"Presence of the Azores in Expo 2025 Osaka is where we want to be and where we should always be," highlights Artur Lima - Communication

Vice-Presidência do Governo Regional

The Vice-President of the Regional Government presided over the opening ceremony of the exhibition "From Namban to Japonisme: the Arts of Japan in Azorean Collections" in Angra do Heroísmo on June 13, as part of the Azores' participation in the Expo 2025 Osaka.

The exhibition presents a historical overview from the first Portuguese-Japanese exchanges in the 16th century to the influence of Japonisme in the 19th century, through a collection of pieces from public and private collections in the Region.

"The Azores and Japan meet here today, just as they have met over the last few centuries," stated the Vice-President of the Government.

"Based on the pieces on display here, it is possible to tell this story," he said.

For the Vice-President of the Government, the Azores' participation in the Expo 2025 Osaka "highlights the path of development" that the Region is following.

This presence is part of the ongoing strategy to "attract foreign investment, promote the Azores internationally, and everything that truly distinguishes" the Azores, he stressed.

“The Region will share unique regional products, our priceless natural heritage, the science of the future and projection of our endogenous potential, and the unique culture of the Azores,” emphasised Artur Lima.

"We will thus bring the Azorean identity to Osaka," he continued.

Participation in the Universal Exhibition "is part of a new chapter in the international positioning of the Azores, precisely at the centre of the debate and development of solutions to the main contemporary challenges," stressed the Vice-President.

The Azores will be on the "world's largest stage, where more than 150 countries showcase their cultures, and which has already been visited by more than five million people." This is "the first time that the Autonomous Region of the Azores has its own space, for four days, at a world exhibition, located within the Portuguese pavilion," recalled Artur Lima.

"This is where we want to be and should always be," he concluded.

The Autonomous Region of the Azores will participate in the Expo 2025 Osaka, between August 14 and 17, under the theme "Between Hearts."

The exhibition "From Namban to Japonisme: the Arts of Japan in Azorean Collections" is promoted by the Vice-Presidency of the Regional Government in partnership with the Regional Directorate for Culture. It will be open to the public at the Capitães-Generais Palace until August 15.