The National Confectionery Expo Council (Chairman Akio Naganuma, who also chairs the National Confectionery Manufacturers' Federation) has decided that Ogaki, Gifu Prefecture, will host the 29th National Confectionery Expo. The expo will run for 17 days, from Friday, September 14 to Sunday, September 30, 2029, marking Gifu's first time hosting the event in about a century. Ogaki, a meeting point between eastern and western Japan long known as the "Musubi no Chi" where Matsuo Basho's Oku no Hosomichi journey ends, will bring together the country's diverse confectionery cultures and create a new stage for exchange that carries Japan's sweets to the world.
The National Confectionery Expo has a history of more than 100 years, showcasing Japan's confectionery culture and manufacturing techniques, passing them on to the next generation, and contributing to the growth of the confectionery industry nationwide. Following the 2025 expo held in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, the Gifu Prefecture Confectionery Industry Association (Chairman 鈴木伝) put forward Ogaki's candidacy for the next event. After winning approval at the general meeting of the National Confectionery Manufacturers' Federation, the host city was decided unanimously by the National Confectionery Expo Council.
Event Overview
| Name | The 29th National Confectionery Expo, Gifu / Ogaki (tentative) |
| Nickname | Gifu Confectionery Expo in Ogaki 2029 (tentative) |
| Theme | Sending Japan's Sweets to the World: Tradition and Innovation |
| Concept | From Ogaki, the Musubi no Chi, Connecting Japan's Sweets with the World |
| Dates | Friday, September 14 to Sunday, September 30, 2029 (17 days) |
| Venues | Ogaki City General Gymnasium (main venue), Softopia Japan Center (opening ceremony / satellite venue), Ogaki City Information Studio (satellite venue) |
| Organizer | 29th National Confectionery Expo Gifu-Ogaki Executive Committee (Gifu Prefecture Confectionery Industry Association and others, planned) |
Concept
From Ogaki, the Musubi no Chi, Connecting Japan's Sweets with the World
Ogaki, a meeting point between eastern and western Japan also known as the "Musubi no Chi" for its association with Matsuo Basho's Oku no Hosomichi, will bring together the country's diverse confectionery cultures and create a new place of exchange where Japan's confectionery meets the world. The expo will unfold around four themes of "connecting":
- Connecting east and west, connecting Japan and the world
- Connecting region to region, and people to people
- Connecting tradition and the future
- Connecting smiles through sweets
Basic Policies
- Create a new, sustainable model for hosting the National Confectionery Expo.
- Share the confectionery culture and regional appeal of Gifu Prefecture and the Chubu region with Japan and the world.
- Contribute to regional revitalization by promoting the appeal of Ogaki and Gifu Prefecture.
- Respond to inbound demand and aim for a confectionery expo that is open to the world.
- Advance new confectionery expo operations and digitalization of the confectionery industry through DX.
- Nurture children's dreams and help develop the industry's future leaders.
- Create the expo together with the region, with participation from local businesses, schools, and organizations.
About the Host City — Ogaki, Gifu Prefecture: A City of Water and Confectionery
Located almost at the center of the Japanese archipelago, Ogaki has long developed as a hub of east-west transportation. Known as a "city of water" blessed with abundant groundwater, it is home to a distinctive confectionery culture that includes mizu manju, and it is also known as the "Musubi no Chi" associated with the haiku master Matsuo Basho's Oku no Hosomichi. With excellent access to Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, and other cities, it serves as a hub for wide-area tourism connecting the Chubu, Kansai, and Hokuriku regions.
Mizu manju
Oku no Hosomichi's Musubi no Chi
Springs found throughout the city
Nakasendo's Akasaka-juku
Comment from 鈴木伝, Chairman of the Gifu Prefecture Confectionery Industry Association (CEO, Eikodo Holdings Co., Ltd.)
"Ogaki is a city where long-established confectionery shops remain, and after repeated discussions with colleagues here, we put ourselves forward as a candidate to host the expo. I believe the Confectionery Expo is an event that can also contribute to the local economy. We chose September because it's the season when specialties from across the prefecture — mizu manju, kuri kinton, ayu-gashi, dagashi, and more — are all in season. We will continue our preparations so that as many people as possible can enjoy the richness of confectionery culture gathered from across the country, as well as from Gifu Prefecture itself."
What's Next
Following the decision on the host city, a ceremony to hand over the expo flag kept by the National Confectionery Expo Council is planned for January 12, 2027 (tentative), at the New Year gathering of the National Confectionery Manufacturers' Federation in Tokyo. The flag will pass from Chairman Akio Naganuma of the Hokkaido Confectionery Industry Association to Chairman 鈴木伝 of the Gifu Prefecture Confectionery Industry Association.
Further details on host and supporting organizations, the full program, visitor targets, and tickets will be announced once decided.
