The arrival of “Taiwan Plus” in Osaka marks a powerful moment in the ongoing cultural exchange between Taiwan and Japan

Organized by the Taiwan General Association of Chinese Culture (GACC) and supported by the Ministry of Culture’s “We TAIWAN” cultural program for Expo 2025 Osaka, the festival brought a vivid sense of Taiwan’s creativity and diversity to Japanese audiences. The event transformed the city into a meeting ground of traditions, innovations, and shared experiences, offering an intimate immersion into Taiwanese culture. What set this year apart was not just its scale—over 100 brands participating, the largest lineup yet—but the way it blended sustainability, design, and daily life into a vibrant showcase of modern Taiwan.

GACC Secretary-General Lee Hou-ching emphasized the role of the festival as a bridge, presenting Taiwan not as a distant concept but as a lived and relatable culture. The debut of 20 Taiwanese brands in Japan, combined with exhibitors practicing environmentally conscious design, highlighted both Taiwan’s innovative edge and its sense of responsibility. In doing so, “Taiwan Plus” managed to resonate with Japanese visitors on multiple levels—appealing to taste, craftsmanship, aesthetics, and values.

Deputy Minister of Culture Sue Wang underlined that the event was not simply about cultural export but about cultural integration. Beyond film screenings or literature readings, the Osaka edition brought food, handicrafts, and creative design into the everyday rhythms of Japanese life, giving visitors the feeling of experiencing Taiwan in their own city. This immersive dimension was reflected in the overwhelming response—over 100,000 people attending in just four days—turning the market into what many now call “the Taiwan Pavilion beyond the Expo.”

Having begun in Tokyo in 2018 and expanded to Kyoto last year, “Taiwan Plus” has now firmly established itself as a yearly event that evolves with each edition. Its Osaka debut proved that Taiwan’s cultural voice has a growing audience in Japan, one that is eager for both the familiar and the new. With Expo 2025 Osaka on the horizon, the festival stands not only as a warmup but as a signpost of Taiwan’s broader cultural presence in Japan, promising even deeper engagement in the years to come.