TOHOKU TO SHOWCASE CULTURE, RECOVERY AT EXPO 2025 OSAKA

KUALA LUMPUR, June 6 (Bernama) -- In a heartfelt tribute to global support following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, the six prefectures of Japan’s Tohoku region, in collaboration with the Tohoku Tourism Promotion Organization and the Tohoku Kizuna Festival Executive Committee, will host the "Tohoku Four Seasons & Tohoku Kizuna Festival" at the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai.

This promotional event will take place from June 13 to 15 at the EXPO Arena "Matsuri" and aims to highlight Tohoku’s natural beauty, cultural depth, culinary richness, innovative spirit, and resilient communities.

According to a statement, the Tohoku Kizuna Festival will deliver the various charms of Tohoku to the world through parades, traditional performing arts, tourism virtual reality experiences, and traditional craft workshops, among others.

For the Tohoku Four Seasons Event, Tohoku Wonder Trip Zone will feature a special theatre that presents colourful images showing the unique charm of Tohoku via the four seasons. Panels will provide tourist information, including Tohoku's scenic spots, cuisine, and hot springs.

Visitors are also able to experience demonstrations by artisans of traditional crafts such as "Tsugaru lacquer" and "Odate magewappa" (steam-bent woodcraft).

Alongside Tohoku's traditional crafts, cutting-edge technologies and research projects from the region that are gaining global attention will be showcased, highlighting techniques that bridge tradition and innovation for the future.

To promote the six Tohoku prefectures, traditional performing arts like "Sansa Dance" and "Hanagasa Dance" will be showcased live, highlighting Tohoku's spirit and cultural charm, in addition to tourism and food exhibition booths being set up offering local specialities and regional cuisines.

The Tohoku Kizuna Festival is a collaborative event of the Tohoku region’s six major festivals, initiated as part of the recovery efforts from the Great East Japan Earthquake. It will be held in six Tohoku cities each year, namely Aomori, Akita, Morioka, Yamagata, Sendai, and Fukushima.

This year, it will be featured at the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, where approximately 550 individuals will perform for visitors. A departure ceremony led by the mayor and executive committee chairperson will precede each parade.

-- BERNAMA