This year, Jarman International was honored to send a special bilingual (and some trilingual) team to support the Belgian Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka from May 24 to 30. From interpreting and welcoming guests to assisting with on-site events, our team helped share the wonders of Belgium with the world.
On May 24, the team gathered for their first orientation, where they received a rundown of the week’s schedule and put on their bold uniforms—designed by famous Belgian artist, Jean-Paul Lespagnard.
The following day, May 25, marked the team’s official debut. Some members proudly held up the Belgian flag at Yumeshima Station to greet visitors, while others assisted with the pavilion’s inauguration ceremony. The evening shift managed the restaurant queue, providing guests with details on wait times and the menu. When a technical hiccup emerged, the team quickly stepped in to help resolve it.
“One key takeaway for me was the importance of staying flexible when the unexpected happens,” said Hana Shiraishi, a member of the Jarman Expo team. “Working behind the scenes of such a massive, fast-moving, logistics-heavy project was an incredible opportunity, and I was in awe of how everyone consistently showed up with such a positive and collaborative attitude.
“Even after just the first day, I was so inspired by the incredibly friendly and hardworking Belgian team—some still jet-lagged from their arrival, others university students studying Japanese in Brussels. After this, Belgium is officially at the top of my travel bucket list! I feel truly honored and grateful to have been part of this vibrant team.”
The members of our special Jarman International Expo team included:
Akane Oikawa: Project manager
Fukiko Yoshino: Team leader
Paul Walsh: Team leader
Nina Cataldo: Interpreter
Junko Hosoya: Interpreter
Masaaki Imoto: Interpreter
Sebastien Duval: Trilingual staff
Ayaka Terao: Bilingual staff
Cecilia Reiko Mikumo: Bilingual staff
Hana Shiraishi: Bilingual staff