The Portugal Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka began with great momentum: in its first week, over 60,000 people visited the national space, drawn by a rich and varied programme, the flavours of Portuguese cuisine, and immersive cultural experiences. UMI, the Portuguese mascot, alongside the restaurant and gift shop, has become a must-see highlights for those looking to take home a little piece of Portugal. Visitor no. 200,000 came on May 3rd.
April has been filled with music and art, as Portuguese culture took centre stage. From the heartfelt performance by students of Tumi to the rare sounds of nanban music — born from the historic encounter between Portugal and Japan — and intimate concerts by renowned artists such as António Pinho Vargas and Alexandre Soares, Portugal has made itself heard with identity, creativity and soul.
In the visual arts, the Pavilion hosted exhibitions that bridge heritage and innovation. Fernanda Fragateiro presented a delicate silk installation inspired by the ancestral crafts of Freixo de Espada à Cinta, while Ana Aragão invited visitors on an imaginative journey through Japan with her visionary drawings and Namban-inspired screen. The graphic design exhibition, curated by bárbara say’s, showcases five decades of visual creativity and political expression in Portugal.
Portugal’s presence at Expo 2025 Osaka began with energy and emotion — these first few weeks have shown the power of culture as a meeting point and space for dialogue between nations.
