The 3rd Japan International Art Festival: Kagura / KURAGE Band Organizer: Yumeshima New Industry and Urban Creation Organization World Cultural Resonance at Expo: KURAGE Band Special – Connecting Folk Performing Arts through the Songs of Life and STEAM – Venue: Pop-Up Stage South, Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2025 | 19:15–20:15 Performers: – NAKAJIMA Sachiko (piano) – CHOI Jecheol (janggu, Korean drum) – Ablaye N'Diaye ROSE (djembe, sabar, talking drum – Senegal) – KOBAYASHI Takefumi (drums) – and others Overview KURAGE Band, led by Thematic Project Producer NAKAJIMA Sachiko, is known for weaving together music from Japan, Korea, Senegal, Cameroon, and beyond. The band’s core philosophy is to generate new forms of culture through the co-creation of diverse cultural and individual characteristics. Ultimately, their music aspires to resemble a "local festival", born from collaboration not only among people across generations and backgrounds, but also with the land, sea, rivers, and forests, transcending the stage to become a shared experience rooted in everyday life. In this performance, KURAGE Band will explore collaboration with musicians from various countries participating in the Expo. Blending bodily expression with technology, and tradition with future creativity, the event will be a multi-sensory live performance that embodies the resonance of diverse cultures. Please come and experience it for yourself.

The First Event at Inochi Park, Surrounded by the Signature Pavilions of Expo 2025! Featuring Saeki Bayashi, a local performing arts group from Katano City, Osaka, Fendika, a traditional performing arts group from Ethiopia, and the multicultural KURAGE Band led by Expo 2025 Thematic Project Producer NAKAJIMA Sachiko. In this special edition, the world-renowned taiko performing arts ensemble KODO from Sado Island will also perform! Date & Time: Sunday, July 20, 2025, 16:30 – 18:00 Venue: Inochi Park, Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai (in case of severe weather, the event will be held at the Jellyfish Pavilion) Reservation: Not required (please note that entry may be restricted in case of congestion) Admission: Free (however, an Expo 2025 admission ticket is required) Organizer: Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition Management: NKB Inc. Planning: steAm, Inc. and Tanzaku Project (NPO) Contact: katano-ethiopia@steam21.com (Katano–Ethiopia International Exchange Office)

The second event at Inochi Park, “Festival of Life ~ World Life Band,” is part of the Cabinet Secretariat’s Expo International Exchange Program connecting Izumi City and Senegal. Performers include the multicultural KURAGE Band led by Thematic Project Producer NAKAJIMA Sachiko; the miraculous Doudou N'Diaye Rose Heritage, the family of Senegal’s National Treasure Doudou N'Diaye Rose (an extraordinarily rare performance on the global stage); and Izumi Taiko Koseisen, who also serve as PR Ambassadors for Izumi City. Elementary school students from Izumi City will also take part, bringing together borders, generations, and cultures into one. Date & Time: Thursday, July 24, 2025, 16:30 –18:00 Venue: Inochi Park, Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan Reservation: Not required (*please note entry may be restricted in case of congestion) Admission: Free (*however, an Expo 2025 admission ticket is required) Organizer: Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition Management: NKB Co., Ltd. *In case of severe weather, the event will be held at the “Playground of Life: Jellyfish Pavilion.”

“World Life Music Concert — Connecting the World with KURAGE Band led by NAKAJIMA Sachiko” The multicultural KURAGE Band, led by musician and mathematics researcher NAKAJIMA Sachiko, will host the World Life Music Concert that connects the world through sound. The band will welcome outstanding guest artists from Ethiopia, Senegal, and Liberia who are dedicated to preserving and passing on their countries’ traditional music. Date & Time: Friday, July 25, 2025 — Doors open 17:45 / Concert starts 18:15 Venue: Grand Hall, Ritsumeikan University Osaka Ibaraki Campus (2-150 Iwakura-cho, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-8570, Japan)Organizer: steAm, Inc.