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Message from the General Producer of the Sado Island Galaxy Art Festival 2025

Sado Island, the largest remote island in the Sea of Japan, is a land rich in nature, unique history, and diverse culture. The Sado Island Galaxy Art Festival 2025 will be held again this year. This art festival, commissioned by the Japan Cultural Expo 2.0, is an international art festival that invites you to think about and create a “better future.”

Sado Island was once a major gold mining region, influential　on the international community. It is also a place for exile for Emperor Juntoku, who lost the Jōkyū War, and Zeami, who was persecuted by Ashikaga Yoshinori. From the Edo period to the Meiji period, Kitamaebune ships actively traveled between the Kinki, Hokuriku, and Hokkaido regions. As a result, Sado flourished as an “Island of Exchange” where a rich variety of cultures intersected. The unique cultures fostered by this exchange, such as Noh and Ondeko, are still deeply rooted on the island. A strong sense of “authentic Japan” is also preserved there. Sado’s unique culture, born from the Sado Island Gold Mine, a World Heritage Site, is packed with international value and a deep history.

Blessed by its rich nature, unique history, and the charm of the people who live here, artists from Japan and abroad have gathered on Sado Island to reconstruct Sado’s charms and shed new light on them through their own unique expressions. In addition to artworks installations scattered across the island, primarily in the Ryotsu district, there will also be a wealth of live performances, special tours, and hands-on experiences. Transcending language barriers, this art experience engages all five senses, promising an unforgettable memory for every visitor.

Using art as a starting point, you’re sure to discover new charms of Sado by experiencing Sado’s rich culture, including its nature, cuisine, and historical architecture. Grab a map and audio guide and explore the island. With every step, you’ll be able to deeply reflect on yourself and discover your inner being. It will also remind you of the forgotten sense that we are part of nature—and by extension, the universe.

In an era of unpredictable global affairs and natural disasters, this art festival aims to challenge existing norms and hierarchies, embracing ambiguity and diversity. It is my hope that this will be an opportunity for each of us to reflect on our own place in the world.

The past and the future will converse, and everything will begin to come together. It is my sincere hope that the new discoveries and experiences felt through the five senses at the Sado Island Galaxy Art Festival will inspire us to consider the future of the Earth, and that the actions of each of us will become a sure premonition that will lead to a better world.

To everyone visiting the Osaka-Kansai Expo and the “Sado Island Gold Mine” World Heritage Site, please come and discover the profound charm of Japan through this art experience on Sado Island.

I look forward to meeting people from all over the world.

Sado Island Galaxy Art Festival 2025 General Producer: Morito Yoshida

Concept

  • Dates：

    2025 Spring/Autumn (core period)/Winter (142 days)
    Spring: Fri. April 25 – Sun. June 8 (45 days) Tours and experiences
    Autumn: Fri. Sept 19 – Sun. Nov 9 (52 days) Core period: Art exhibitions, events, tours, experiences
    Winter: Fri. Jan 23 – Sun. March 8 (45 days) Tours and experiences
    Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays *Excluding public holidays

  • Venue：

    Ryotsu area and multiple other locations throughout Sado Island

  • Producer：

    Morito Yoshida

  • Advisor：

    Noi Sawaragi / Naohiro Ukawa / Hiroyuki Ogawa

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