Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, got here alive with the pulsating sound of reggae music on July 1, in celebration of Worldwide Reggae Day.
Worldwide Reggae Day is the 24-hour celebration of the tradition, legacy and sound that originated in Kingston.
Commissioner Common of Part, Jamaica Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Maureen Smith, informed JIS Information that Jamaica’s participation on the Expo offered an ideal alternative to rejoice Worldwide Reggae Day in Japan.
“Osaka, specifically, is a large shopper of our tradition and of reggae, and we thought it was simply applicable for us to rejoice,” mentioned Ms. Smith.
She knowledgeable that two actions have been hosted on the day – an all-day reggae expertise that includes 9 sound programs and one nyabingi group, in addition to a particular video presentation and quiz by Common Music.
The video was a two-hour presentation about Bob Marley and Reggae music, which was looped all through the day, whereas the quiz requested questions on Jamaica’s pavilion.
“Having these two issues on the day was very particular as a result of it introduced consideration to what we’re doing on the Expo in addition to it created an area for folks to take pleasure in reggae,” Ms. Smith mentioned.
The Commissioner Common of Part additional indicated {that a} standout component of the celebration was that every one performers on the day have been Japanese, a testomony to the worldwide attain of Jamaica’s music.
Taking part below the Expo’s theme, ‘Designing Future Society for Our Lives’, Jamaica is featured within the ‘Connecting Lives’ sub-theme with its Pavilion titled ‘Out of Many, One Individuals: Let’s Hyperlink Up’.
“Hyperlink up we did as a result of we have been in a position to join with these Japanese artistes and so they did extraordinarily nicely,” mentioned Ms. Smith.
She additional knowledgeable that the nation’s pavilion has been attracting 1000’s of holiday makers because the expo began in April.
“We’ve been averaging 10,000 individuals per day, which is way over we had anticipated. So, it has been a very good expertise and yesterday (July 1) proved that as nicely – the love for the music and for Jamaica,” mentioned Ms. Smith.
The Jamaica pavilion options statues of Bob Marley and Usain Bolt, on mortgage from the S Lodge, and a coaching sled, additionally on mortgage, from the Jamaica Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation.
Different parts of the pavilion embody a vibrant mural by Nala Inventive Studio in Osaka, a ‘music wall’ honouring dancehall and sound conflict tradition, a tribute to Jamaican sports activities icons, a show of Dunn’s River Falls, and screens showcasing Jamaica’s progress in the direction of the United Nations Sustainable Growth Targets (SDGs).
Jerk rooster can also be featured as one of many meals which might be iconic to Jamaica.
Expo 2025 Osaka will run till October 13, 2025. Individuals taken with getting updates on Jamaica’s participation are invited to observe @expo2025jamaica on Instagram.
