The six Tohoku prefectures, Tohoku Tourism Promotion Organization, and Tohoku Kizuna Festival Executive Committee held the "Tohoku Four Seasons & Tohoku Kizuna Festival" at 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Expo from Friday, June 13, to Sunday, June 15, 2025. The festival united the Tohoku region to show its gratitude for the support it received from around the world in the aftermath of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and show the state of recovery. The festivities also communicated information about Tohoku's world-class tourist attractions, such as its nature, culture, cuisine, advanced technology, and people, both domestically and internationally, and to attract more visitors.
Images: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/release/202506180788?p=images
At an opening ceremony on Friday, June 13, the governors of the six Tohoku prefectures, other Tohoku officials, the region's local mascots, and MYAKU-MYAKU, the official mascot for 2025 Osaka, Kansai Expo, took to the stage to greet guests and hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Afterwards, a special event was held showcasing the festivals from the six Tohoku prefectural capitals. The Tohoku Kizuna Festival, featuring the summer festivals from six Tohoku cities, was originally slated for Saturday, June 14, and Sunday, June 15. Due to inclement weather on June 14, the two performances were held indoors. After the weather recovered on June 15, the parade was held twice.
The Tohoku Kizuna Festival is the successor to the Tohoku Rokkon Festival, which was started to pray for the souls affected by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and for recovery. It is usually held in one of the six Tohoku prefectural capitals, but this year it was specially held at the Osaka Kansai Expo. The six Tohoku summer festivals (Aomori Nebuta Festival, Morioka Sansa Odori Festival, Akita Kanto Festival, Sendai Tanabata Festival, Yamagata Hanagasa Festival, and Fukushima Waraji Festival) convened, and the venue also featured displays of large Nebuta and Tanabata decorations. A total of about 550 dancers paraded through the venue, captivating the audience with their magnificent performances.
The "Tohoku Four Seasons," held over three days, featured promotional booths from the six Tohoku prefectures, stage events, hands-on experiences in traditional handmade crafts, and tastings and sales of local foods, all of which helped promote the charms of Tohoku.
Event report: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/attach/202506180788-O1-1qZDw8o8.pdf
Tohoku Four Seasons & Tohoku Kizuna Festival dates
Dates: Friday, June 13, to Sunday, June 15, 2025
Venue: EXPO Arena "Matsuri" at EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan
- Tohoku Four Seasons
Friday, June 13, 2025, from 2 to 8 pm
Saturday, June 14, 2025, from 10 am to 8 pm
Sunday, June 15, 2025, from 10 am to 8 pm
- Tohoku Kizuna Festival Parade
Saturday, June 14, 2025 *On stage due to rain
Departure ceremony: 1:50 to 2 pm; first time: 2 to 2:50 pm
Festival and tourism PR: 4:50 to 5:00 pm; second time: 5 to 5:50 pm
Sunday, June 15, 2025
Departure ceremony: 10:20 to 10:30 am; first time: 10:30 to 11:20 am
Festival and tourism PR: 12:50 to 1:00 pm; second time: 1 to 1:50 pm
Source: Tohoku Kizuna Festival Executive Committee, Tohoku Tourism Promotion Organization