The Uruguay Pavilion at Expo Osaka 2025 has surpassed 1.5 million visits, marking it as a prominent attraction at the world exhibition. Since its opening in April, the pavilion has seen more than 8 million attendees.
A strategy blending tradition, innovation, and universal values has been key to connecting with Japanese and international audiences. On June 17, Uruguay celebrated its National Day with an official ceremony attended by dignitaries from Japan and Uruguay, including Alfredo Fratti, Minister of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries. The event featured a musical performance by Hugo Fattoruso and the Quinteto Barrio Sur along with candombe musicians Mathías and Wellington Silva.
The Uruguayan delegation of national authorities and private sector representatives played a significant role in this achievement. Their involvement strengthened the country’s institutional image while attracting business leaders and industry professionals to the pavilion.
The pavilion’s agenda includes an exhibition on Uruguay’s video game industry under the brand Uruguay Video Games. Seven national studios showcased games tailored for the Japanese market, accessible via QR codes for immediate download.
A tribute to Carlos Gardel on June 24 marked the 90th anniversary of his death. The event drew over 23,600 visitors with screenings of exclusive audiovisual content and commemorative pins inspired by tango.
In family-oriented programming, Alfredo Soderguit’s award-winning short film “Los Carpinchos” resonated well with Japanese audiences. Based on a book available in multiple languages including Japanese, it was warmly received by local schoolchildren who also received copies of the book.
On May 20, Uruguay commemorated its National Day for Human Rights at the pavilion with cultural activities honoring those affected during its civic-military dictatorship (1973–1985). This included documentary screenings and symbolic gestures like distributing daisies.
With several months remaining in Expo Osaka 2025, Uruguay seeks to maintain visitor interest while reinforcing ties as a creative partner in Asia through culture, trade, and diplomacy.
