The sound of the guitar that echoes in one of the 80 pavilions spread across the artificial island of Yumeshima, in Osaka Bay, attracts increasingly Japanese. The relationship between Portugal and Japan has almost five centuries. The Portuguese arrived in this island country of the Pacific Ocean in 1543, starting a period of trade and cultural changes. First Europeans to dock in the archipelago, they brought firearms and Christianity.
Portugal is represented in Japan in an exhibition that runs until October. The goal is to strengthen the relationship that has existed for almost five centuries between the two countries.
The sound of the guitar that echoes in one of the 80 pavilions spread across the artificial island of Yumeshima, in Osaka Bay, attracts increasingly Japanese.
But when, for over 20 years, Kazufumi Tsukimoto traveled to Lisbon to learn Portuguese guitar, fado was still practically unknown in this part of the world.
The guitarist lived 12 months in Lisbon. After that began to pass in Portugal two to three weeks a year to continue learning the language and practice Portuguese guitar.
The relationship between Portugal and Japan has almost five centuries. The Portuguese arrived in this island country of the Pacific Ocean in 1543, starting a period of trade and cultural changes. First Europeans to dock in the archipelago, they brought firearms and Christianity.
“The Portugal Pavilion, with more than 9,000 sea cables and fishing nets, represents the Portuguese sea and has as an ocean blue dialogue. And there is no future without sustainable ocean, Portugal has been a pioneer in maritime policies and is with this vision of the future, concerned with sustainability, which we are here at Expo Osaka Kansai,” says Joana Gomes Cardoso, Portuguese Pavilion Kansai Commissioner.
Until October 13, Expo Osaka brings together 158 countries and regions and counts to receive 28 million visitors. The Portugal Pavilion have passed more than 500 thousand people.
Symbol of union between the countries that think here together the future, a gigantic wood ring imposes on the island’s landscape.
Built on purpose for Expo Osaka the 2 -kilometer ring is the largest wooden structure in the world. It represents innovation and global development based on sustainability, the outbreaks of Expo Osaka.
Using traditional Japanese wood fitting techniques, the large 20 -meter -high ring cost 215,000 euros. It will be dismantled at the end of the exhibition for security reasons, especially the threat of earthquakes, in a country located within four tectonic plates.
