First of all, why did you choose July 24th as the Czech National Day at Expo 2025 in Osaka?
“National Days are very important for every officially participating country because all attention is focused on that particular nation.
Ondřej Soška|Photo: Barbora Navrátilová, Radio Prague International
“We selected July 24th because, on that day, we will celebrate 165 years since the birth of Alfons Mucha, a very popular Czech artist and painter, who is also extremely popular here in Japan.”
So can you tell us what will be on the program? Can you mention at least some of the highlights?
“The highlight of the Czech National Day will, without a doubt, be the presence of Czech President Petr Pavel in Osaka. In addition, there will be a very interesting cultural program.
“A special performance called The Strings will be presented—a unique combination featuring members of the Czech Philharmonic, Cirk La Putyka, the Czech Radio children’s choir, and singer Aiko. So we are getting ready and preparing ourselves for this special event.”
Photo: Facebook of Cirk La Putyka
How has the Czech pavilion been received so far? What kind of feedback are you getting from visitors in general?
“I’m very happy that the Czech pavilion has become very popular here at Expo 2025. One of the main reasons is our strategic location. It’s situated at the Waterfront Plaza, right next to the dancing fountain, so it naturally draws a lot of attention.
Photo: Violeta Aguiló
“During the last weekend alone, we welcomed 650,000 visitors, and the counter is still running. We’re really pleased with that.
“Beyond the high number of visitors, the average visiting time is over 20 minutes, which indicates that people truly enjoy their time in the Czech pavilion. We’ve received very positive feedback, especially from local Japanese visitors.”
You mentioned the love of Alphonse Mucha. Is there anything Alfons Mucha-related in the program?
“Japanese visitors make up more than 85 percent of all Expo 2025 attendees, and they have a deep appreciation for world expos.
“In our national pavilion, the main exhibition is inspired by the work of Alfons Mucha. It’s a modern interpretation of his unfinished piece Triptych: The Age of Reason, The Age of Love, and The Age of Wisdom.
“On Czech National Day, visitors can also enjoy the pavilion itself, taste Czech cuisine, and experience the cultural performances.”
And can you mention any specific feedback that you received? What would you say is the biggest highlight of the Czech pavilion?
“We have multiple layers to our presentation. In addition to the visitor’s journey through the pavilion, we also offer an intensive cultural and business program.
“Every weekend, we feature different Czech artists in our auditorium, called Daisue Hall. During weekdays, we highlight Czech companies through business forums and conferences. So it’s truly a unique platform that supports both cultural and business representation.
“Another major highlight is the Czech restaurant, where we serve amazing Czech cuisine and, of course, Czech beer. We are serving over two thousand beers every day, which is a phenomenal amount.
“So we’re very happy that Japanese visitors really enjoy the Czech pavilion. According to the feedback we’ve received, they love Czech hospitality, the cultural program, and the overall exhibition.”
Over 3,000 visitors joined us in Daisue Hall for three days of live music by Anna Vaverková & her band – with visuals by Rozálie Kolková.
Winner of the Czech Anděl Award for Alternative & Electronic, Anna brought emotion, energy, and artistry to the Czech Pavilion.#EXPO2025 pic.twitter.com/qvsQHyFqYU
— Czech National Pavilion at EXPO 2025, Osaka (@expo2025czechia) June 3, 2025
AloJapan.com