On Sunday, April 12, 2026, a special one-night drone show illuminated the skies over Expo Commemoration Park's Momijigawa Lawn Plaza in Suita, Osaka, to mark the first anniversary of Expo 2025, Osaka, Kansai, Japan. The performance was part of "EXPO2025 Futures Festival," the opening event of the "EXPO2025 Futures" memorial project organized by the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition.
The drone show — a special version of "One World, One Planet." — deployed 3,000 drones to draw giant formations of MYAKU-MYAKU and the Grand Ring across the Osaka night sky, captivating the large crowd gathered at the venue.
Reliving the Memories of Expo 2025 in the Night Sky
One year after the opening of Expo 2025, Osaka, Kansai, Japan, the drone show "One World, One Planet." that was performed on the expo's final day (October 13, 2025) returned to the night sky, this time with 3,000 drones. The performance evoked vivid memories of the expo, drawing an enthusiastic response from the audience.
The giant MYAKU-MYAKU formation — which had made a surprise appearance on the expo's closing day — returned to the night sky after six months. Formed by 2,003 drones and measuring approximately 210m tall × 180m wide × 65m deep, MYAKU-MYAKU addressed the crowd in the Kansai dialect: "Everyone — it's been so long!", generating a strong sense of unity throughout the venue.
Adding to the excitement, a surprise performance recreated the Grand Ring using 425 drones, measuring approximately 45m tall × 342m wide × 36m deep. The formation paid tribute to one of the most iconic architectural structures of Expo 2025, Osaka, Kansai, Japan.
A New Stage at Expo Commemoration Park
The event took place at Expo Commemoration Park, the site of the 1970 Japan World Exposition (Osaka Expo). The "One World, One Planet." drone show that had captivated audiences at the Expo 2025 venue effectively returned to the very land where Japan's expo history began.
With the Expo 2025 venue on Yumeshima having been dismantled after the expo's close, the show moved to a new location, yet managed to recreate the Grand Ring in the night sky — symbolically reconstructing one of Expo 2025's most iconic structures. It became a performance connecting past, present, and future at a place deeply rooted in the history of world expositions.
A Multi-Layered Light Show Across the Sky
The approximately 14-minute show combined precise drone light formations with flash modules boasting around six times the brightness of conventional LED lights, as well as drones equipped with fireworks, creating a dynamic and multi-layered spectacle.
Each individual drone's light twinkled, spread, and shifted shape, drawing waves of cheers from the audience throughout the performance.
From Spectators to Participants: How Crowdfunding Made It Happen
The show was made possible through a crowdfunding campaign titled "【Opening 1st Anniversary Memorial】Support the Special Expo Drone Show Project!!" The initial funding goal of 10 million yen was reached in just two days from launch. Support continued to grow, ultimately reaching a total of 29,319,334 yen from 1,870 backers — 293% of the original goal.
The Momijigawa Lawn Plaza venue welcomed approximately 5,000 visitors in total, comprising crowdfunding backers and winners of a free advance lottery held by the organizers. The "EXPO2025 Futures Festival" received approximately 400,000 applications overall, with around 30,000 winning tickets — a ratio of roughly 14 to 1. The drone show viewing section alone attracted approximately 110,000 applications, reflecting the extraordinary level of public interest.
Expanded Expression Through Community Support
The support of 1,870 backers expanded the scope of the show's visual expression. In addition to the MYAKU-MYAKU and Grand Ring drone formations, the performance incorporated flash modules and fireworks-equipped drones, resulting in a richer and more layered display of light.
The collective wishes of many individuals came together as one unified sight in the night sky.
A Light That Reaches Into the Future
This project went beyond simply recreating memories of the expo — it was a new endeavor to rekindle the hope and sense of connection felt during that time and carry them forward into the future. Thanks to the many supporters and their contributions through crowdfunding, this special one-night event was brought to life.
Event Overview
- Event Name: Expo 2025, Osaka, Kansai, Japan Opening 1st Anniversary Event "EXPO2025 Futures Festival"
- Date: Sunday, April 12, 2026
- Venue: Expo Commemoration Park, Momijigawa Lawn Plaza (Senri Banpaku Koen, Suita City, Osaka Prefecture)
- Number of Drones Used: 3,000
- Drone Show Operation: REDCLIFF, Inc.
