The city of Osaka is currently pulsing with the rhythm of Expo. A special energy fills the streets—flags, billboards, and light installations bearing the Expo insignia are everywhere, while bustling cafés and restaurants echo with languages from all over the world. The atmosphere is exciting and inspiring, and the Serbian Pavilion fits perfectly into this mosaic of the future.

Over the weekend, the World Expo 2025 Osaka was officially opened in Japan, along with the Serbian Pavilion, which drew enormous attention from visitors on its very first day—over 10,000 people passed through the pavilion, setting a new attendance record. Despite unfavorable weather conditions, the long lines in front of the pavilion spoke volumes about the level of interest.

Under the title “The Society of Play,” the Serbian Pavilion offers a contemporary and optimistic vision of the world, clearly communicating the messages of the upcoming Specialized Expo 2027 Belgrade: “Play for Humanity: Sport and Music for All.” With its innovative design and rich content, the Serbian Pavilion invites visitors to come to Belgrade in two years and join us in celebrating the universal language of play.

Even Manatsu Ichinoki, Deputy Secretary General of Expo 2025 Osaka, received a Serbian stamp in his Expo passport and stated: "The Serbian Pavilion is very interesting. After visiting the exhibition in the Serbian Pavilion, I can better understand the importance of play. It carries many meanings and permeates our entire lives, and it’s very nicely connected to our theme here in Osaka."

As the host of the next Specialized Expo, Serbia holds observer status in Osaka and is the only country from the region to participate with an independent pavilion—an impressive achievement and a testament to Serbia’s dedication, having taken part in world exhibitions for 140 years.

"We are immensely grateful to our Japanese hosts for allowing us to be part of the Expo family even before our official exhibition begins. Over the next six months, our teams will gain valuable experience that we will carry forward to Expo 2027 in Belgrade," said Dušan Borovčanin, Director of Expo 2027 Belgrade.

With the challenges of the future as the central theme of Expo 2025, the Serbian Pavilion will demonstrate that play is the superpower of our civilization—one that helps us overcome those challenges. Inside the pavilion, visitors can explore the significance of play through several sections: “Learn and Play,” “Play and Explore,” “The Art of Play,” “Fair Play,” “Play, Connect, and Engage,” and “Playful Minds, Playful Futures”—along with a special section dedicated to Expo 2027 Belgrade.

The mascots of Expo 2027 Belgrade, unveiled for the first time in Osaka, also drew special attention. Imagined as superheroes of play, they convey the core values of the upcoming exhibition in a friendly and engaging way. "Our mascots embody the values we want to share with the world. They communicate messages of togetherness, creativity, and play, symbolizing the theme of Expo 2027," Borovčanin emphasized.

These superheroes come to life through three hologram stations, where visitors can create their own personalized mascots—choosing gender, facial expression, language, eye color, clothing style (traditional or modern), and even giving them Serbian names with meanings. Creations can be shared on social media, allowing audiences worldwide to become part of our story.

Another highlight is the physical mascots painted by children in Serbia aged 8 to 14, offering the world a glimpse of the future through a child’s perspective. At the pavilion’s exit, two central mascots dressed in traditional Serbian folk costumes greet visitors and guide them toward the vision of Expo 2027 in Belgrade.

"This is just the beginning. We are soon launching a nationwide campaign where all citizens of Serbia will have the chance to help name our mascots," Borovčanin concluded.