THE Philippine Expo 2025 kicked off at the Ueno Park in Tokyo, as it celebrates culture, food and friendship between two nations.
In the eighth reiteration of the annual event, it highlighted the Filipino cultural festival in Japan as it drew thousands upon thousands of guests who wanted to experience the country’s vibrant traditions, cuisine, and music.
With the free admission, it is expected to draw between 80,000 and 100,000 visitors.
Courtesy: Department of Tourism
The event, organized by the Philippine Expo – which is an incorporated association with support from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ASEAN-Japan Centre, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and other partners – features the close cultural ties between the two nations.
Tasty experience
Among the highlights of the event were the Filipino dishes where visitors explored the array of stalls along with the popular “adobo” and “taho.”
The visitors were also amazed by the various Philippine products, which include handmade accessories crafted from hemp and seashells.
Courtesy: Department of Tourism
The Ray Garden at Expo 2025 Osaka came alive with Hinabing Hiraya—a three-part cultural showcase curated and presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), in collaboration with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), to mark the Philippines’ National Day celebration.
Hinabing Hiraya (Woven Imagination) is a vibrant celebration of the Filipino spirit—resilient, creative, and deeply rooted in heritage.
“For centuries, paghahabi or weaving has been at the heart of the Filipino story–from birth to death, from peace and conflict. This art form is not only intricate in design but also very rich in meaning. Each thread tells a story of ancestry, identity, and our shared hopes. Our Philippine National Day performance celebrates the Filipino dream, made visible. By remembering the past and embracing the present, we imagine a future shaped by Filipino artistry–a future where every thread strengthens the collective fabric of the nation on the world stage,” TPB Philippines COO Marga Norgrales said as she proudly presented the performance.
The showcase unfolded in three dynamic suites, captivating the international audience gathered in the Ray Garden, which serves as the Expo National Day Hall for participating countries and regions.
Hinabing Gunita (Remembrances) opened the program with a stirring evocation of ancestral memory. National Living Treasure Rosie Godwino Sula, a revered Tboli epic chanter, brought to life the sacred echoes of indigenous storytelling, accompanied by the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group, whose dances, music, and rituals honored the weaving traditions and vibrant cultural identities of the Philippines’ diverse ethnolinguistic communities.
It reflected the Southeast Asian country’s artisanal heritage.
Courtesy: Department of Tourism
Entertainment were also provided as Japanese pop idol groups, Philippine artists and other performers put on show fit for the occasion.
There are some 340,000 Filipinos were residing in Japan as of the end of 2024, which made them the fourth-largest foreign community after Chinese, Vietnamese, and South Koreans.
Thankful Japan
Koji Haneda, Commissioner-General of the 2025 World Exposition, thanked the Philippine government, through the Philippines Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board-Philippines, for its participation in the highly anticipated global event.
The Japanese official also conveyed his hopes that through the crowd-attracting exposition, “the charm of the Philippines will be communicated more widely to Japan and the world.”
Courtesy: Department of Tourism
“On behalf of the government of Japan, I’d like to extend my warmest congratulations on the National Day Ceremony of the Republic of the Philippines being held here today in the presence of Honorable Secretary Frasco,” Commissioner Haneda said in his remarks.
“We understand that at this year’s expo under the theme of “Nature, Culture, and Community: Woven Together for a Better Future,” (the) Philippines’ exhibition showcases its rich nature and cultural heritage alongside attractions that utilize digital technology. Through these diverse displays, I hope that the charm of the Philippines will be communicated more widely to Japan and the world,” he noted.
Come next year, the Philippines and Japan are set to mark a milestone as they are set to celebrate their 70th bilateral relations.
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