Key Facts
• Oji Town in Nara Prefecture celebrates 100 years on February 11, 2026.
• Staff aimed to collect 100 pin badges at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo.
• Official mascot “Yukimaru” drone pin badge was created for exchanges.
• Initial badge collection in April 2025 was about 30 due to customs delays.
• Staff regularly visited Expo to negotiate badge exchanges with international pavilions.
• By late September 2025, 100 badges were successfully collected, including one from Guyana.
• Special exhibition held at Liber Oji shopping center until March 2026 displays all badges and digital stamps.
• Expo theme: “Designing Future Society for Our Lives to Shine,” held for 184 days on Yumeshima Island.
• 158 countries and regions participated, creating lasting legacies for local governments.
• Staff experienced warm human connections beyond language barriers during exchanges.
Summary
To mark its 100th anniversary, Oji Town in Nara Prefecture actively engaged in the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo by exchanging pin badges symbolizing friendship with representatives from 158 participating countries. Despite early challenges such as customs delays limiting initial badge availability, town staff persevered through repeated visits and negotiations, ultimately collecting 100 badges by September 2025. The official mascot “Yukimaru” drone pin badge served as a unique exchange item, fostering international goodwill. A special exhibition showcasing all collected badges, digital stamps, and photos is held at the Liber Oji shopping center through March 2026, celebrating the Expo’s legacy. Beyond the badges, staff valued the human warmth and communication achieved despite language differences, highlighting the Expo’s enduring impact on community and cultural exchange.
