Brussels, 23rd April 2024 – Next year’s World Expo 2025 Osaka will feature air and water spectacle "Under the Midnight Rainbow" by Daikin and Suntory, two companies founded in Osaka, Japan. Global heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration leader Daikin has co-created the show with multinational beverage and food company group Suntory. The show takes place in the largest show area in Expo history at 8,800 square metres and encourages the audience to think of what people in the present day could do to create a better future together.
- Largest show area in Expo history at 8,800 square metres
- Nearly 300 fountains will tell the story of life
- New website tells the story www.expo2025.airandwatershow.jp/en
Collaboration between two companies founded in Osaka
Daikin Industries, Ltd. (Daikin Europe N.V.’s parent company) and Suntory Holdings Limited were both founded in Osaka. For both companies, the theme of the Osaka, Kansai World Expo, "Designing Future Society for Our Lives", resonates strongly with their mission, so they decided to jointly exhibit at the Expo.
“Under the Midnight Rainbow” will be a spectacular show that utilizes water, air, light, fire, video and music in depicting the story of life on a grandiose scale. The event will be held every day after sunset during the Expo at the Water Plaza, a symbolic area of the World Expo.
The show reflects the wish of both companies that audiences will have a new spirit for a better future through the experience of the story of water and air, elements that have witnessed and interacted with everything on earth for billions of years.
In addition to the two companies, the project involves Japanese artists and ECA2, a French production company that has been planning and holding world-class events and shows for over 20 years.
About the show
Majestic idea inspired by the elements air and water, surrounding the earth
The concept of this show tells the story of a festival where air and water create protective bonds and envelop life.
Air and water were born on our planet billions of years ago. All living creatures, including humans, consume air and water in passing down the baton of life and evolution. The concept of this show emanates from this fantastical idea: “If we could listen to the conversations of air and water, which have seen everything of earth, what kinds of stories would they tell us about what has happened on earth? Maybe they would counsel us on the future path that we should take.”
Japanese:
アオと夜の虹のパレード
(Ao to yoru no niji no paredo)
English:
Under the Midnight Rainbow
The word “Ao,” which appears in the title, means blue in Japanese and is the name of a child who is the main character of the story. It is also a shared image of air and water. “Yoru no niji” means night rainbow, a rare natural phenomenon observed on nights when the air is rich in moisture and the moon is bright. It becomes a miraculous time when living beings are filled with vitality.
Story
When a rainbow appears on a moonlit night on an island where legends still endure, the living beings there are rumoured to hold a festival. On one such night, Ao, a child of the island, encounters a magical rainbow. In this mysterious story, Ao mingles and communicates with various creatures at the festival and is delighted.
Spectacular show held daily in the largest show area in Expo history
A massive stage space is being created on the water of the “Water Plaza,” which is roughly 200 meters by 60 meters in area. The largest-ever show area in Expo history will measure 8,800 square meters. At the centre of the stage, a water cascade will be constructed to form a water screen. In a stunning arrangement, 300 fountains will be placed together with a variety of lighting, lasers and other production equipment. These elements will resonate with music, creating a spectacular show where visitors can experience the story.
Visual Illustration
Event details
Scheduled every day at the Water Plaza after sunset from Sunday April 13 until Monday October 13, 2025.
About the production
Kenji Kohashi, the Osaka/Kansai Expo event producer, has assembled creators who are active around the world to plan and produce the entertainment content for this show.
Production is performed by Naoki Tanaka, who directed the colourful projection mapping at the TOKYO 2020 Paralympic Opening Ceremony "PARAde of ATHLETES." Music composer, arranger, and producer Yoko Kanno, who was selected as one of Newsweek’s "100 Japanese People the World Respects" in 2023, is in charge of the music. ECA2, a French production company that has been planning and holding world-class events and shows for over 20 years, is also participating with its unique mix of art and technology.
Artist profiles
Naoki Tanaka, Planning/Concept Originator, Creative Director / Dentsu Lab Tokyo
Naoki Tanaka is a creative director who works both in Japan and overseas and is flexible in planning using words, images, design, technology, and other means appropriate to the task.
He continues to send powerful, borderless expressions and messages that include "PARAde of Athletes" at the opening ceremony of the TOKYO 2020 Paralympic Games and "All Players Welcome," which is developing a new communication tool with ALS creators. He has received numerous awards both in Japan and abroad.
Yoko Kanno, Music Composer, Arranger and Music Producer
Yoko Kanno composed “Hana a Saku,” NHK’s song in support of relief efforts for the Great East Japan Earthquake and has written songs for such anime productions as “COWBOY BEBOP (Japanese/1998) (US/live-action version/2021),” “Macross Frontier,” and “Ghost in the Shell S.A.C.”. Kanno composed, arranged, and conducted the three-movement suite, “Ray of Water,” at the 2019 enthronement celebration for the ascension of Emperor Naruhito. She was also the music composer for Netflix series “The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House,” and is one of Newsweek’s “100 Japanese People the World Respects” in 2023.
Profile of ECA2, Production
ECA2 is an event production company that utilizes art and technology to generate magnificent, transcendent, multi-sensorial experiences for the creation of unforgettable shows.
For 35 years, it has created many unique works for exhibitions such as the World's fairs and Olympic ceremonies, permanent shows at amusement parks and tourist destinations, and one-night sensational events that spotlight a particular place, city, or country. Its team specializes in spectacular shows and has produced more than 60 shows in 17 countries.
About Daikin
About Daikin Europe N.V.
Daikin Europe N.V. is a subsidiary of the global group Daikin Industries, and the leading provider of heating, cooling, ventilation, air purification and refrigeration (HVAC&R) technology in Europe, Middle East and Africa. Daikin designs, manufactures, and brings to market a broad portfolio of products, maintenance services as well as turnkey solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial purposes. To date Daikin Europe has over 13,700 employees across more than 57 consolidated subsidiaries. It has 14 manufacturing facilities based in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria, the United Kingdom, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The headquarters of the Daikin Europe group are in Ostend, Belgium. The company was established in 1972, production in Europe started in 1973.
About Daikin Industries Ltd.
Daikin Industries was founded in 1924, in Osaka, Japan and is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The global group employs over 96,000 people worldwide and is the market leader for heat pump and air conditioning systems, as well as air filtration. It is the only manufacturer in the world that develops and manufactures heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration equipment, as well as refrigerants in-house. The company achieved € 28.2 billion sales turnover in fiscal year 2022 (1 April 2022 – 31 March 2023).
Read more on www.daikin.eu and www.daikin.com.
Media Contacts Daikin Europe N.V.
Sofie Sap – T.: +32 472 580482 Mail: sap.s@daikineurope.com
Daisuke Kakinaga – T.: +32 465 462321 Mail: kakinaga.d@bxl.daikineurope.com
