Pa amb tomàquet, wine tastings and Miró: Catalan Week kicks off at Osaka Expo

Catalan Week at the Osaka World Expo 2025 kicked off on Tuesday with gastronomy, technology and culture taking center stage.

Organizers are aiming to attract some of the tens of thousands of Japanese visitors attending the event.

Visitors to the Spain Pavilion, which houses the Catalan showcase, can learn how to make the quintessential Catalan dish pa amb tomàquet (bread with tomato), attend wine masterclasses, learn to paint like Joan Miró, and explore the connections between language and modernist architecture.

Guests will also be able to interact with a brainwave-reading interface that generates personalized artwork, developed by the Catalan public innovation agency Biocat and the company Neuroelectrics.

With the week-long program of activities, Catalonia seeks to raise its profile at this major international event, which brings together nearly 160 countries and has already attracted over five million visitors in just over a month.

"A full picture of Catalonia"

With a budget of €500,000, the week features around 100 events.

Foreign minister Jaume Duch praised the big turnout on the opening day, saying "it's clear we've connected with the public."

According to Duch, after visiting the exhibition, "you walk away with a full picture of what Catalonia is."

Catalonia and Japan are "two countries, two territories, that somehow are very similar," Duch said.

"They combine tradition and history with innovation and an interest in technology and in always moving forward. That's what we want to show here with a mix of culture, art, modern technology and knowledge of the country," he added.

Catalan Week's official opening ceremony will take place on Wednesday, with President Salvador Illa in attendance as part of his official tour of Japan and South Korea.

Foodie treats

Daily tastings and cooking workshops will be led by Josep Barahona, a Catalan chef based in Japan for 25 years and a pioneer in introducing Catalan cuisine to the country.

Wine masterclasses will be offered by sommelier Óscar Salmerón, CEO of Romea Wines, a leading importer of Catalan wine in Japan.

Another culinary highlight will be a discussion on Catalonia's contribution to gastronomic innovation, featuring two top chefs: Carme Ruscalleda and Joan Roca.

Art and music

Art is another one of the week's key themes, with a particular focus on Catalan painter Joan Miró. 

Miró who created a painting and mural for the 1970 Osaka Expo, now housed in the Japanese city's National Museum of Art.

The Joan Miró Foundation will offer daily workshops inspired by the techniques used in that mural and the artist's other works.

On the open-air stage of the Spain Pavilion – designed to evoke a sunset – visitors can enjoy performances by Catalan artists throughout the week.

Acts include Aranese singer Alidé Sans and the rumba group Muchacho & Los Sobrinos.

Tourism

Japan currently ranks among the top 20 countries for international tourism to Catalonia.

"Everybody is already interested in Spain, but Catalonia maybe needs some more explanation," said Sachiko Yoshimura, head of global communications at Expo 2025.

"I think this week is amazing to put out the message, because everybody loves to go to Barcelona, for example. They know the city."