Group photo with Grand Duke Henri, Deputy Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, Minister Yuriko Backes;
Credit: Pavillon luxembourgeois
On Friday 30 May 2025, the Grand Duke, together with Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Xavier Bettel, and Yuriko Backes, Minister of Defence, Minister of Mobility and Public Works, and Minister of Gender Equality and Diversity, travelled to Japan to take part in the official celebrations of Luxembourg Day at Expo 2025 Osaka; they were accompanied by a large Luxembourg business delegation, led by the Chamber of Commerce.
Throughout Expo 2025 Osaka, each participating country is honoured on its national day, marked by institutional and cultural events. Luxembourg Day began with the signing of the Expo guestbook by the Grand Duke, followed by a traditional tea ceremony attended by Deputy Prime Minister Bettel and Minister Backes. The official ceremony, which took place in the National Festival Hall, included the raising of the flags, the playing of the national anthems, and a speech by the Grand Duke. The afternoon featured an official tour of the Luxembourg Pavilion, attended by Expo Commissioner General Koji Haneda and the Ambassador of Japan to Luxembourg, Tadahiro Matsubara, followed by a visit to the Japanese Pavilion.
The Luxembourg Pavilion was designed by the Luxembourg architectural firm STDM according to the principles of circularity. "Designed for disassembly," it guarantees the reuse of its construction materials after dismantling at the end of the Expo. The pavilion's scenography, centred around the concept "Doki Doki - The Luxembourg Heartbeat," offers visitors an immersive and emotional experience. It connects them to Luxembourg through four distinct acts: a first act highlighting the diversity of Luxembourg's inhabitants; a second act illustrating the country's innovative spirit; a third act allowing visitors to discover Luxembourg's landscapes through an immersive projection; and finally, a convivial gastronomic space, the "Häffchen," to encourage exchanges and conviviality. This is the Grand Duchy's 25th participation in a World Expo.
During his speech on the occasion of Luxembourg Day, Deputy Prime Minister Bettel said: "It is a true honour to be in Osaka to celebrate Luxembourg Day at the Expo, alongside His Royal Highness the Grand Duke and Minister Backes. Our two countries are united by deep ties of friendship, and in 2027, we will celebrate a century of bilateral relations. Expo 2025 is a major global event, bringing together more than 150 countries, and we are proud that our pavilion was ranked among the top three, according to a survey by the Japanese media Nikkei MJ. This pavilion perfectly illustrates Luxembourg's diversity: our culinary specialties, showcased by the Luxembourg School of Hotel Management and Tourism (EHTL), our spirit of innovation, as well as our reliability and openness as an international partner. In a world where it is more essential than ever to bring people and nations together and build relationships of trust, our presence in Osaka demonstrates our shared commitment to strengthening international cooperation".
Minister Backes said: "The Luxembourg pavilion at Expo Osaka 2025 is much more than a showcase: it is a concrete demonstration of our commitment to sustainable innovation and the circular economy. Through this visionary architecture and immersive scenography, we are affirming Luxembourg's position as a global player, forward-looking, and firmly committed to the values of sustainable development. I would also like to thank the Public Buildings Administration for the construction of the pavilion".
Alongside the official celebrations, the ministers met with numerous Japanese companies and investors present on site. As part of this, the Chamber of Commerce, a key partner of the Luxembourg @ Expo 2025 Osaka Economic Interest Group (EIG), led a large-scale multi-sector economic mission to Osaka, highlighting Luxembourg's commitment to strengthening its economic relations with Japan and other international partners. Two other economic missions, in the space, new technologies and healthcare sectors, will be organised in July.
At the end of the day, an "Open House" reception was held, bringing together members of the Luxembourg community present in Osaka. The day concluded with the "Echoes of Tomorrow" concert, which featured internationally renowned Luxembourg artists Francesco Tristano, Pascal Schumacher and Jill Crovisier, in collaboration with Maika Fujii.
On the eve of Luxembourg Day, an official reception bringing together business and institutional representatives as well as all the staff of the Luxembourg Pavilion was held in the presence of the Grand Duke, punctuated by speeches highlighting the cooperation between Luxembourg and Japan.
