<h2>13th International Red-White Singing Festival in OSAKA EXPO2025</h2>

<p>This time, with the cooperation of the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau, we were able to hold the event at the Osaka-Kansai Expo venue. We are very grateful that it could take place inside a dedicated indoor event hall.</p>

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<h2>Purpose</h2>

<p>A new international exchange event where Japanese participants sing in foreign languages and foreign participants sing in Japanese, to promote mutual cultural understanding. Through the power of song, we aim to deliver a new message of multicultural coexistence to the world, while also bringing excitement to the Osaka-Kansai Expo.</p>

<h2>Date & Time</h2>

<p>September 19, 2025, 13:30–16:30 (with<a href="https://www.irws.org/"> live streaming</a>).</p>

<h2>Venue</h2>

<p>Festival Station, inside Osaka-Kansai Expo (Yumeshima Higashi 1-chome, Konohana Ward, Osaka City 554-0000).</p>

<h2>Official Support</h2>

<p>Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan</p>

<p>Osaka Consortium for International Student Support</p>

<p>Japan-ASEAN Center (International Organization)</p>

<p>Association of Nikkei and Japanese Abroad</p>

<h2>Sponsors</h2>

<p><a href="https://www.yokosojapan.net/article.php/20240802city_housing_en">City Housing Co., Ltd.</a></p>

<p><a href="https://www.yokosojapan.net/article.php/20250503clinic_life_en">Hitohito Care Clinic</a></p>

<p><a href="https://www.yokosojapan.net/article.php/20250815globaldesk-choei_international_en">Choei Co., Ltd.</a></p>

<p><a href="https://gl.joysound.com/en/">XING Inc.</a></p>

<h2>Operating Support</h2>

<p>Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau</p>

<p>Azua Link Co., Ltd.</p>

<p>Handy Network International Co., Ltd.</p>

<h2>Special Participants</h2>

<p>Gruppo Friends (São Paulo, Brazil)</p>

<h2>Organizer</h2>

<p>International Red-White Singing Festival Executive Committee</p>

<p>As part of the sister-city exchange program between Osaka City and São Paulo City, on September 18 (the day before the event), two participants and two staff members from Brazil, who came to Japan for this occasion, also <a href="https://www.yokosojapan.net/article.php/20250927brazil_editor_en">visited the Brazil Pavilion for a courtesy call.</a></p>

<h2>Participation Overview</h2>

<p>Twenty groups, comprising approximately 90 participants from more than 10 countries, including the USA, Brazil, Ireland, Australia, Benin, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Nepal, China, and Japan, joined the event. From São Paulo, two singers selected through the July audition also participated.</p>

<h2>Special Features</h2>

<p>“Radio Exercise for One Million People”</p>

<p>“International Student Fashion Show”</p>

<p><a href="https://www.kyoto-gakuseisaiten.com/">“Kyo-en Sodefure!” (Kyoto Student Festival performance)</a></p>

<h2>Guest Artists</h2>

<p>Tatsuya Kitagawa, Singer-Songwriter, Minoh J-POP Ambassador</p>

<p><a href="http://shinji-harada.com/english/">Shinji Harada, Singer-Songwriter, Hiroshima Peace Ambassador</a></p>

<p>Both participants supported the event’s purpose.</p>

<h2>Participation Overview</h2>

<p>Twenty groups, comprising approximately 90 participants, joined from more than 10 countries, including the USA, Brazil, Ireland, Australia, Benin, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Nepal, China, and Japan. From São Paulo, two singers selected through the July audition also participated.</p>

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<h2>Event Highlights</h2>

<p>The event took place in a 300-seat hall, but it was so popular that some people were waiting outside just to listen to the singing.</p>

<p>Volunteers played a major role in operations: mainly university and high school “student interpreter volunteers” who usually support foreign visitors at Osaka Castle and Houkoku Shrine, joined by professionals such as nurses and university staff. Together, they formed a cohesive and effective team. In addition, seven high school students from Oozora High School volunteered for the first time, and according to their teacher, they gained valuable experience.</p>

<p>At the opening, a video letter was introduced from the Japan Singers Association Los Angeles Branch (USA), whose board member expressed a vision for hosting an “International Red-White Singing Festival in Los Angeles.” It was also noted that the São Paulo Nikkei karaoke association, which held a preliminary audition in July, sent its representative.</p>

<p>Performers included:</p>

<p><a href="https://www.yokosojapan.net/article.php/20250524indonesia_international_en">Kinaya from Indonesia, who decided to study abroad in Japan after participating in the 2023 Festival, has been attending ECC Japanese Language Institute Kobe since April.</a></p>

<p><a href="https://www.yokosojapan.net/article.php/20241128osaka-sanpaulo_international_en">Paula Hirama has studied Japanese dance and enka in São Paulo since the age of three.</a></p>

<p><a href="https://www.yokosojapan.net/article.php/20250428mika_international_en">Mika Takagi from Nepal, who managed a Japanese language school for 17 years while continuing her singing career, with many performances at the Nepalese National Day and related events.</a></p>

<p>Their performances greatly enlivened the hall.</p>

<p>Volunteers from Tokyo also joined and commented that they were deeply moved, saying the event “truly embodies the spirit of the Expo.” On September 18, just before the event, the two participants from Brazil made a courtesy visit to the Brazil Pavilion, accompanied by their director. Three more representatives from the community also visited the Festival as audience members.</p>

<p>The official Expo recording team expressed satisfaction, saying they captured “many wonderful scenes that are representative of the Expo.”</p>

<p>For us, this year was also special because we had the opportunity to hold auditions in Yao City (Osaka) in March, Kyoto in August, and São Paulo in July, which allowed both organizers and performers to prepare sufficiently. Thanks to being held inside the Osaka-Kansai Expo venue, participants, volunteers, and staff united seamlessly to support the event together.</p>

<p>Audience members, too, welcomed this international exchange program with great enthusiasm, which made this one of the most moving stages in the history of the Festival. Many long-time participants since 2021 commented that it was “the most touching experience yet.”</p>

<p>"To everyone who supported us—volunteers, staff, performers, and all those involved—thank you very much. We are sincerely grateful from the bottom of our hearts."</p>

<p> </p>
