On the occasion of the Austrian Nation Day at EXPO 2025 in Osaka, ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA organized a high-profile business mission to Japan from May 21 to 24, 2025. About 150 representatives from business, science, politics, and culture followed the invitation and took part in the mission under the motto of the Austrian EXPO presence “Composing the Future – Together” let by Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO) Vice President Philipp Gady, Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, and Minister of Economic Affairs Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer. All participants shared the goal of strengthening economic relations between Austria and Japan—the world's fourth-largest economy—and exploring new opportunities for cooperation.
High-Level Economic Dialogue in Tokyo
The Austrian-Japanese Economic Forum in Tokyo on May 21, organized by ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA Tokyo, marked the start of the series of events. Around 150 Japanese decision-makers accepted the invitation and took part in the dialogue on current developments and opportunities in Austria as a location for innovation, investment, and research. A varied program of specialist presentations and panel discussions provided a solid platform for the bilateral exchange of knowledge and experience.
Focus on Innovation and Culture: Program Highlights in Osaka
On May 22, attention turned to Osaka, the host city of the Expo. Program highlights included the start-up event “Austrian Innovation @ EXPO Osaka 2025” at the Austrian Pavilion; the “Verywood” design exhibition—showcasing Austrian wooden architecture—at the Nakanoshima Museum of Art; and a field visit to Keihanna Science City and the renowned Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute (ATR). The day concluded with a networking reception with the Austrian Business Community, underscoring the economic significance of the Kansai region, Japan’s second most important economic area.
Highlight of the Mission: Austrian Nation Day at EXPO 2025
On May 23, Austria took center stage at EXPO 2025 as part of its official Nation Day celebration. These occasions are traditionally among the highlights of any World EXPO, offering participating countries a unique platform for national presentation. Austria focused on its motto “Composing the Future,” emphasizing cultural excellence and international appeal. The official ceremony in the Nation Day Hall on Yumeshima Island, the EXPO venue, featured a musical performance by the Vienna Boys’ Choir. In collaboration with musicians from the Mozarteum University Salzburg, the choir performed Johann Strauss’s “Voices of Spring” waltz—played for the first time using Mozart’s original violin, performed by the concertmaster of the Mozarteum Orchestra. The symbolic significance of this moment underscored Austria’s deep connection between tradition, innovation, and cultural heritage.
In the afternoon, the Vienna Boys’ Choir gave a public concert on the EXPO grounds, once again accompanied by the historic Mozart violin. The intercultural choir project “Voices for the Future from Salzburg and the World,” initiated by Mozarteum University and directed by Rector Elisabeth Gutjahr, was also presented. The project brought together over 50 talented young musicians from around the world to deliver a musical message of diversity, solidarity, and hope for the future.
Cultural Conclusion: Partnership Between Schönbrunn Palace and Himeji Castle
On May 24, the mission concluded with the ceremonial signing of a “Sister Castle Twinning Agreement” between Schönbrunn Palace and Himeji Castle. This symbolic partnership signifies the deepening of cultural and economic ties between Austria and Japan, highlighting the enduring value of bilateral exchange well beyond the framework of EXPO 2025.
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