The Special Promotion Conference on Shanxi Culture and Tourism (Kyoto) for the Expo 2025 Osaka Concludes Successfully

From September 27th to 29th, the Shanxi Week of the Expo 2025 Osaka kicked off wonderfully. As a highlight, the “Millennial Charm of Shanxi, Shared with Japan” Shanxi Culture and Tourism (Kyoto) Special Promotion Conference took the lead on September 27th. The dance “Dreamlike Yungang” recreated the charm of the grottoes, intangible cultural heritage stories conveyed the warmth of craftsmanship, Shanxi noodle art master demonstrated “art on the tip of the tongue”, and Shanxi-Japan enterprises signed agreements to expand practical cooperation... The promotion conference, as a “Rendezvous of Shanxi and Japan” pning mountains and seas, added new luster to the cultural and tourism exchange between China and Japan.

From the stunning opening performance “Celebrating the Year of the Snake – Splendid Chapters of Shanxi Charm” of the Shanxi Cultural Year at the beginning of the year in Tokyo, to the in-depth dialogue in the ancient capital of Kyoto this autumn, Shanxi’s cultural exchange activities in Japan have continued unabated with sustained enthusiasm. Through various forms such as cultural displays, intangible cultural heritage experiences, and project signings, the event collectively presented Shanxi’s profound historical heritage, magnificent natural landscapes, and vibrant intangible cultural heritage skills to all sectors of Japanese society, further deepening cultural, tourism exchanges and practical cooperation between Shanxi and Japan, and injecting new vitality into Sino-Japanese cultural mutual learning. 

The promotion conference began with an immersive cultural experience. The Yungang Grottoes niches, the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, the colored sculptures of Changzhi Guanyin Hall... during the warm-up session, the promotional video “the Destined One: Shanxi Special” premiered, leading the guests on a virtual tour through Shanxi’s magnificent scroll with the Monkey King. At the event, guests from both Shanxi and Japan engaged in in-depth discussions on cultural and tourism cooperation. The relevant official from the Shanxi Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism stated in his speech that Shanxi and Japan, especially Kyoto, share profound historical connections and remarkable cultural resonance. The Shanxi Provincial Government will continue to optimize the policy environment, provide high-quality services for Japanese friends investing, starting businesses, and traveling in Shanxi, and sincerely invited everyone to visit Shanxi personally to jointly open a new chapter in Shanxi-Japan cultural and tourism exchanges. 

Toyoki Oka, Representative Director and Bureau Chief of the Japan-China Investment Promotion Organization, shared his deep connection with Shanxi in his speech. He expressed hope that both sides, whether in Japan or China, could continuously enhance mutual understanding through face-to-face, on-site exchanges, and ultimately yield fruitful results in economic and trade cooperation. 

The on-site promotion conference showcased Shanxi’s charm through multiple formats. Jin Xiao, inheritor of the provincial-level intangible cultural heritage Zezhou Ironware craftsmanship, told the story of “a millennium in an iron pot”, highlighting the commonalities between Zezhou ironware and Japanese casting culture. Wang Xing, representative of Datong Naoteng Culture Media Co., Ltd., shared how young teams are using creative design to make Shanxi’s intangible cultural heritage like shadow puppetry and paper-cutting “trendy”, attracting the attention of young Japanese. Qu Zhaohui, Director of the Social Development Department of the Shanxi Development and Reform Commission, detailed the Taosi National Archaeological Site Park, leading the audience to trace the origins of Chinese civilization and sparking deep reflection on cultural heritage. 

Furthermore, a joint instrumental performance of “The Sea in Spring” by Chinese and Japanese artists interpreted the blending and symbiosis of the two countries’ cultures with melodious tunes. The noodle art performance by Shanxi noodle master Wang Zhanglong, transforming dough into “Dragon’s Whisker Noodles” as fine as hair, allowed guests to experience the “art on the tip of the tongue” up close and immerse themselves in the charm of Shanxi folk culture. 

During the event, Shanxi Jinyuntang Culture Technology Co., Ltd. and Japan’s DEN Co., Ltd. formally signed a cooperation agreement. The two parties will collaborate on the overseas promotion of Zezhou ironware and the development of cultural and tourism derivative products. This signing is not only another achievement in Shanxi’s intangible cultural heritage “going global”, but also marks a step from “exchange” to “practical cooperation” in Shanxi-Japan cultural and tourism collaboration, laying the foundation for the implementation of more follow-up projects. 

It is reported that during the Shanxi Week at the Expo 2025 Osaka, artists from Shanxi brought a variety of brilliant performances. Chinese drum performances “Shanxi Drum Rhyme”, dance “Red Lantern”, Jin Opera performance “Ode to Guan Gong”, shadow puppetry interactive experiences... These cultural performances integrated Shanxi’s intangible cultural heritage, opera, and folk customs, showcasing traditional skills like the “Lingzi” feather movement technique and drum music, while also revitalizing ancient architectural culture through dance, allowing Japanese audiences to feel the charm of Shanxi and building a new bridge for Sino-Japanese cultural exchange.