National Day of Hungary Celebrated at Osaka World Expo

Performances by the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble showcased Hungary’s diverse traditions to an international audience on National Day of Hungary on Saturday at the Osaka World Expo. The special event was opened by Tamás Sulyok, President of Hungary.

President Sulyok said at the event that such occasions as the Osaka World Expo are a good opportunity to promote global cooperation and encourage joint action by presenting issues. He described Japan as a country with a unique culture and an unparalleled economic performance, home to a respectable people. He added that the development and innovative performance that has made Japan one of the world’s largest economies is admirable and that Japan’s performance is respected everywhere, including in Hungary.

Photo: MTI/Szigetváry Zsolt

The President said that it was important to further “deepen the partnership and friendship between Japan and Hungary,” and noted that the World Expo would also provide an excellent opportunity to do so.

He noted that it was clear that many people were interested in Hungary, Hungarian culture and creativity, and that

hopefully the experiences they had here would be inspiring for all visitors, whether they were looking for business opportunities, cultural experiences or just to get to know a community as unique and valuable as the Hungarian one.

#EXPO2025 Osaka
Hungary’s National Day – moments when we can proudly and with dignity showcase all that is ours: our rich heritage, our art, our creativity and the intellectual diversity that defines contemporary #HU . It was a pleasure to be part of the opening ceremony. pic.twitter.com/XTFhYbwCeb

— Dr. Tamás Sulyok (@DrTamasSulyok) May 24, 2025

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the National Day of Hungary, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Takeuchi Shinji, recalled that Japan and Hungary established diplomatic relations in 1869 and have been deepening their ties of friendship for more than 150 years, and the two countries have developed excellent cooperation in many fields of economy, politics, culture and science.

Takeuchi Shinji. Photo: MTI/Szigetváry Zsolt

The opening speeches were followed by performances by the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble and István Pál “Szalonna” and his Band (Pál István Szalonna és Bandája), evoking the folk dance and folk music traditions of the Carpathian Basin.

Photo: MTI/Szigetváry Zsolt

The head of state visited the Hungarian pavilion exhibition, where he tasted 3D-printed Hungarian-Japanese fusion dishes and had a look at the interior of the Millennium Café in Budapest’s Városliget (City Park) through VR glasses.

The gastronomic project was a joint initiative of Yamagata University, F-Eat Company and Millennium Café and Restaurant in Budapest. The Japanese researchers aim to create dishes that are safe for people with special dietary needs and that follow culinary traditions in taste and texture.

Tamás Sulyok, President of Hungary (L2) and his wife Zsuzsanna Nagy (R) at the presentation of the achievements in 3D food printing at the Hungarian Pavilion. Photo: MTI/Szigetváry Zsolt

Saturday’s programs concluded with a sold-out performance of the latest production of the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble, the Kalotaszeg Wedding Feast.

It is a balladic wedding story told in over an hour with the help of dancers and musicians of the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble. The music was composed by István Pál “Szalonna” and the choreography by Gábor Mihályi, the show’s director Csaba Káel told the public media on the spot.

Photo: MTI/Szigetváry Zsolt

Photo: MTI/Szigetváry Zsolt

He added that the production depicts the state of life when a young couple find each other and live the best moments of their lives. All this is set in the traditional world of Kalotaszeg (village in Romania, preserving old Transylvanian Hungarian folk traditions).

The performance has been put together in such a way as to be understandable to an international audience.

The most beautiful Hungarian dances can be presented with the most beautiful Hungarian music, and this has been a great success,”

stressed Csaba Káel. He added that there are many followers of Hungarian folk dance in Japan, there are several Hungarian dance companies in the country, and now they are very happy to be here and watch the original dances.