international community back to Japan. A World Exposition is a place, where new technologies and products are born, triggering greater convenience in our daily lives. Elevator (New York Exhibition, 1853), telephone (Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, 1876) Family restaurants, wireless telephones, electric cars, moving sidewalks (Expo 1970 Osaka) Entry tickets embedded with IC chips, AED, dry mist (Aichi Exposition, 2005) Goals of Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai To contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)Achievement of Japan’s national strategy Society 5.0EXPO for SDGs In 2025, the world will be a mere five years away from 2030, the year the United Nations has set as the target for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), making it a crucial one for ramping up efforts to achieve these goals. Therefore, Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai will become a key platform for reaching the SDGs by 2030. The key is “Society 5.0” “Society 5.0” is Japan’s national strategy to develop a human-centered society that progresses economically and resolves social issues through a system that combines both cyber and physical spaces in a sophisticated manner. It refers to a new form of society chronologically following hunting, farming, industry, and information societies. A society that is able to resolve a variety of issues on a global scale with technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, big data, and biotechnology is a society that will have achieved the SDGs. What we will realise at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai Bringing together the wisdom of the world, including breakthrough technologies, to create and communicate new ideasExpansion of domestic and overseas investmentCreation of innovation through activation of human interactionActivation of regional economies and small and medium enterprisesA chance to communicate the wealth of Japan’s cultureThe multiple merits of a world expo held in Osaka, Kansai, Japan Activation of Japan’s economy and the Osaka, Kansai regional economy, and strengthened management of small and medium enterprises resulting from expanded business opportunities are expected to have an economic ripple effect of about JPY 2 trillion.Further development of Osaka, Kansai’s world-class life sciences and biomedical achievements through new innovation in line with Expo’s theme.Further enrichment of Osaka, Kansai’s proud, long history and culture through interaction with foreign cultures, and elevation of its global recognition.Enabling Japan’s young, next-generation creators in a variety of fields to communicate their talents to the world.Japan possesses one of the safest environments and most advanced transport infrastructure in the world, and Osaka, Kansai can be easily accessed from major cities in the world.

AnyPASS TicketExchangeNote G-DRAGON, a megastar with world-class iconic influence, has officially announced the detailed information of the highly anticipated "G-DRAGON 2025 WORLD TOUR [Übermensch]". This world tour, jointly presented by Galaxy Corporation and AEG presents, will bring a thrilling experience to fans around the globe. The tour kicks off with two shows at the Goyang Stadium in South Korea, and tickets for both of these performances have already been sold out. Through this tour, G-DRAGON will showcase his unparalleled artistry and groundbreaking performances to audiences worldwide. After a seven-year hiatus from his solo activities, he made a memorable comeback in 2024 with the release of the single "POWER". The song quickly climbed to the top of the charts and received widespread acclaim. Riding on this momentum, G-DRAGON released his much-anticipated third studio album, "Übermensch", on February 25th. This album, which features tracks like "TOO BAD" and "DRAMA", has received overwhelming praise from both fans and critics. "Übermensch" ushers in a bold new chapter in G-DRAGON's career, solidifying his reputation as an artist who is constantly evolving and pioneering new artistic frontiers.

J-Hope is a member of BTS, a seven-member male group that debuted in 2013. Known as the "Dance Leader" of BTS, the 21st-century pop icons, he possesses overwhelming performance skills. In 2022, he headlined the main stage of Lollapalooza USA as the closing act, elevating the festival’s finale. In March 2024, J-Hope introduced a unique promotional strategy through his special albumHOPE ON THE STREET VOL.1, combining an album, documentary, and pop-up events to explore new creative possibilities. Notably, he fully engaged in the album’s production, showcasing his prowess as a creator. Expect J-Hope to deliver electrifying performances and music that will ignite the atmosphere at Kyocera Dome Osaka. Anticipate a breathtaking stage experience!

Nearly half a century has passed since the appearance of home game consoles - "video games," which began with pixel art, have now created many new worlds with beautiful images that rival those of movies. Games have become widespread in our lives and a part of popular culture, and it can be said that they have evolved into a comprehensive art that crosses the fields of technology and expression and demonstrates the creativity and individuality of creators. Capcom, headquartered in Osaka, has developed many titles and fascinated people around the world since its founding in 1983 and has grown into a global game software manufacturer. This exhibition will generously introduce the grand process of game creation, including proposals and original drawings made by the developers' hands, graphic work such as posters and packages, experiential content, and the latest technology, as well as the imagination and realization skills of the creators involved, creating an opportunity to reexamine Japan's proud game culture.

Born in Osaka and self-taught in architecture, Tadao Ando began his architectural design career in 1969. Since then, he has produced a succession of innovative architectural works that break through preconceived notions. Since the 1990s, he has expanded his scope of activity to the world, while also working hard on social contribution projects such as environmental restoration and earthquake recovery. His vigorous work across many fields, going beyond the framework of an architect, has earned him high praise both at home and abroad. This exhibition, which will be held in Osaka, where Ando remains based, will bring together the history of his grand challenges as well as his vision for the present and future, providing a comprehensive view of the work of Tadao Ando. Please come and experience that energy for yourself. The venue is "VS." at Gran Green Osaka, the forefront of the Osaka urban renewal project, where Ando has also worked hard for many years.

Attention Spells Return fans! The first large-scale manuscript exhibition is here! Since its serialization in "Weekly Shonen Jump", this dark fantasy work liberated in the modern era has been attracting attention and has caused great repercussions in TV anime series and theatrical animated movies. This time, we welcome a grand exhibition of original paintings, and let’s experience the world of martial arts described by the author Akumi Shigeta. Through the ingenious story structure, it swings back and forth between despair and hope, firmly grasping the hearts of readers.

In 2025, Osaka will be transformed into a giant art museum! "Learning: Osaka Kansai International Art Festival 2025" will be held from April to October. The exhibition will cover various areas of Osaka and take the World Expo as an opportunity to bring an unprecedented art feast. Among the first wave of 28 international artists announced, heavyweight creators such as surreal sculpture master Ron Mueck and conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan will surely present a visual feast that subverts imagination!

This exhibition will feature 54 works by 18 ukiyo-e artists carefully selected from the museum's collection of masterpieces, including Kitagawa Utamaro, a leading figure in painting beautiful women who established the style of "large neck painting" that focuses on the face rather than the whole body, and Katsushika Hokusai, a genius artist who influenced not only Japan but the world. Please also take a look at 12 works being shown at the museum for the first time, including Kitagawa Utamaro's "Blue Chamber of Victory - Tamayauchi Komurasaki and Hanamurasaki" and Tsukioka Yoshitoshi's "One Hundred Views of the Moon - Nankaitsuki," known as the last ukiyo-e artist and active from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji era.

This exhibition commemorates the 50th anniversary of the founding of the All Japan Swordsmiths Association, the largest organization of contemporary swordsmiths in the country, and introduces the world of Japanese swords, a tradition that has been passed down for 1,000 years to the present day.

There are many "borders" in our daily lives. These boundaries range from physical to psychological, social and cultural, and shape our actions, thoughts and values. However, artists attempt to dismantle these existing frameworks and present new perspectives on identity, culture, physical space, time and genre. This exhibition introduces works that question the very nature of what we call "borders." Artists scheduled to be exhibited: Ming Wong, Alin Runjiang, Evelyn Tao-Chen Wang, Mika Tajima, Chikako Yamashiro, Christian Boltanski, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Danh Vo, Wolfgang Tillmans, and more.

Collection 2 in 2024 will focus on the work of three artists, Louise Bourgeois and Leonor Antunes, who were acquired by the museum in 2023, and Ruth Asawa, who was acquired in 2024 and will be exhibited in Japan for the first time, and will focus on the artist's technique and the way in which the work unravels and reconstructs existing materials, structures, and history. In addition, many works acquired in recent years will be introduced. The title of this exhibition is inspired by the title of a work by Bourgeois that she exhibited in the Turbine Hall of Tate Modern in 2000, "I Do, I Undo, I Redo," and the creative process of artists such as Aiko Tezuka, two of whose works were acquired in 2023.

Nihon Hidankyo, the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, has been awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize. It can be said that this is the fruit of the activities carried out by the only country in the world that has suffered from atomic bombings, which has continued to call for the abolition of nuclear weapons and has poured its heart and soul into such efforts. The recognition that peace is the common prayer of all human kind is universal, regardless of whether we live in the East or the West. In light of the recent international situation, the Koji Kinutani Tenku Art Museum will hold a Special Exhibition, “Koji Kinutani Peace,” a proposal for peace through the power of art and the arts. At the root of Kinutani's world, which uses rich images and colors to explore all things in nature as a motif, is the strong belief that “Art is mightier than nuclear weapons.” His ideals and strong passion are to show the power of art as “wisdom” to help people all over the world who are suffering from the ravages of war, and to celebrate the revival of dreams and hopes in the hearts of people. Please fully experience the true essence of Kinutani’s art.

At the beginning of the 20th century, many artists from all over the world gathered in Paris, the city of art. Young artists lived in studio complexes such as the Bateau Lavoir (laundry boat) in Montmartre and La Ruche (the beehive) in Montparnasse, where they deepened their connections and worked hard on their creations. This group of artists was later called the Ecole de Paris. Many of them were painters and sculptors who came to Paris from outside France and gathered mainly around Montparnasse. Representative painters include Chagall and Soutine from Russia, Modigliani from Italy, Pascin from Bulgaria, Kisling from Poland, Tsuguharu Foujita from Japan, and French painters Utrillo and Laurencin. They did not create their works based on a clear artistic theory or doctrine, like a specific school or art movement. However, inspired by new artistic styles and theories such as Fauvism and Cubism, and sometimes drawing inspiration from primitive art in Africa and elsewhere, each artist sought his own unique expression rooted in the traditions and ethnicity of his home country. Although it reached its peak in the 1920s and came to an effective end with the Second World War, the painters of the École de Paris allowed diverse and rich art to flourish in Paris. This exhibition will feature works by Laurencin, Utrillo, Modigliani, Pascin, Foujita Tsuguharu, Kisling, and others from the Sanno Museum of Art's collection.

This retrospective exhibition is held to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Uemura Shoen's birth, and will introduce her achievements in painting through many works. Shoen's art pursues unique ideals, which is different from those of Kabuki Kiyokata and Kitano Tsunetomi who depicted female images in the same era. At the same time, as a pioneer of outstanding female painters, she also served as a guiding light for later generations, giving birth to many female Japanese painters, including Ikeda Kyoen and Shima Narien. In the Kyoto painting world with a strong Shijo school tradition, Shoen Uemura, who created her own lineage of beautiful paintings, was destined to be a pioneer in many senses, and she eventually succeeded in fulfilling the mission given by fate. This exhibition will display more than 100 outstanding works from Shoen's early to late years, including masterpieces such as "Mother and Child" (Important Cultural Property, Collection of the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo) and "Jō no Mai" (Important Cultural Property, Collection of Tokyo University of the Arts), showing visitors their charm. In addition, this will be a valuable opportunity to review the true value of Shoen's art. She was the first woman to be awarded the Order of Culture and left an indelible mark on the history of modern art.

Jean-Michel Folon (1934-2005) is a unique artist born in Belgium. Poetic and humorous, his works are expressed with soft colors and a light touch, and they take the viewer on a journey of the imagination while also containing rich messages that bring awareness to the various things happening in the world. This exhibition commemorates the 20th anniversary of Folon's death and the 25th anniversary of the Folon Foundation, which he founded during his lifetime, and introduces the warm and profound appeal of his work through approximately 230 diverse works, including paintings, sculptures, and posters.

This exhibition will be held to coincide with the Osaka-Kansai Expo, as the first of the Expo commemorative exhibitions, with the theme of "Getting to Know Osaka." The aim is to widely disseminate Osaka's urban residential culture, and it will be held to coincide with the Osaka-Kansai Expo, as the first of the Expo commemorative exhibitions, with the theme of "Getting to Know Osaka." Osaka has a long history as a major city, spanning approximately 400 years from the Edo period to the present. During the Edo period, Osaka flourished as a commercial city of water transport and the "Kitchen of the Nation." During the Meiji period, the city was modernized and industrialized as it entered the modern era, earning it the nickname "Manchester of the East." During the "Great Osaka" period, Osaka became the largest city in Japan in terms of both population and area, and during the prewar Showa period, suburban residential areas and villa areas were developed, establishing a new form of urban residence. Over its long history, Osaka has developed its own unique urban residential culture, which is the foundation of Osaka today. The theme of the Osaka-Kansai Expo is "Bringing together efforts for a future society where life shines and showing hope for the future to the world," and the city's gaze is directed toward the future. This exhibition looks back on the 400-year evolution of the urban residential culture that is the foundation of Osaka's current prosperity. We hope that this will provide an opportunity for you to experience the charms of urban living and lifestyle culture in Osaka, while also thinking about urban living from the present to the future.

Kawanabe Kyosai (1831-1889) was an artist active from the Edo period to the first half of the Meiji period. With solid painting skills and classical studies, he painted a variety of subjects such as gods, Buddhas, beautiful women, customs, birds and animals in a style that was humorous, satirical and seductive, regardless of the format, such as hand-painted paintings, woodblock prints and printed books, and his versatility earned him praise for being able to "paint anything." In recent years, it has been reaffirmed that at the root of such artistic achievement lies the training and pride of the Kano school. Kyosai learned painting from ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861) at the age of seven, entered the Kano school at the age of ten, and completed his training at the early age of 19. His involvement in both ukiyo-e and the Kano school makes his artistic career even more colorful. This exhibition, the first Kawanabe Kyosai exhibition in Osaka, will focus on works from the collection of the Kawanabe Kyosai Memorial Museum of Art, a public interest incorporated foundation founded and directed by Kyosai's great-grandson Kawanabe Kusumi, and will also touch upon the "Caricature Scroll" formerly owned by Kyosai, as well as Kano school and Chinese paintings from the Kosetsu Museum of Art's collection, creating an opportunity to celebrate him as a traditional painter. The more thoroughly one attempts to view his artistic career in a mainstream manner, the more things will slip through the cracks. It may be that this is where the essence of Kyosai's paintings can be found.

Yumeshima, the site of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, is a place that gives a sense of Osaka's unique character, which developed towards the sea. The numerous documents stored in the Osaka Castle Tower retain the image of the "water city" of the past, which can no longer be seen today. Please take the time to reflect on the history of Osaka, which was nurtured by its abundant waters.

The year 2025 (Reiwa 7) will be a memorable year, marking the 425th anniversary of Japan-Netherlands exchanges as well as the Osaka-Kansai Expo. An exhibition will be held to convey how Japan and the Netherlands met on "common ground" (foundation for co-creation) called Osaka Castle (the theme of the Dutch pavilion at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo) and how the relationship between the two countries has developed since then.

Laugh with Europe's comedy nomad Victor Patrascan, as he tells hilarious jokes while asking thought-provoking questions on today’s most controversial topics. You'll hear jokes on subjects like race and religion all the way to gender and politics. This show is not for the easily offended! Don’t miss out on Victor’s newest jokes! Victor’s set includes entirely new jokes not heard during his previous appearance in town. Perfect for locals, expats, and immigrants, this show invites everyone to laugh at modern life’s absurdities. Join us for a show where comedy is at its best - insightful, honest, and uproariously funny. 🎭 STAND-UP COMEDY in ENGLISH 🎭 🔞Age Restriction: 16+ 🎟️ online tickets from ¥2250 / tickets on the door ¥4000 The show will be held entirely in English Victor Patrascan 🇷🇴 • victorpatrascan.com • @VictorPatrascan Victor Pãtrãşcan is an eccentric stand up comedian and outrageous social commentator from Romania who for the last 4 years has been constantly touring the world and telling jokes in (broken) English. Victor honed his joke writing skills on the comedy circuit in London where he lived until 2020. Since moving out of London Victor has been traveling and showcasing his comedic talent on the international stage. In several countries he has had the distinction of being the first comedian to perform in English. In 2023 alone Victor performed and produced over 300 of his own shows across 70 cities 32 countries and 2 continents. Consequently, he has a legitimate claim for having the longest and most extensive self-produced comedy tour in the world. Victor has told his jokes in Germany Japan Italy the Netherlands Greece Austria Singapore Turkey Sweden France Serbia Switzerland Georgia Finland Belgium Iceland Ukraine Spain Estonia Italy Cyprus Ireland South Korea Portugal Kazakhstan the Czech Republic Iceland Norway Slovakia very close to the Vatican Thailand Georgia UK Slovenia Armenia Croatia Poland Latvia Armenia Lithuania Luxembourg UAE Denmark Moldova Vietnam Hungary and even Bulgaria. Victor weaves these unique experiences into his stand up as he has become somewhat of a sponge absorbing the intricacies of the world's cultures and s politics. While he jokes about the stereotypes and misconceptions of every country he also highlights how silly and artifical our differences are in an effort to bring everyone together. Victor's live shows are a delightful blend of sharp wit and hilarious anecdotes. Book your tickets now and witness live one of Europe's brightest comedians! For more information visit his website VictorPatrascan.com Information Source: the Comedy Nomad | eventbrite

Natural history specimens stored in museum storage are fundamental materials for understanding nature. Osaka Museum of Natural History holds approximately 2 million items, of which approximately 400,000 are plant specimens. These specimens are used by various researchers every day, and after extensive examination, the results are published as papers. For many people, the use of these specimens in research is probably something far removed from their imagination. This time, we will be exhibiting plant specimens held by Osaka Museum of Natural History that have actually been used in research, along with the results of that research, in the hope that many people will become aware of the excitement of research using specimens.

A breathtakingly beautiful landscape A place that has been sung in waka and poetry It eventually became a famous place and a utamakura. It has become a mirror that reflects the heart. The various thoughts that were put into Let's go on a trip around the area. Beautiful scenery that will move your heart. A place that has been sung in waka and poetry It eventually became a famous place and a utamakura. It has become a mirror that reflects the heart. The various thoughts that were put into Let's go on a trip around.

The word 'niru' (similar) can be read as either 'niru' or 'katadoru' (shape). In other words, creating a shape is synonymous with making something look like something else. Creating something by resemblance represents the essence of art. People recognize things and interpret their shapes based on their resemblance to something else. And the fewer there are, the more rare they become and the more valuable and precious they become. We would like you to listen to the secret conversations between similar things that have come together here by chance, things that are usually kept secret and never meet.

Celadon is a kind of ceramic that has a trace amount of iron in its glaze and turns green after high-temperature firing. Celadon has a long history. It was born in China in the 2nd century AD, and then continued to develop and spread to the Korean Peninsula, Japan, and even all over the world. Celadon occupies an important position in the history of East Asian ceramics. Its unique beauty is not only fascinating, but also a symbol of authority and wealth. The most fascinating thing about celadon is its beautiful glaze color, and its color will change subtly due to the different firing environment and the color of the body, making celadon present a rich and diverse appearance. This exhibition selects the treasures of Chinese and Korean celadon in the museum's collection, and also introduces Japanese and modern celadon works, allowing the audience to appreciate the dazzling charm of celadon in the history of East Asian ceramics. In addition to this exhibition, special exhibitions and collection exhibitions will be held to display representative works in the museum's collection. In each exhibition, works from the special project "Treasures of Osaka - Twenty Selections of MOCO" held in commemoration of the Osaka Kansai Expo will also be displayed.

During the Sengoku period, various cultural artifacts from Europe and Asia were brought to Japan through trade with the Western countries. This exhibition will focus on the various aspects of exchange with the world that had a major impact on Japanese society, such as the introduction of Christianity and firearms.

Following on from the popularity of the annual Tokyo Comic Con event, there's now an Osaka-based iteration taking place in May. The event celebrates pop culture, comics, movies, TV shows, video games, and more, and even includes appearances from big names in the entertainment industry.

Please show your "Reserved Name+Reserved Phone Number+Trip Order Page(not a screenshot)" to pick up your ticket(s). Ticket pick-up address: Osaka-Jo Hall 2F Stand Floor South Lobby. Ticket pick-up time: on the day of the show 16:30-19:30 on 13 May；16:30-19:30 on 14 May. Latecomers will not be able to pick up ticket(s) and enter the show. The Korean pop girl group LE SSERAFIM has announced their new world tour 2025 LE SSERAFIM TOUR 'EASY CRAZY HOT'! This tour serves as the grand finale of their mini-album trilogy, which includes EASY (released in February 2024), CRAZY (August 2024), and the upcoming HOT (March 14, 2025). The trilogy highlights the group’s evolution and musical diversity, making the tour exceptionally special. LE SSERAFIM aims to spread joy and encourage fans to live in the moment through this tour, promising an unforgettable and thrilling experience. The highly anticipated "EASY CRAZY HOT" Osaka concert will take place at Osaka-Jo Hall from May 13 to 14, 2025.

Official Hige DandiSM's first stadium live recording "OFFICIAL HIGE DANDISM LIVE at STADIUM 2025" has been decided. It will be held at Osaka Yanmar Stadium on May 17 (Saturday) and 18 (Sunday), 2025, and at Kanagawa Nissan Stadium on May 31 (Saturday) and June 1 (Sunday).