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Publication - Independent report

Scotland at Expo Osaka 2025: Evaluation Report

Published
30 January 2026
From
Director of International Trade and Investment, +14 more … Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic, Director for Business and Better Regulation, Director of Digital, Director of Digital Health and Care, Director of Economic Development, Director of Energy and Climate Change, Director of Offshore Wind, Director-General Economy, Director-General Health and Social Care, Director-General Net Zero, Minister for Business and Employment
Directorate
International Trade and Investment Directorate, +6 more … Culture and External Affairs Directorate, Digital Directorate, Digital Health and Care Directorate, Economic Development Directorate, Energy and Climate Change Directorate, Offshore Wind Directorate
Topic
Business, industry and innovation, Economy, Energy, +2 more … Environment and climate change, International
ISBN
9781806437122

An evaluation report detailing the work undertaken in developing and delivering Scotland's programme of activity and engagement at Expo Osaka 2025 between April and October 2025, highlighting key outcomes achieved.

View supporting documents Supporting documents

Section 9: Wider Scottish Engagement

UK National Day

Scottish representation was in the form of performances by the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and Scottish singer, Nina Nesbitt. Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo featured throughout national day including a parade on the top of the Grand Ring watched by some 500 people; a UK Pavilion performance and flag raising ceremony; and a special evening performance along side the BBC Planet Earth III Live in concert. Scottish singer, Nina Nesbitt was chosen specifically by DBT and she delivered two performances to audiences of around 800 people.

Scottish programme entertainment

Traditional Scottish musical entertainment delivered by The Association of Exiled Scots supported the April gaming activation and consumer Industries reception at Expo Osaka and the pre Expo evening reception in the UK Embassy in Tokyo.

Traditional Japanese Taiko performances were delivered at evening reception events as part of the April and September programmes in Tokyo and the UK Pavilion at Osaka. A bagpiper provided traditional Scottish entertainment outside the UK Pavilion throughout the day of both the June and September Activations.

UK Pavilion shop

Two Scottish companies benefitted from product inclusion in the UK Pavilion shop - POTR origami plant pots and Edinburgh Natural Skincare. Over 1,000 of their bespoke products were sold over the duration of the six months of Expo

UK Festival of Flavours

The UK’s Festival of Flavours took place in the UK Pavilion on 14th and 15th June and offered an immersive tasting experience of the produce on show. This included a range of produce from some of Scotland’s best known food and drink brands: Dean's; Seafood Scotland; Tunnock's; Walkers Shortbread; Pekoe Tea; and Thompson's Gin

UK Missions Programme

Between 9th and 14th June, Isle of Barra Distillers represented Scotland as part of a UK Food and Drink Trade Mission. This mission supported Isle of Barra to undertake a range of business to business engagements, networking evening receptions and meet the buyer events in both Tokyo and Osaka.

Blazing Griffin, who were part of Scotland’s April Gaming delegation, represented Scottish interests as part of the UK’s video gaming trade mission which took place between 14th and 25th July. During this mission delegates connected with industry players in Tokyo; attended the BitSummit independent games festival; and engaged with the specially curated Video Games Transforming Lives exhibit at Expo Osaka.

Contact

Email: robert.logan@gov.scot

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