20.06.2025 German Federal President Steinmeier opens German National Day at Expo 2025 Osaka
German Federal President Steinmeier opens German National Day at Expo 2025 Osaka
On 20 June 2025, German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier opened German National Day at Expo 2025 Osaka with a festive ceremony. Germany’s head of state also visited the German and Japanese pavilions, whose immersive exhibitions are both dedicated to sustainability and the circular economy. National Day is an official day of honour for each participating country. It offers a special opportunity for the country to celebrate itself at the Expo with a unique cultural gala, showcasing its diversity, identity and innovative power. After the opening ceremony, an event was held on the topic “Beyond Planet Earth – German-Japanese Cooperation in Space”.
“Germany is contributing to this global workshop of ideas by considering the circular economy […]. For we firmly believe that the more wisely we use resources, the better it is for our planet […]. Fittingly, the German Pavilion bears the title ‘Wa! Germany.’ In Japanese, ‘Wa’ stands for ‘harmony’ and ‘circle’. But it also stands for a ‘Wow!’ of astonishment. This is, to my mind, an appropriate expression of what we are experiencing here on this Expo together. At this world exposition, the future is being made tangible, […] “ German Federal President said in his opening address on German National Day. Dorothee Bär, German Minister of Research, Technology and Space, accompanied the German Federal President during his visit to Expo 2025 Osaka.
Not only was the German Pavilion visited by high-ranking guests as part of German National Day, but a comprehensive cultural programme was offered in the National Day Hall as part of the celebrations. The National Day cultural presentations that followed the address by the German Federal President elicited similarly positive responses: The renowned German-Japanese pianist Alice Sara Ott performed works by Ludwig van Beethoven with virtuosity in her distinctly modern style. The hip-hop group Beathoven gave an urban edge to Beethoven’s classical musical legacy, whilst striking a particular chord with the younger members of the audience.
Another high point of National Day was the specialist event “Beyond Planet Earth – German-Japanese Cooperation in Space,” which brought together leading representatives from politics and aerospace. On site, the German Federal President Steinmeier was joined by Federal Minister Dorothee Bär, Chair of the Executive Board of the German Aerospace Center Dr Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla, President of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Dr Hiroshi Yamakawa and ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer. Astronaut Onishi Takuya, Japanese commander of the International Space Station (ISS) appeared via video link. Discussions about common perspectives for sustainable innovations in space and on earth were organised in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), supported by the Japanese-German Centre Berlin (JDZB).
Background: The Expo 2025 in Osaka
Expo 2025 Osaka takes place from 13 April to 13 October 2025. With the overarching theme of “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”, 150 countries present their visions for the future. Japan is hosting the World Expo for the third time, following Osaka (1970) and Aichi (2005). The organiser expects around 28 million visitors.
Project responsibility overview
Koelnmesse GmbH is responsible for organising and running the German Pavilion on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. The concept, planning and implementation of the German Pavilion are the responsibility of the “German Pavilion Expo 2025 Osaka Consortium”, consisting of the companies facts and fiction (content, exhibition and media design) and GL events Live (building and construction) with the support of the Japanese branch. The architectural concept was designed by LAVA Architects (Berlin). The advertising agency VOSS+FISCHER together with Mike P. Heisel are responsible for the cultural programme. The pavilion’s restaurant and shop are run by the catering expert 78degrees.
For enquiries, please contact
Jana Soll
Deputy Head of Communications
German Pavilion Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan
Koelnmesse GmbH
Messeplatz 1, 50679 Cologne
Germany
+49 221 821 2251
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