On April 23rd, the opening ceremony for the Israel Pavilion was held at EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai. Over 100 distinguished guests – including leaders from the business, academic, and government sectors – gathered to celebrate the pavilion’s official launch.

The ceremony featured a series of speeches celebrating the opening of the Israel Pavilion, with speakers sharing messages of friendship and forward-looking vision for Japan–Israel relations. Below are selected excerpts:

“The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition is delighted to hear that the Israel Pavilion is receiving high praise and attracting numerous visitors, particularly with its display of remarkable ancient artifacts and cutting-edge technologies showcased up close. As one of the most popular pavilions, we understand that a variety of side events are also planned throughout the Expo period. We look forward to working closely together to ensure the success of the Israel Pavilion, its accompanying events, and Expo 2025 as a whole.”
— Manatsu Ichinoki, Deputy Secretary General, Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition

“34  years  ago,  I  visited  this  beautiful  country  for  the  first  time,  and  the  experience I remember most is the almost incomprehensible gap between the two Japans I encountered: one, ultra -modern and  hyper-technological;  the  other,  ancient  heritage  and  culture.  I  soon  learned  that  you  can’t separate  the  two.  Today,  I  am  delighted  to be  able  to  share  a  similar  experience  with  you  from Israel. Our pavilion manifests exactly that. Although as a country we are a very young country  – next week we celebrate the 77th anniversary of our independence – as a nation we are much older, and just like Japan, you cannot break that bond between our ancient culture and heritage and what or who we are today.”
— Yahel Vilan, Commissioner General of Israel to Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai

“Being here in Osaka to inaugurate the Israeli pavilion is a truly special moment. Just like Japan, Israel draws inspiration from its rich past to shape a bold and innovative future.”
— Gilad Cohen, Ambassador of Israel to Japan

One of the most memorable moments of the opening ceremony was the affixing of the mezuzah, in accordance with Jewish tradition. A mezuzah is a small parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah, placed in a decorative case and mounted on the doorpost of an entrance. The ritual symbolizes the sanctification of the space and serves as a blessing for good fortune and success. The mezuzah was affixed by Gilad Cohen, Ambassador  of Israel to Japan, and Rabbi Shmuel Vishedski, religious leader of  the Kansai Jewish community.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to commemorate the opening of the Israel Pavilion. When the assembled dignitaries cut the colorful ribbon, the venue was filled with applause and smiles. This celebratory moment left a lasting impression of Israel’s presence on the international stage of the Expo.