Polish Presidency of the EU Council Commemoration: Poland. Smile Day

On June 30, 2025, the Poland Pavilion at Expo Osaka will become a space where reflection on mental health meets the energy of cooperation, joy, and music. As part of Poland’s ongoing Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the country will invite World Expo participants to take part in the Polish Day of the Smile – a full-day event highlighting the role of empathy, community, and culture in supporting individual and collective well-being.

The event will consist of two main parts: in the morning, an international conference on mental health will take place; in the evening, the Symbiosis Symphony multimedia concert will be held at the Matsuri Expo Arena. Throughout the day, the Poland Pavilion will remain open to visitors, while the outdoor workshop zone beneath it will offer a variety of activities inspired by the theme of smiling and sharing positive emotions.

Conference on mental well-being

Time: 10:00–12:35
Venue: Theme Weeks Studio

The international conference on mental well-being will bring together representatives from social organizations, academia, creatives, and practitioners from Poland and Japan. Topics will include children’s mental health, burnout prevention, emotional education, and the importance of health-focused design.

Conference agenda:

• 10:00–10:05 – Welcome
  Marta Zielińska, Deputy Commissioner General of the Polish Section at Expo Osaka 2025
• 10:05–10:35 – Children’s mental health and emotional education in the context of Janusz Korczak’s child-centered philosophy
• Czepczyński Family Foundation: Irena Ranosz-Talarek, Damian Kupczyk
• 10:35–10:50 – The method of nature-based algorithms and the WARMSANDBOX device
  Diana Timofejeva
• 10:50–11:05 – Designing for health: how architecture and interiors support treatment in children’s hospitals Medical Design Studio: Wojciech Drąg
• 11:05–11:35 – First, do no harm. Second, don’t burn out Medical University of Gdańsk: Prof. Wiesław J. Cubała (psychiatry), Dr. Marcin Fijałkowski (cardiology) Moderated by Dr. Agnieszka Anielska
• 11:35–12:35 – Good morning Japan! Welcome straight from Poland. Far away? It only seems so to you. The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity Foundation: Jerzy Owsiak

Workshop zone beneath the Poland Pavilion

Throughout the day, an open-access workshop zone will be active around the Poland Pavilion, offering hands-on activities inspired by the idea of smiling and the collective experience of joy.

Concert: Symbiosis Symphony

Time: 19:00 (entry from 18:00)
Venue: Matsuri Expo Arena
Admission: Free

The evening concert Symbiosis Symphony, created especially to mark the conclusion of Poland’s EU Presidency, will serve as a symbolic celebration of the values Poland brings to the role: solidarity, collaboration, and openness to other cultures. The project, led by composer and producer Łukasz L.U.C. Rostkowski, will blend the sounds of orchestras from across Europe and Japan with contemporary music forms and a visual narrative designed by Oscar-winning studio Breakthru Films.The evening concert Symbiosis Symphony, created especially to mark the conclusion of Poland’s EU Presidency, will serve as a symbolic celebration of the values Poland brings to the role: solidarity, collaboration, and openness to other cultures. The project, led by composer and producer Łukasz L.U.C. Rostkowski, will blend the sounds of orchestras from across Europe and Japan with contemporary music forms and a visual narrative designed by Oscar-winning studio Breakthru Films.

Featured artists include:

• Łukasz L.U.C. Rostkowski (Poland)
• Rebel Babel Orchestra & Amabile Philharmonic Orchestra
• Catz ‘n Dogz (Poland)
• Emilio Piano (France)
• Ana Beyron (Spain)
• Nick Wood (Great Britain)
• Pantha Du Prince (Germany)
• Federico Albanese (Italy)
• Lubomyr Melnyk (Ukraine)
• Saycet (France)
• Schallbauer (Germany)

A Day Full of Meaning and Emotion

The Polish Day of Smiles at Expo Osaka 2025 will be an opportunity to present Poland as a socially conscious country – one that is ready to engage in dialogue about today’s global challenges, while also offering space to celebrate joy, art, an