Kochi Prefecture, Japan Invites The World To Dance And Experience Yosakoi At Expo 2025

Published on August 18, 2025

Kochi Prefecture is gearing up to stock its lively taste bequest pinch nan world by hosting nan inaugural World Yosakoi Day connected August 22 and 23, 2025. The festive gathering will unfold astatine nan EXPO Arena “Matsuri” during Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai, spotlighting Yosakoi, nan colorful creation calved connected Kochi soil. Designed to elevate nan creation to world stature, nan programme invites spectators to acquisition not only these captivating rhythms, but besides to savour Kochi’s storied past, its renowned cuisine, and nan divers crafts that specify nan region.

The two-day ceremony is designed arsenic a afloat participatory festival, inviting attendees from crossed nan globe to acquisition Yosakoi successful its astir authentic form. Beyond dance, nan arena will recreate nan sights, sounds, and flavors of Kochi Prefecture done a sprawling thoroughfare market, showcasing products from each city, town, and village, immoderate rooted successful traditions making love backmost much than 300 years.

The arena kicks disconnected connected Friday, August 22, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM, pinch nan venue opening astatine 11:30 AM. Saturday, August 23, will characteristic an extended programme from 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM. The EXPO Arena “Matsuri,” located instantly aft nan West Gate of Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai, will service arsenic nan main hub, complemented by different spaces passim nan venue for parades and interactive activities.

Performances will see nan “Original Yosakoi” from nan very first Yosakoi Festival, location teams from Kochi and nan Kansai area known for their unsocial styles, student teams representing nan adjacent procreation of performers, and world participants from North America and Vietnam, including nan Kizuna International Team, Núi Trúc Sakura Yosakoi, and Hanoi Sennen Yosakoi Team. These performances committedness to dazzle audiences pinch their vibrant costumes, rhythmic energy, and synchronized choreography.

One of nan highlights of nan show is nan Super Local “Yosakoi Festival successful EXPO,” featuring a typical shape that allows visitors to witnesser nan principle of Kochi Yosakoi. Dancers, accompanied by “jikata” musicians, will parade done nan venue, inviting spectators to cheer, subordinate in, and acquisition nan infectious power and consciousness of unity that specify Yosakoi.

Yosakoi itself is simply a move and uplifting show contented that began successful 1954 to invigorate nan section organization during nan postwar economical slump. Today, nan yearly Yosakoi Festival successful Kochi City attracts astir 200 teams and 18,000 dancers, transforming nan metropolis streets into a vibrant ceremony of rhythm, movement, and organization spirit. This power will now beryllium transported to nan Expo 2025 stage, offering some locals and world visitors a chance to link done dance.

The arena besides features a “Sō Odori,” aliases wide creation session, wherever everyone tin participate. Scheduled 4 times complete nan 2 days—Friday astatine 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM, and Saturday astatine 1:30 PM and 6:00 PM—this activity encourages attendees to acquisition Yosakoi first-hand, blurring nan statement betwixt performer and assemblage and creating a collective, immersive moment.

Complementing nan creation performances is nan Super Local “300 Years of Tradition: The Street Market,” a vibrant marketplace replicating Kochi’s renowned Sunday Market. Spanning astir 1 kilometer and featuring astir 300 stalls, this marketplace is Japan’s largest successful some standard and history. Visitors will brushwood location specialties, handmade crafts, caller produce, and regular necessities, each presented by enthusiastic vendors eager to stock nan stories down their products. This interactive marketplace offers a unsocial model into nan heritage, craftsmanship, and organization tone of Kochi.

For those looking to prosecute much profoundly pinch section culture, nan Kochi Food and Culture Experience Zone offers hands-on activities for each ages. Guests tin trade their ain Yosakoi naruko clappers, return photos successful show costumes, participate successful workshops utilizing accepted Tosa washi paper, and bask tastings of Tosa sake, a merchandise quickly gaining world recognition. These activities make nan show accessible and enjoyable for families, tourists, and civilization enthusiasts alike.

World Yosakoi Day astatine Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai invites visitors to measurement into an engaging timeline of Kochi culture, wherever nan accepted and nan visionary clasp hands. Spectacular creation troupes still roar Yosakoi chants arsenic families browse lantern-lit reconstructions of Meiji-era thoroughfare markets, swapping stories complete bowls of katsuobushi-dusted thoroughfare food.Some booths committedness brush-in-hand guess-who calligraphy of nan future, signed souvenirs of coastal manga artists whose dreams hearken backmost to nan Fishermen Festivals.