Kazakhstan Shines at World Expo 2025 Osaka: A National Day of Music, Innovation, and Pride
Kazakhstan Celebrates Its National Day at World Expo 2025 in Osaka
Vibrant Musical Showcase
Thousands of visitors were treated to a host of traditional and contemporary tunes that highlighted the country’s rich musical heritage.
Cultural Performances
From folk dances to modern theater, the pavilion offered a diverse array of cultural displays that captured the spirit of Kazakhstan.
Innovation Spotlight
Showcasing cutting‑edge technology—from sustainable energy solutions to digital art installations—Kazakhstan highlighted its forward‑thinking achievements.
Audience Engagement
Attendees were drawn in by interactive exhibits and live demonstrations, making the event a memorable experience for all visitors.
- Music: Traditional and contemporary melodies
- Performances: Folk dances, modern theater
- Innovation: Sustainable tech, digital art
- Visitor Count: Thousands of participants
Kazakhstan Celebrates National Day at World Expo 2025 in Osaka
Event Highlights
- Date of Celebration: 10 August 2025
- Location: Osaka, Kansai, Japan
- Context: One of 160 national pavilions at the six‑month Expo
Morning Parade
The day opened with vibrant Kazakh melodies echoing across the city. The procession featured strongman and record‑setter Sergey Tsyrulnikov, who carried the national flag. He led a group of batyrs—traditional warriors—accompanied by an orchestra. The route took the marching contingent along the Grand Ring, the Expo’s central wooden loop that surrounds the pavilions, underscoring international unity.
Yurt Experience
After the parade, delegates entered a meticulously crafted yurt, a symbol of nomadic life. Inside, visitors witnessed reenactments of battlefield scenes and live performances on indigenous folk instruments. This immersive session offered a vivid glimpse into Kazakhstan’s heritage and nomadic traditions.
Expo 2025 Welcomes a Taste of Kazakhstan’s Nomadic Past
At the upcoming Expo 2025, visitors will have the unique chance to enter a traditional Kazakh yurt and step back into the country’s deep nomadic roots. The immersive experience showcases how the Kazakh people once celebrated hospitality and community within these portable, canvas-covered homes.
Celebrating a Literary Legend on the 180th Birthday
In addition to the cultural showcase, the event marks the 180th anniversary of Abai Kunanbaiuly, a revered philosopher and thinker whose ideas resonate throughout Central Asia.
- Unity – Abai’s call for solidarity among peoples.
- Justice – Reflections on fairness and moral responsibility.
- The Pursuit of Knowledge – Encouragement toward lifelong learning.
Statement from the Kazakh Minister of Trade and Integration
Arman Shakkaliyev remarked, “Abai’s timeless principles still guide us today. Celebrating his 180th anniversary here reinforces the deep alignment of our values with those of Japan.”
When cultures sing together
From Sakura to Shanyrak: A Night of Cultural Exchange at the Opening Ceremony
Celestial Threads of Sound
The evening opened with a stunning repertoire that crossed borders. Ensemble Sarmad, renowned in Kazakh concert circles, transported the audience to Japan with an arrangement of the folk tune “Sakura.” The melody resonated on the jetygen, a traditional Kazakh lute whose deep timbre added an unexpected layer of longing to the popular strains.
Rain, Anthems, and Shared Dreams
- After the final chord, a pool of Japanese visitors gathered under a translucent awning. Their hoses belched a sudden temperamental downpour, yet determination kept them from retreating. With voices in harmony, they rendered the Kazakh national anthem, echoing across the courtyard.
- “I always imagined experiencing Kazakh music beneath the stars,” remarked Rina Kawamoto of Fukuoka. “Being here, with the orchestra echoing Sakura on a jetygen, felt like a living dream.”
- Fans from across Japan, many of whom resonate with Dimash Kudaibergen’s soaring vocals, articulated a shared longing. “I cannot travel to Kazakhstan,” one visitor shared, “so I came here from Fukuoka to taste the culture. The presence of people from countless nations around us shows how Dimash’s music bridges worlds.”
Queues for the final concert
Kazakhstan Celebrates National Day with a Touch of Rain
The Main Event
While wet clouds hovered over the capital, a steady stream of citizens streamed toward the Shining Hat venue just before the doors were opened. Long lines stretched past the entrance, illustrating the enduring enthusiasm for the celebration.
Weather and Crowd
- A gentle drizzle fell over the city, but the crowd remained undeterred.
- Queues formed well in advance of the opening time.
- By the evening, the venue was hosting roughly 3,000 attendees.
Highlights
Despite the precipitation, the national day culminated in a major performance that drew guests from across the region, demonstrating that the spirit of celebration endures even under adverse weather conditions.
Community Performance Attracts 3,000 Attendees
At a recent cultural event, the Birlik Dance Ensemble—translated as “Unity”—delivered a spirited performance that earned thunderous applause from the audience.
Celebrating Diverse Heritage
- Members represented various ethnic communities across Kazakhstan.
- Showcase of traditional dance styles and modern choreography.
- Audience size reached approximately three thousand participants.
Artistic Highlights
The program featured compositions from celebrated figures:
- Nurgisa Tlendiev – known for incorporating national motifs.
- Karshyga Akhmedyarov – favored for rhythmic complexity.
- Latif Khamidi – renowned for melodic innovation.
- Yevgeny Brusilovsky – admired for dramatic arrangements.
Overall, the event served as a vibrant reminder of unity through art, resonating with both participants and spectators alike.
Kazakhstan Pavilion nears its millionth visitor
Kazakhstan Pavilion Sets a New Benchmark at Osaka–Kansai Expo 2025
The Kazakhstan Pavilion continues to be a magnet for both visitors from home and abroad, with the milestone of welcoming its one-millionth guest slated for this month. Its appeal lies in a vibrant blend of historical heritage and contemporary innovation.
Highlights
- ALEM (Astana Life Ex-situ Machine): This breakthrough apparatus preserves donor organs for extended periods, enabling pre‑operative treatment and markedly improving transplant outcomes.
- Interactive exhibits depicting traditional Kazakh customs alongside cutting‑edge medical research, illustrating the interplay between past and future.
- A dynamic dialogue platform where every visitor is invited to engage in conversations about the nation’s legacy and its forward‑thinking vision.
Statements from Pavilion Leadership
Daulet Yerkimbayev, General Commissioner for Kazakhstan at World Expo 2025, remarked:
“Our pavilion is more than an exhibition; it serves as a conversation with every guest. We aim to demonstrate that heritage and innovation coexist—as two facets of a single narrative.”
Insights from Japanese Officials
Japan’s Parliamentary Vice‑Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Kato Akiyoshi, added:
“The pavilion embodies the Expo’s theme, Designing Future Society for Our Lives, by allowing visitors to connect with Kazakhstan and collectively reflect on the society of the future.”
During visits to previous expos, Kato Akiyoshi has expressed a deep connection to Kazakhstan, having joined the Osaka–Kansai Expo bid from its earliest stages. He highlighted that the Astana Expo 2017 experience left an indelible impression, fueling his enthusiasm for the upcoming event.
Looking Ahead
The pavilion’s combination of cultural storytelling and scientific advancement positions it as a unique and enduring attraction in the Expo’s portfolio, forging an enduring link between Kazakhstan’s proud past and its ambitious future.
Sweet encounters at the pavilion
Meeting the Kazakh Chocolate Aficionado
While standing in the pavilion, we encountered Yuji Beleza, a seasoned travel blogger and linguistic maestro renowned for his affection toward Kazakh chocolate.
What Made Him Stand Out
- Global Chocolate Distribution: Yuji circulates Kazakh chocolate bars across the globe.
- Online Popularity: His videos, capturing these giveaways, have earned him a sizable online following.
Kazakhstan’s Pavilion Shines at Expo 2025
A Cultural Showcase
During the opening of Expo 2025, Yuji Beleza, a well‑known polyglot and travel blogger, highlighted how the pavilion captures the spirit of Kazakhstan. He praised the design for its elegance and interactive elements, stating that it’s a compelling fusion of culture, hospitality, and innovation.
Highlights of the Pavilion
Visitor Experience
Bringing the nation’s heritage to the global stage, the pavilion offers an engaging journey that allows travelers to:
Yuji Beleza concluded that the pavilion not only visually captivates but also offers a profound connection to Kazakhstan’s dynamic identity and forward‑thinking vision.
The upcoming Almaty–Tokyo direct flight
Air Astana Opens New Almaty‑Tokyo Link Ahead of 2025
The airline is set to introduce a nonstop route between Almaty and Tokyo next year, announced by Minister Shakkaliyev.
Historical ties between Kazakhstan and Japan
- Trade – Over three decades of robust commercial exchanges.
- Investment – Joint ventures in infrastructure, energy, and technology.
- Science & Education – Collaborative research and student‑exchange programs.
- Environmental Protection – Coordinated efforts to address climate and resource issues.
Impact of the new route
By linking the two capitals directly, the flight will fortify economic relations and make cultural and business ties even tighter.
