Expo 2025 Osaka is here!
On Sunday 13 April a 10,000-person choir heralded the opening of Expo 2025 Osaka.
Visitors flocked to experience the hundreds of attractions, across the 155-hectare site on the man-made island of Yumeshima in Osaka. Under the theme of “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” 158 countries and regions are participating in the expo, which is scheduled to last through Oct. 13.
Bray Leino Events is proudly responsible for the full operational service of the UK Pavilion, managing and delivering all aspects of the UK Pavilion’s live schedule of events, the food and drink offering, staffing, and the retail experience, bringing a host of iconic UK brands to the 28 million people expected to visit the Expo site over the next six months.
The UK Pavilion
The UK Pavilion, designed by UK architects WOO, mixes heritage and cutting-edge design to capture the UK’s Expo theme, ‘Come Build the Future’. The UK experiential specialist Immersive International has designed a unique storytelling experience to guide visitors through the rich heritage, vibrant present, and innovative future of the UK and its culture.
The UK Pavilion is staffed by a bilingual team of local and UK personnel, including guides, retail and catering managers, customer service representatives, and events, marketing and production professionals. Bray Leino Events has partnered with the Osaka-based expo management specialists Beyond Limits to recruit and train all staff.
Food and drink excellence
Bray Leino Events has partnered with Living Hospitality, part of the world-renown restaurant group Mosimann’s, to create a British culinary experience, offering experiences such as traditional fish and chips and a classic afternoon tea, ensuring the UK Pavilion’s food and drink offering represents the very best of what the UK has to offer.
The UK Pavilion has partnered with Diageo to deliver Johnnie Walker bar, offers a selection of beverages and a programme of mixology activations, featuring brands and products such as Gusbourne English Sparkling wine.
Retail
In the UK Pavilion retail space, visitors can choose from a range of quintessential British-made icons - from the UK Expo mascot, PIX, and Union Flag umbrellas to traditional food, drinks and Paddington Bear merchandise.
Six months of live events
Across the six months of Expo 2025 Osaka, the UK Pavilion will deliver a packed schedule of events and activations, showcasing heritage and contemporary culture, innovation, and achievement, and celebrating the rich history of partnership and collaboration between the UK and Japan. The highlight of the programme of events will be the UK National Day on 22 May, which will present a celebration of UK culture.
"Bray Leino Events MD Luke Brown said: “We’re relishing the opportunity to represent UK events on one of the biggest world stages. The scope of the programme is vast, and we’re excited for Expo to open so we can welcome the Japanese public. Alongside the Department for Business and Trade, and with the support of our partners, we’re ready for UK Pavilion to deliver a six-month celebration of everything that makes the UK great.”