Latest Events in Osaka(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.

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!

The Osaka Museum of Natural History will hold a special exhibition, "Mass Extinctions: The Five Great Extinctions in the History of Life," from July 17 (Friday) to October 12 (Monday/Holiday), 2026, exploring five major extinction events in Earth's history. Over the past 4 billion years since the origin of life, Earth has experienced countless crises. These crises were primarily caused by meteorite impacts from outside the Earth and internal activities such as volcanic eruptions, but sometimes life itself was the trigger. However, life has tenaciously overcome each crisis, evolving in multiple ways by constantly replacing extinct species with new ones. In other words, mass extinctions can be seen as phenomena that promote the flourishing of life. This exhibition will trace the evolutionary history of "organisms" fighting for survival by revealing various evidence preserved in fossils and rocks, and will unveil the five largest mass extinctions (commonly known as the "Five Great Extinctions").