Myaku Myaku, the official mascot for Expo 2025, makes an appearance Sunday at San Francisco’s Japantown visitors center to promote the festival with sister city Osaka, Japan, which opens in April.
Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle
Darren and Christi Kumasawa were in Osaka, Japan, last summer and witnessed the buildup for Expo 2025. So when they heard the fair’s mascot, Myaku Myaku, was in San Francisco for a meet-and-greet Sunday morning, they loaded up their bored teenager Kenji and drove up from their Redwood City home just to shake the blob’s blue paw and look into their five eyes.
“We wanted to meet the mascot because we like these cute little critters they have in Japan,” said Darren Kumasawa, who is half Japanese and understands the importance placed on cuddly mascots in stores and businesses there. “I’m not sure what it is, but it’s fun. I’m wishing I could be there for the full festival.”
Inspiring that kind of interest in the first world’s fair hosted by Japan in 20 years was the motivation behind a three-day popup exhibit called Japantenna, held in the Japantown Cultural District Visitor Center. Osaka was San Francisco’s first sister city, established by Mayor George Christopher in 1957, on direct orders from President Dwight Eisenhower, who wanted to help mend relations after the war and the occupation. Because of this long relationship, city dignitaries rolled out the red carpet for the blue creature.
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In attendance for the ceremonial ribbon-cutting were state Sen. Scott Wiener, Assembly Member Catherine Stefani, three members of the Board of Supervisors, Japanese Consul General Yo Osumi and a commerce envoy of Mayor Daniel Lurie.
Expo 2025 mascot Myaku Myaku appears the Japantown visitors center.
Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle
Myaku Myaku (which translates to “pulse”) uses gender-neutral pronouns and does not speak, so a vocalist was brought along to deliver the message in two languages: “Come to the World Expo in Osaka,” said the accompanist, Megumi Nakai of Osaka.
About 158 countries, including the U.S., will have pavilions on display at the expo. The U.S. theme is “Imagine What We Can Create Together,” and it is too late for Elon Musk’s DOGE to kill it out of spite because the pavilion is near completion and will feature a secret installation by San Francisco architecture firm Spiegel Aihara Workshop, which won a nationwide competition. The 184-day expo opens April 13, and in May a delegation from the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce will visit for three days, along with members of the Bay Area Council.
“San Francisco is a gateway from the United States to Japan,” said Hiroshi Dambara, consul of Japan, who was another dignitary visiting the mascot Sunday. “So Myaku Myaku is publicly extending an invitation to come to Japan.”
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Sunday’s public invitation started as soon as the doors opened at Japantenna. A waiting crowd rushed in headed straight for the blue blob, who was surrounded by handlers in matching blue-and-red happi like cornermen with a champion boxer.
“The people are crazy about Myaku Myaku,” said Emily Murase, executive director of the Japantown Cultural District. “Once they understand their message, they all want to meet the unique mascot.”
Mei Goulder, 5, hands Myaku Myaku a picture she drew of the official mascot for Expo 2025, which opens in April.
Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle
The message is conveyed through the colors. Blue represents water, and red represents blood cells that multiply and divide. In Japanese, the form represents “the pulsing heartbeat of life,” Murase said. In English, the form represents “a cross between the Cookie Monster and Elmo.”
After an initial photo op in the visitor center, Myaku Myaku moved across the hallway while the public fell in behind. It was only at this point that a sixth eye was revealed on their tail.
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In an adjacent hall, a group of Japantown preschoolers was invited to draw their portrait, front or back, and color it in. Dave Gordon brought his daughter Vivian, 3, who was too scared by the blob to draw it from either angle.
“I don’t think it’s a monster,’’ Gordon tried to assure her. “It’s a friendly creature.”
Reach Sam Whiting: swhiting@sfchronicle.com
AloJapan.com