The 13th International Red and White Song Battle, an international song exchange event that embodies the message of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, will be held on September 19th

The 13th International Red and White Song Battle, an “international song exchange event” embodying the message of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, will be held on September 19th. ​
IRWS Press release: September 10, 2025 The 13th International Red and White Song Battle, an “international song exchange event” that embodies the message of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, will be held on September 19th. The International Red and White Song Battle is sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the
ASEAN-Japan Centre, the Association of Japanese Descendants Abroad, and the Consortium for Supporting International Students Osaka, as an international exchange event where foreigners sing in Japanese and Japanese people sing in a foreign language. This year, a
representative from Brazil will also be participating. The 13th International Kohaku Uta Gassen will be held at the Osaka-Kansai Expo on September 19, 2025 – Peace and friendship connecting the world through the power of song — Japanese society is currently facing the important challenge of how to welcome foreigners in a friendly atmosphere and deepen exchanges. In this context, the International Red and White Song Battle, launched by foreigners and Japanese people living in Japan in cooperation to deliver a message of recovery from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake to the world, holds great significance as a forum for true international exchange that transcends the barriers of nationality and culture.
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The finale featured an Asian male vocal group singing “Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana” (One and Only Flower in the World) in both Japanese and English. This event is unique in that foreigners sing in Japanese and Japanese people sing in a foreign language. Through singing, they touch each other’s hearts and build a bridge of understanding and friendship. This philosophy overlaps with the themes of “Diversity and Coexistence” and “Co-Creating the Future” of the Osaka-Kansai Expo. It resonates with the Expo’s vision of realizing a multicultural society and a future in which the world walks forward hand in hand, and hosting the event at the Expo site will be the perfect opportunity to more powerfully convey that message. https://img.youtube.com/vi/nnI0bHj5mow/sddefault.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnI0bHj5mow It’s also become a hot topic among the Japanese community in Brazil! Preliminary rounds have been held in the Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil, and other countries, with representatives from a diverse range of countries and regions participating. Holding the competition overseas also aims to increase the number of Japanese language learners and deepen understanding of Japanese culture. In 2025, a representative from São Paulo, Brazil, will also appear to commemorate the 130th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Brazil.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/169440/1/169440-1-0d48893cf001d5252b7aba0d634e596e-461×657.jpg This event, held at the Osaka Kansai Expo “Festival Station” on September 19th, will conclude with a moving, unified chorus of diverse voices, brought together by all participants and volunteers. This time, special guest Shinji Harada (Hiroshima Peace Culture
Ambassador), who successfully performed his first solo concert at the Nippon Budokan as a teenager, will be joining the event to add some excitement. Please look forward to the 13th International Kohaku Uta Gassen, where the power of song transcends borders and weaves hope for the future and friendship. Event overview Date and time: Friday, September 19, 2025 Venue: Osaka-Kansai Expo “Festival Station” Content: 13th International Red and White Song Battle Sponsors: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ASEAN-Japan Centre, Association of Japanese Descendants Overseas, Consortium for International Students Support Osaka Stars: Japanese and international representatives, special guest Shinji Harada Official website: https://irws.org Contact: International Red and White Song Battle Executive Committee, info@yokosojapan.net (Miyazaki) For more information about this release