Belgian National Day at Expo 2025 Osaka: A Celebration of Unity, Culture and Life

On 14 September 2025, the Belgian Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka came alive with colour, music, and emotion to mark Belgian National Day: a day celebrating Belgium’s unity and spirit at the heart of the World Expo.

The festivities began in the morning with warm welcomes, lively beats by DJ Zyko, and the vibrant Ommegang Parade from Brussels, which brought centuries of Brussels heritage to Osaka’s Yumeshima. As costumed characters, flags, and musicians made their way from the Belgian Pavilion to the National Day Hall, visitors joined the procession in a joyful exchange of cultures. At the Pop-up Stage South, the graceful Kintsugi Dance Performance embodied the Belgian Pavilion’s theme of Human Regeneration, blending movement and symbolism in a poetic reflection on healing and connection.

The official ceremony at the National Day Hall was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labour and Economy David Clarinval, Minister of Public Modernisation, Civil Service, Public Enterprises, Digitisation and Buildings Administration Vanessa Matz, and Commissioner General Pieter De Crem, together with distinguished guests from Belgium and Japan.
Organised by BelExpo in collaboration with the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, the ceremony paid tribute to the deep and enduring friendship between Belgium and Japan. Minister Clarinval delivered the official address on behalf of Belgium, highlighting the shared values of innovation, collaboration, and humanity that unite both nations.

The ceremony opened with a moving rendition of the Belgian and Japanese national anthems, performed live by Tom Vanopphem, followed by a heartfelt mini-concert featuring Mentissa, Helena, and the Nishinomiya Boys and Girls Choir, a beautiful musical dialogue between Belgium and Japan.

Throughout the afternoon, the celebration continued with a second Kintsugi Dance Performance, symbolising resilience and renewal, and a reprise of Belgium in Concert, also organised by BelExpo in collaboration with the Chancellery of the Prime Minister. This showcase united Belgian artists with their Japanese counterparts in a touching celebration of cultural exchange through music.

In addition to attending the official programme, both ministers explored the Belgian Pavilion and the Japan Pavilion, experiencing its immersive exhibitions and interactive displays. Minister David Clarinval also visited the EU Pavilion, the South Korea Pavilion, and the Saudi Arabia Pavilion, while Minister Vanessa Matz explored the NTT Pavilion and Women’s Pavilion, reflecting Belgium’s commitment to engaging with the broader Expo community and learning from international innovations.

As the sun set over Yumeshima, the Belgian Pavilion transformed into a Belgian Music Festival, filling the Expo site with rhythm and energy. The stage came alive with Armand Magic, Mustii, Floris & The Flames, and DJ Daddy K, each artist bringing their unique sound to an audience that danced long into the evening. Between sets, Ommegang performers and magicians kept the festive spirit soaring, embodying Belgium’s joie de vivre in every beat and gesture.

The day concluded with DJ Zyko’s closing beats on the Pop-up Stage, wrapping up a day of unity, artistry, and shared emotion.

Belgian National Day at Expo 2025 Osaka was not only a celebration of Belgium’s national pride but also of the universal themes that define the Belgian Pavilion: saving lives, healing connections, and embracing the beauty of being human.