Latest Events in Osaka Prefecture(August Updated)

This brand-new Ghibli Park exhibition will showcase the park's current state thanks to the collective efforts of visitors. A highlight of the exhibition is its interactivity. In addition to valuable exhibits, the park features various interactive facilities that allow adults and children alike to "see, touch, and explore."

The scheduled date for the 38th Yodogawa fireworks festival in Reiwa 8 has been decided: Saturday, October 17, Reiwa 8. This year's event will also be held in October, continuing from last year. Born in the first year of the Heisei era, the "Heisei Yodogawa fireworks festival organizing committee" was established with the wish to revitalize the city, formed from the operating committee of the "Juso dontokoi festival" which had been held 16 times in the past. For 17 years, it continued as the "Heisei Yodogawa fireworks festival," becoming a traditional summer event in Naniwa thanks to everyone's support. From the 18th year onward, with new sponsorship, it became an all-Osaka effort to support the "Naniwa fireworks festival." The "Heisei Yodogawa fireworks festival," which has been handmade with the involvement of local residents in various ways, will now be renamed the "Yodogawa fireworks festival" and aims to continue expanding its impact as a true catalyst for Osaka's revitalization. We strive to create a fireworks festival that can share even greater excitement with everyone. We sincerely appreciate your continued warm understanding and support.

[Osaka/Kishiwada] Experience the thrilling "yarimawashi" up close! Kishiwada road race festival viewing seats now available! The "Kishiwada road race festival," boasting over 320 years of history, is one of Japan's most representative traditional festivals. This year, special viewing seats will be set up at the thrilling viewing spot "Kankanba," where you can witness the breathtaking moment of "yarimawashi" as the race cars make sharp turns at high speed. Around 400,000 people from all over the world visit annually just to catch a glimpse of this spectacle. Be sure to experience the excitement and realism that can only be felt on-site! ●About the seating area Special viewing seats will be set up on both the mountain side and sea side where the "kan-kan area" is located during the three days from September 18 (Fri) to 20 (Sun) (trial pull, eve festival, and main festival day). We offer various types of seats to experience different moments: the "trial pull" where you can feel the tension of the eve, the "yanki-dashi" when carts from each neighborhood depart, the "parade" where all carts gather together, and the "daytime program" when the festival atmosphere reaches its peak. ●Highlights of the Kishiwada danjiri festival The hikiyama (float-pulling) team consists of about 500 to 1,000 members, including "pullers," "hayashikata (musicians)," "craftsmen," "front shovelers," and "rear shovelers." One of the festival's biggest attractions is the sight of this united team manually maneuvering a massive 4-ton tram. Particularly breathtaking is the climax moment called "yarimawashi," where the tram makes a sharp 90-degree turn while moving at high speed. For this very moment, the participants have spent years training, building their physical strength, fostering unspoken understanding, and honing the courage to overcome danger. It is only when the team is perfectly in sync that they can clear the difficult challenge of the "sharp turn." This sense of unity in the community is the foundation that has kept the Kishiwada tram festival going for 300 years. Though there have been regrettable accidents, the passion of the citizens for the tram festival remains undiminished to this day. When you hear the festival music, you can't help but run out into the streets. The tram festival is not only a source of pride for the citizens but also a bond of the heart passed down from generation to generation. From parent to child, from child to grandchild, the tradition of the tram festival will continue to be passed on.

From Wednesday, July 8th to Monday, August 31st, 2026, the Osaka Museum of History will host a special exhibition for the NHK Taiga drama, "The Toyotomi Brothers!", focusing on Toyotomi Hideyoshi's younger brother and exploring his true character. The 2026 Taiga drama "The Toyotomi Brothers!" vividly depicts the Sengoku period from the perspective of Toyotomi Hidenaga. Hidenaga is said to have wielded immense power, and there was a rumor that "if he had lived longer, the Toyotomi family's rule would have been more secure." In conjunction with the drama's airing, this exhibition will utilize precious historical materials to delve into the previously little-known aspects of Hidenaga's character and his numerous contributions to assisting his elder brother, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, in unifying Japan. The exhibition will display items related to famous military figures served by the brothers, such as Oda Nobunaga, the powerful daimyo Tokugawa Ieyasu whom they recruited, Kuroda Kanbei and Todo Takatora, their trusted retainers, Sen no Rikyu, their cultural advisor, and Kodai-in, a family member who witnessed the Toyotomi family's downfall. Hidenaga's words, "Rikyu is in charge of domestic affairs, and Hidenaga is in charge of political affairs," reveal his strong sense of pride as Hideyoshi's advisor and also hint at the unbreakable bond and trust between the two brothers. With his exceptional domestic and foreign policy skills and admirable personality, Hidenaga successfully navigated a turbulent era, offering valuable lessons even today. Let us witness together the legendary life of this exceptionally capable second-in-command—Hideaga, who combined military talent with wisdom, forging his own path through strategy and dialogue!