DISCOVER KOUGEI in EXPO2025 Complete Guide | Comprehensive Overview of Event Details and Highlights

“DISCOVER KOUGEI in EXPO2025” is a special program held at the Osaka-Kansai Expo venue, dedicated to passing down traditional crafts from across Japan to future generations. Through live demonstrations by skilled artisans, hands-on workshops where visitors can participate, and exhibitions featuring craft items from all over the country, this event showcases the appeal of Japanese craftsmanship to both domestic and international audiences.

This article provides detailed information about the event overview, highlights, and the content of participatory experience programs.

What is DISCOVER KOUGEI in EXPO2025?

“DISCOVER KOUGEI in EXPO2025” is a special event held within the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo venue, designed to showcase the appeal of Japan’s traditional crafts to both domestic and international visitors. Selected artisans from across the nation will gather to present a festival of crafts that can be enjoyed through all five senses, featuring live demonstrations of handwork, exhibitions, and visitor-participatory experience programs.

Even those who have had little exposure to traditional crafts will find this an excellent opportunity to discover their value and fascination by experiencing the creators’ passion and the intricate details of their techniques. Against the backdrop of EXPO2025, a global stage, why not experience the possibilities of crafts that connect to the future by “seeing,” “learning about,” and “experiencing” cultures from all over Japan?

Held as the 42nd National Congress of Traditional Crafts Month

This “DISCOVER KOUGEI in EXPO2025” is actually a nationwide event held in conjunction with the 42nd National Congress of Traditional Crafts Month. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Japan Traditional Crafts Association, and production areas, artisans, and related parties from across the country will gather to broadly promote the techniques and culture of Japan’s proud traditional crafts.

The major attraction is the gathering of diverse craft items that are usually only seen at regional festivals or specialized exhibitions. This is an excellent opportunity to compare the differences in techniques, materials, and designs from various regions all at once. The demonstrations and exhibitions that value communication with visitors provide precious time to directly hear the creators’ thoughts. Please come and experience up close these efforts to connect Japan’s traditions to the future.

Venues are TEAM EXPO Pavilion and Gallery EAST

The main stages for DISCOVER KOUGEI in EXPO2025 are two areas: the TEAM EXPO Pavilion and Gallery EAST. The TEAM EXPO Pavilion is one of the notable areas of the expo where diverse projects gather under the theme of co-creation, featuring exhibitions and collaboration projects that demonstrate new possibilities for traditional crafts.

Gallery EAST will host demonstrations and workshops where visitors can experience artisans’ skills up close. By observing the process of how craft items are created right before their eyes, asking questions, and having conversations, both children and adults can enjoy learning. With international visitors in mind, as befits the expo, introductions for overseas guests and English explanations are also planned, making it recommended for participation with international friends.

Event Overview

Name: DISCOVER KOUGEI in EXPO2025 (42nd National Congress of Traditional Crafts Month)
Organizer: Japan Traditional Crafts Association
Website: https://kougei-expo.com/discover-kougei/top_en/

＜1. KOUGEI SHOWCASE Exhibition and Performance＞

Dates: August 5 (Tue), 2025 10:00-20:00, August 6 (Wed) 10:00-19:00 (2days)
Venue: EXPO2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo Future Life Zone “TEAM EXPO Pavilion” (within Future Life Village)

＜2. TEWAZA LIVE Workshop and Performance＞

Dates: August 22 (Fri), 23 (Sat), 24 (Sun), 2025 10:00-19:00 ※Final day until 18:00 (3days)
Venue: EXPO2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo East Gate Zone “Gallery EAST”

“DISCOVER KOUGEI in EXPO2025” is scheduled to be held in two separate sessions in August 2025.
The first session runs from August 5-6, focusing on exhibitions of traditional crafts gathered from across the nation and demonstrations by artisans.
This is an excellent opportunity to observe the creators’ techniques and tools up close while learning about the diverse cultures from various regions of Japan.
The second session runs from August 22-24, featuring even more enriched visitor-participatory experiences and demonstrations. Visitors can casually enjoy the “joy of creating” through activities like actually applying lacquer, dyeing, and shaping, perfect for families with children.
The content is ideal for creating summer vacation memories and school research projects. We encourage you to visit multiple times to match your schedule and thoroughly enjoy the profound world of crafts.

Key Highlights! Craft Experiences Proposed by DISCOVER KOUGEI

“DISCOVER KOUGEI in EXPO2025” is not just an event for viewing craft items. Programs are prepared that allow visitors to experience all 243 designated traditional craft categories from across Japan through three perspectives: seeing, learning, and creating, truly like a “comprehensive craft theme park.”

The content includes exhibitions that propose designs and uses suitable for modern lifestyles while utilizing traditional techniques and materials, live demonstrations by artisans unfolding before your eyes, and workshops where visitors can actually move their hands to experience the creators’ feelings, enjoyable for a wide range of visitors from children to adults, and domestic to international guests.

Exhibition and Demonstration of 243 Traditional Craft Categories from Across Japan

One of the biggest attractions of this event is the spectacular exhibition and demonstration of all 243 categories of “Traditional Crafts” designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry gathered in one place. Being able to collectively view items that are usually only seen at local workshops, specialty stores, or regional industrial festivals at the international stage of the expo is a special experience.

Ceramics, textiles, lacquerware, metalwork, woodwork, Japanese paper, and other diverse techniques and designs born from Japan’s natural environment and living culture are displayed together. In the demonstration booths, artisans showcase forming, painting, decorating, weaving, and other techniques right before visitors’ eyes using the actual tools and materials they use. Visitors can observe the details of these techniques up close and ask questions directly. Rather than just static displays, this provides a valuable opportunity to stimulate curiosity with questions like “How is this made?” and “Why do you do it this way?” allowing visitors to discover the depth of craftsmanship.

Hands-on Manufacturing Workshops Led by Artisans

DISCOVER KOUGEI offers diverse workshops where visitors can not only “watch” artisan demonstrations but also experience the joy of “creating” themselves. Programs are prepared where beginners can participate with confidence, with artisans providing careful instruction in lacquerware, dyeing, ceramics, woodworking, and other fields.

In fields such as lacquerware, dyeing, ceramics, and woodworking, menus are planned that can be enjoyed by everyone from children to adults, including simple accessory making with colored lacquer, creating pattern-dyed handkerchiefs, and pottery wheel experiences. Depending on the experience content, works created by participants can be taken home the same day or picked up later, making them one-of-a-kind souvenirs.

Perfect for summer vacation research projects, these workshops are expected to be very popular with families. Through conversations with artisans, participants can experience the joy of carrying on traditions and the challenges of craftsmanship, surely feeling that “Japanese crafts are fascinating!”

Integration of “Exhibition,” “Demonstration,” and “Experience” Bringing Together Regional Crafts

“DISCOVER KOUGEI in EXPO2025” not only allows visitors to see traditional crafts from across the country all at once but also provides comprehensive learning and enjoyment by combining three elements: “exhibition,” “demonstration,” and “experience.” The exhibition area introduces regional characteristics, while demonstrations by artisans from each production area reveal behind-the-scenes aspects usually unseen, such as “how to use tools” and “how to select materials.”

In experience booths, visitors can recreate these techniques with their own hands, experiencing the difficulty and fascination of creation. This multi-layered program serves not only as a place to learn about crafts as “cultural properties” but also to rediscover them as something to utilize and enjoy in daily life.

We highly recommend this special expo experience for international guests wanting to deepen their understanding of Japanese culture, families looking for summer vacation destinations, and students interested in craftsmanship.

Preview the Content! Enjoying the World of Crafts Through Two Sessions

“DISCOVER KOUGEI in EXPO2025” is held in two separate sessions to allow visitors to enjoy traditional crafts from across Japan more deeply. Each session provides points for “seeing,” “learning,” and “experiencing,” with exhibitions, artisan demonstrations, and visitor-participatory workshops balanced appropriately.

The first session offers leisurely appreciation of grand exhibitions covering all 243 traditional craft categories nationwide and authentic artisan demonstrations, while the second session allows visitors to experience the creators’ thoughts and the joy of handwork through more participatory manufacturing experiences.

The major attraction is the design that allows diverse visitors including families, craft enthusiasts, and international guests to enjoy according to their respective interests. Below, we introduce the specific highlights of each session in detail.

KOUGEI SHOWCASE: Exhibition and Demonstration August 5-6

The “KOUGEI SHOWCASE” held August 5-6 features spectacular exhibitions of all 243 traditional craft categories nationwide and live demonstrations by artisans. Ceramics, textiles, lacquerware, metalwork, woodwork, and other diverse craft items nurtured by Japan’s climate and living culture gather together, allowing visitors to truly experience “a microcosm of Japanese craftsmanship.”

In the artisan demonstration corner, techniques such as pottery wheel forming, metal engraving, maki-e (decorative lacquerwork), and weaving unfold up close, with opportunities to ask about the tools used and process details or listen to explanations. This opportunity to see advanced techniques usually only visible at regional festivals or specialized exhibitions concentrated on the international stage of the Osaka-Kansai Expo should not be missed. Both craft enthusiasts and first-timers will surely be amazed and moved by thinking “It’s so diverse!”

TEWAZA LIVE: Experience and Demonstration August 22-24

The second session “TEWAZA LIVE” is held August 22-24, featuring programs that emphasize visitors experiencing craftsmanship together with artisans. Traditional craft artisans gathered from across the country provide direct instruction, with content enjoyable for beginners including Tsugaru lacquerware chopstick polishing experiences, maki-e experiences, and metal engraving experiences.

Participation is open from children to adults, with the appeal of creating original works unique to each person. Through the experience, participants can realize usually unnoticed aspects like “the difficulty of handwork,” “the fascination of materials,” and “the ingenuity of tools.” Furthermore, since artisan demonstrations are held simultaneously, it’s possible to see authentic techniques up close while learning the work. The content is perfect for summer vacation research projects and family memory-making, fully drawing out the feeling of “I want to try this!”

Access, Tickets, and Participation Methods

“DISCOVER KOUGEI in EXPO2025” is a special event that showcases the appeal of Japan’s traditional crafts to domestic and international audiences on the global stage of the Osaka-Kansai Expo. The venues use designated pavilions and halls within the expo park, allowing visitors to experience the world of crafts with the scale and international atmosphere unique to EXPO2025.

Those planning to participate can enjoy the day more smoothly by thoroughly checking access methods, movement within the venue, and ticket purchase procedures in advance. Since content and locations change for each session, we recommend planning your visit according to your schedule.
Below, we provide detailed guidance on access points, ticket information, and participation methods for enjoying experiences and demonstrations.

EXPO 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo Official Website: https://www.expo2025.or.jp/

Held Within Expo Venue (Separate Expo Admission Ticket Required)

“DISCOVER KOUGEI in EXPO2025” is implemented as part of programs held within the expo venue at Yumeshima, Osaka from April to October 2025. Therefore, to participate in this craft event, you need to separately purchase expo admission tickets.

Admission tickets can be purchased in advance through official sales sites and various ticket agencies, with multiple ticket types planned including date-specific tickets and free passes. With an admission ticket, you can enjoy not only DISCOVER KOUGEI but also various pavilions and exhibitions throughout the EXPO venue all at once, which is a major attraction. Please consider planning this special experience of touring cutting-edge technology and cultural presentations from around the world while experiencing the depth of Japan’s traditional crafts.

Venues Differ for Each Session, Requiring Advance Confirmation

DISCOVER KOUGEI is characterized by being held in two sessions – “KOUGEI SHOWCASE” on August 5-6 and “TEWAZA LIVE” on August 22-24 – each at different venues. By using distinctive locations within the expo such as the TEAM EXPO Pavilion and Gallery EAST, exhibitions and demonstrations, and experiences and workshops are implemented in optimal environments according to their themes.

When planning participation, it’s reassuring to check the venue locations, access routes, and start times for each session in advance through the official website and pamphlets. Since exhibition content and experience programs also change by venue, multiple visits are recommended. Being during summer vacation season, families can plan visits with approaches like “today focusing on exhibitions” and “next time focusing on experiences.”

Discovering the Appeal of Crafts Through Experience and Demonstration

The greatest appeal of DISCOVER KOUGEI is that it’s not just an “event for viewing displays” but allows visitors to see artisan demonstrations up close and experience manufacturing themselves. Each session offers learning about how traditional craft items from various regions of Japan are made through artisans’ handwork including ceramics, lacquerware, dyeing, and woodworking.

Experience booths feature artisans providing careful support, with abundant menus that even children can participate in with confidence. Completed works can be taken home as memorable souvenirs, becoming one-of-a-kind special items. Additionally, through conversations with artisans, visitors can hear deep stories about material selection, tool usage, and regional history and cultural backgrounds. Please come experience at the expo this valuable opportunity that goes beyond mere tourism or shopping, allowing you to feel that “Japanese crafts are so fascinating!”

Summary

“DISCOVER KOUGEI in EXPO2025” is a special event held on the global stage of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, allowing visitors to thoroughly enjoy the appeal of traditional crafts from across Japan through three approaches: “exhibition,” “demonstration,” and “experience.”

Content suitable for enjoyment regardless of generation or nationality is prepared, including spectacular exhibitions bringing together 243 categories nationwide, live demonstrations where artisans’ techniques can be learned up close, and workshops where visitors can create and take home their own works. The sessions are divided into two periods in August, each with different venues and programs prepared, making multiple planned visits recommended.

With your expo admission ticket in hand, please don’t miss this valuable opportunity to simultaneously experience Japan’s proud craft traditions and future alongside cutting-edge technology pavilions. Enjoy this perfect summer experience for family memory-making, school research, and cultural exchange with international friends.