EXPO 2025 in Osaka: Polish and Japanese musicians together on stage in the heart of the city; Sinfonia Varsovia sets off on tour with Marta Argerich, among others

In October, a unique musical encounter will take place in the very centre of Osaka, where Polish and Japanese artists will perform together in a joint project at Namba Square. Mitch & Mitch, Kinga Głyk, Klawo, and Małe Instrumenty will join forces with the local experimental scene. At the same time, Sinfonia Varsovia will embark on a concert tour of Japan’s most important venues. The world-renowned Polish orchestra will share the stage with legendary pianists Marta Argerich and Ivo Pogorelich, as well as young Japanese virtuosos renowned for their success in the Chopin competitions. 

All this is part of the Po!land ポ！ランド programme, organised by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute to accompany Poland’s participation in EXPO 2025. The Polish Investment and Trade Agency is responsible for coordinating Poland’s presence at one of the world’s largest and most important cultural and economic events, as well as for the accompanying programme. 

Po!land ポ！ランド – the slogan of the cultural programme organised by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute – is inspired by the Japanese onomatopoeia “Po!”, which conveys a moment of enlightenment and positive surprise. This cheerful “Po!” also alludes to polonium, the element discovered by Maria Skłodowska-Curie, symbolising innovation, science, and the crossing of boundaries. Combined with “ランド” (rando), derived from the English word “land”, Po!land becomes a space for the exchange of ideas, encounters between cultures, and mutual inspiration.  

The autumn programme will showcase concerts of Polish jazz and alternative music. At the bustling Namba Square, one of Osaka’s central landmarks, the Polish-Japanese Sound Culture Festival will present performances by Klawo, Kinga Głyk, Małe Instrumenty and Mitch & Mitch, alongside renowned Japanese artists: Takeo Toyama, Tomoaki Baba, Fuki Kitamura, and the bands 4 Aces and Zakino. The festival will be held under the slogan “Miło mi” (It’s nice to meet you) – a common Polish greeting which, when pronounced “Mi-wo-mi” in Japanese, acquires additional meanings, symbolising encounter, discovery, and the forging of ties between Poland and Japan. 

“The Sound Culture Festival is a perfect example of putting into practice the idea behind the entire Po!land ポ！ランド programme – creating a space for cultural dialogue, artistic exchange, and mutual inspiration. We are delighted that the festival’s programme was shaped through the meeting and collaboration of Polish and Japanese artists, including Takeo Toyama’s residency in Poland. We believe that projects such as this bring Polish culture closer to Japanese audiences, and that the relationships established will bear fruit in further initiatives in the future” - says Olga Wysocka, Director of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute. 

In October, Sinfonia Varsovia will embark on a concert tour of Japan, presenting seven performances in the most prestigious concert halls of Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Kyoto. Under the baton of maestro Christian Arming, the orchestra will offer a programme centred on the music of Fryderyk Chopin. The project will feature the legendary pianist Martha Argerich and virtuoso Ivo Pogorelich, performing alongside young Japanese pianists Aimi Kobayashi and Kyohei Sorita, both acclaimed for their success in the Chopin competitions. 

The full programme of events is presented below. 

Sound Culture. Poland x Japan Music Festival is a two-day alternative music event bringing together Polish and Japanese artists in a unique musical dialogue. The open urban space of Osaka will resound with premiere projects created especially for this occasion, blending jazz, funk, soul, hip-hop, experimental sounds, and fresh reinterpretations of classics. 

Among the Polish artists are Mitch & Mitch, who will present a project inspired by the work of Ennio Morricone, as well as premiere material created in collaboration with Japanese pianist Takeo Toyama. The band Małe Instrumenty will surprise audiences with inventive interpretations of Fryderyk Chopin’s works on miniature instruments and will also lead unique music workshops. On 3 October, the group will perform at the opening of the exhibition “The Amazing Land of Quarks, Elephants & Pierogi” at Knowledge Capital. 

Japanese bands will also present their own sets, with Tomoaki Baba, Zakino, Fuki Kitamura and 4 Aces taking the stage. Each day of the festival will conclude with a joint improvisation by Polish and Japanese musicians, creating a unique artistic dialogue. The event highlights the strength of Polish-Japanese collaboration and celebrates openness to experimentation, new sounds, and creative encounters across borders. 

 Sinfonia Varsovia, a Polish orchestra of international acclaim, will embark on a unique artistic journey to Japan, presenting a series of concerts in support of Poland’s participation in EXPO 2025. The tour will feature seven performances in the most prestigious concert halls of Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Kyoto. 

The core of the repertoire will be piano concertos by Fryderyk Chopin, whose music enjoys near-cult status in Japan. In addition to Chopin, the audience will hear compositions by Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Beethoven, Mozart, and Dvořák – a programme that blends Polish musical sensitivity with the universal language of classical music.  

The uniqueness of the project is highlighted by Sinfonia Varsovia’s collaboration with international soloists, including the legendary pianist Martha Argerich and virtuoso Ivo Pogorelich, who will perform alongside young Japanese talents Aimi Kobayashi and Kyohei Sorita, both renowned for their achievements in Chopin competitions. The orchestra will perform under the baton of Austrian maestro Christian Arming.