Grand Flag Parade Marks Emotional Finale on Osaka-Kansai Expo's Closing Day

On October 13, 2025, the closing day of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, a magnificent "Flag Parade" adorned the venue, marking the grand finale of the six-month-long festival. Participating countries and regions proudly carried their national flags, joined by the official character Myaku-Myaku, popular dance team Avantgardey, beloved characters like Kumamon and Hello Kitty, and many prominent figures including Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura and Osaka City Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama. The spectators lining the streets gave thunderous applause and cheers, filling the venue with a sense of unity and emotion.

The context

The Osaka-Kansai Expo (officially Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan) is a World Expo scheduled to run from April 13 to October 13, 2025, on Yumeshima island in Osaka. Under the theme "Designing Future Society for Our Lives," it aims to showcase innovations and solutions to global challenges. Myaku-Myaku is the distinctive official mascot of Expo 2025, known for its unique appearance. Avantgardey is a popular Japanese dance group that gained international recognition. Kumamon and Hello Kitty are globally recognized Japanese mascots. TGC refers to the Tokyo Girls Collection, a major fashion event where Myaku-Myaku had previously performed. The article describes the hypothetical closing day event as if it has already occurred, celebrating the culmination of the Expo's activities.

The parade kicked off with Avantgardey and Myaku-Myaku delivering a sharp, energetic dance performance in front of the West Gate. Myaku-Myaku, in particular, captivated the audience with its dance skills, following its "para-para" performance at TGC. At the finale, the sight of it running along the red carpet and breaking the finish tape brought tears to many visitors' eyes. As the Expo's theme song, "Kono Chikyu no Tsudzuki wo" (The Continuation of This Planet), played during the parade, the atmosphere reached its peak, creating a special moment filled with hope for the future.

However, behind the excitement, several challenges emerged. The massive gathering led to severe congestion, with some voices calling it "on the verge of a crowd crush." Entry from the West Gate was restricted in some areas, causing delays for visitors. Dissatisfaction with the management was also heard, with criticisms regarding insufficient regulations for securing parade viewing spots. Technical issues were also observed, such as poor signal conditions for the live stream, resulting in unstable and interrupted video quality. One visitor reported losing a camera eyecup in the crowd and demanding compensation from the Expo Association, highlighting areas for operational improvement.

Despite these difficulties, the Flag Parade concluded the Expo, leaving deep emotions and memories for participants and spectators alike. Some shed tears, saying, "So many countries!" As voices of regret for the end of the six-month festival mingled with hopes for future connections, the sentiment resonated throughout the venue.

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