"Special Edition Oshiro EXPO in Kumamoto 2026" will take place at Kumamoto Castle Hall on Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4, 2026. Organized by the Special Edition Oshiro EXPO in Kumamoto 2026 Executive Committee and co-hosted by Kumamoto City, the two-day event gathers castles and castle fans from across Japan in Kumamoto.
Castle PR Booths from Across Japan
The first floor of the venue will be lined with PR and merchandise booths from castles all over Japan. The booths will share sightseeing information useful for castle visits as well as excavation news, and will sell souvenirs from each region.
A scene from Oshiro EXPO 2025
Highlight: Touken Ranbu ONLINE x Special Edition Oshiro EXPO in Kumamoto 2026 Collaboration
At the collaboration corner on the third floor, six sword warriors (touken danshi) with ties to Kumamoto and Kumamoto Castle are featured, including Kasen Kanesada (歌仙兼定), associated with the Hosokawa family, and Hotarumaru (蛍丸), associated with Aso Shrine. Panels introduce each sword warrior and explain the history and origins of the sword that inspired the character.
On the first floor, a special photo spot shows the sword warriors with ties to the area standing side by side against a backdrop of Kumamoto Castle. A PR booth for Touken Ranbu ONLINE will also be set up.
The first-floor photo spot features sword warriors with ties to Kumamoto and Kumamoto Castle
Special Exhibition on 400 Years of Kumamoto Castle History
Kumamoto Castle was built in 1607 by Kato Kiyomasa and was later passed from the Kato family to the Hosokawa family. The exhibition traces these 400 years of history through a variety of items related to the Kato and Hosokawa families. It also shows how Kumamoto Castle, damaged in the Kumamoto Earthquake, has been restored up to the present and what lies ahead for the castle, conveying its historical and cultural value anew.
Highlight: Sword Display Corner
The sword display corner features a famed sword, "九州肥後同田貫藤原正國 十二 二月吉日," made by the Dotanuki school of swordsmiths. Also on display is the principal blade (真打, shinuchi) of the replica of Hotarumaru, which was dedicated to Aso Shrine in 2017 after a restoration and dedication project was launched by contemporary swordsmiths in 2015.
Oshigata (rubbings that copy the shape, inscription, and other features of a blade) of two swords held by Eisei Bunko are shown as well: the katana "刀 銘 濃州関住兼定作" (known as Kasen Kanesada) and the tachi "太刀 銘 豊後国行平作" (known as Kokin Denju no Tachi).
Left: the sword "九州肥後同田貫藤原正國 十二 二月吉日." Right: portrait of Dotanuki Masakuni (courtesy of Tamana City)
Lectures by Leading Specialists, Including a Talk Show with Actor Hideki Takahashi
The Selected Program (lectures) features Tetsuo Owada, chairman of the Japan Castle Association, along with Masafumi Kato, Yoshihiro Senda, Motoki Kuroda, and Yu Hirayama. On Sunday, October 4, actor Hideki Takahashi, known as a castle lover, will join as a special guest for a talk show.
Appearance dates and times for each speaker are listed on the official Special Edition Oshiro EXPO in Kumamoto 2026 website.
From left: Masafumi Kato, Yoshihiro Senda, Motoki Kuroda, Tetsuo Owada, Yu Hirayama, and Hideki Takahashi
Stage Events with Bushotai Troupes and Local Characters
The Oshiro EXPO Stage will host performances by bushotai (warlord troupes) from around the country, including the Kumamoto Castle Omotenashi Bushotai, the Matsue Wakamusha-tai, and the Nagoya Omotenashi Bushotai. A stage appearance by Kumamon, the PR character of Kumamoto Prefecture, is also planned for October 4.
Appearance dates and times for each troupe and local character are listed on the official website.
Highlight: Castle Talk Shows on Stage
Castle talk shows will also be held on the stage, with Asami Kuboi, a weather forecaster who loves castles; 傍島将大, who works as a historical talent; 栗原響大 (お城博士ちゃん), a high school student who loves castles; and 諸星天音 (戦国プリンセス博士ちゃん).
Appearance dates and times for each participant are listed on the official website.
From left: Asami Kuboi, 傍島将大, 栗原響大, and 諸星天音
Workshops Open to Everyone
The venue will also offer a cardboard sword-making experience, a modern armor dressing experience, and a castle karuta (card game) tournament, among other hands-on activities.
Original Special Edition Oshiro EXPO in Kumamoto 2026 Goods
Original goods for the event, including an original gojoin (castle seal) book, will be on sale at the venue. A new color of the Shiro Card Folder, which stores Shiro Cards (commemorative castle cards planned and supervised by the Japan Castle Association), will also be available.
Pocket-type original gojoin book for storing gojoin: ¥2,970 (tax included)
Original gojoin sticker, a collaboration item with Touken Ranbu ONLINE: ¥770 (tax included)
Shiro Card Folder in a new color, available ahead of general release: ¥2,860 (tax included)
Ticket Information
Tickets are on sale at the official ticket site and through various ticket outlets. For details, see the official website at https://kumamoto-oshiroexpo.com/.
Admission tickets (all prices include tax)
- Advance: ¥1,500 for high school students and older / general admission
- Day of the event: ¥2,000 for high school students and older / general admission
Day-of tickets: Available at the day-ticket window inside the Kumamoto Castle Hall venue on the day of the event.
Note: Attending the Selected Program (lectures) requires a separate Selected Program ticket in addition to the admission ticket.
Where to buy
- Official ticket site: https://oshiroexpo.tstar.jp/
- Online: Ticket Pia, Lawson Ticket, eplus, Rakuten Ticket, Seven Ticket, ZAIKO, and others
- In store: Seven-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart, Ministop
Admission tickets and admission tickets with an original gojoin can be purchased at convenience stores or on the official site. Selected Program tickets, one-day admission tickets, and tickets with original goods can only be purchased on the official site, not directly at convenience stores. After purchasing on the official site, you can choose either an e-ticket or convenience store ticket issuance.
Event Details
- Event name: Special Edition Oshiro EXPO in Kumamoto 2026 – Reiwa 8 Kumamoto Earthquake Recovery Support Project
- Dates: Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4, 2026
- Venue: Kumamoto Castle Hall (3-40 Sakuramachi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture)
- Organizer: Special Edition Oshiro EXPO in Kumamoto 2026 Executive Committee
- Co-host: Kumamoto City
- Official website: https://kumamoto-oshiroexpo.com/
Exhibitions and stage
- Special exhibition on 400 years of Kumamoto Castle history, with the "Kyushu Warlords Lined Up! Giant Armor Corner" (九州の武将揃い踏み！大甲冑コーナー), the "Ultra-Detailed Kumamoto Castle Model Corner" (超精巧・熊本城模型コーナー), and the "Must-See Sword Display Corner" (必見・刀剣展示コーナー)
- Touken Ranbu ONLINE x Special Edition Oshiro EXPO in Kumamoto 2026 collaboration corner
- Panel exhibition of Japan's Top 100 Castles and the Continued Top 100 Castles
- PR booths from castles nationwide and a special booth by the Kumamoto High School castle team
- A special corner collecting messages of support for Kumamoto Castle
- Stage events by bushotai troupes and local characters
- Workshops
Selected Program (lectures): 6 lectures in total
