The 28th National Confectionary Exposition, Hokkaido "Asahikawa Confectionary Expo 2025 Finally, 100 days before the opening! The latest information was released at a press conference on February 19!

The 28th National Confectionary Exposition, Hokkaido Executive Committee (Executive Committee Chairman: Takashi Mizukami) will hold the 28th National Confectionary Exposition, Hokkaido (nicknamed "Asahikawa Confectionary Expo 2025") from May 30 to June 15, 2025 in Asahikawa City (Doboku Arcs Daisetsu Arena, Asahikawa Local Industry Promotion Center (Road Station Asahikawa), Asahikawa City Daisetsu Crystal Hall). On February 19, 2025 (Wednesday), 100 days before the 28th National Confectionary Exposition, Hokkaido (nicknamed "Asahikawa Confectionary Expo 2025"), a "100 Days Before the Expo" press conference was held at the Sapporo Citizen Exchange Plaza Creative Studio (Sapporo, Hokkaido).

At the event, we promoted the full details and attractions of the Asahikawa Confectionary Expo 2025, showed an advance digest of the projection mapping video in the White Rock Dome, the main symbolic exhibition, and held a tasting of confections from all over Japan that will be sold at the event.

Famous confections from all over Japan

Asahikawa Confectionary Expo 2025 Press Conference 100 days before the event Summary

Date: February 19, 2025 (Wed) 12:00-13:00

Speakers: (Titles omitted, in no particular order)

　　　　Akio Naganuma, President of the Congress

　　　　Naomichi Suzuki, Governor of Hokkaido *Video message

　　　　Kosuke Imazu, Mayor of Asahikawa City *Video message

　　　　Takashi Mizukami, Chairman of the Executive Committee

　　　　Akinobu Muramoto, Chairman of the Exhibits and Awards Committee

#Confectionary Expo Gourmet Ambassadors: Riko Mogu / Miz / Mokkun / Terushoko

　　　　　　　　　　　　　 U "erin / Sweets Boy / Mika (attendee)

Asahikawa Confectionary Expo 2025 official character: Shimae Daifuku

The latest information announced at the press conference

A demonstration video of the White Rock Dome, the symbolic exhibition, was shown.

Sweets Family Land Hokkaido booth image

Artists selected for the official theme song will perform live on a stage at the venue during the event.

Appointment of PR ambassadors and ambassadors

Auditions will be held to select ambassadors to collaborate with the community application "Mikucha".

Official sponsor, Hokuren Agricultural Cooperative Union, will implement the "Asahikawa Confectionary Expo 2025 Commemorative Sweets Project" and sell the developed products.

Contents of the press conference

(1) Greetings and video message from the event chairperson

At the beginning of the event, Akio Naganuma, Director General of the 28th National Confectionary Exposition, Hokkaido, gave an opening address on behalf of the organizers, and we received video messages from Governor Naomichi Suzuki of Hokkaido, the host city, and Mayor Kosuke Imazu of Asahikawa City.

Organizer's Address by Mr. Akio Naganuma, President of the Hokkaido Convention

Message from Governor Naomichi Suzuki, Governor of Hokkaido

Video message from Mayor Kansuke Imazu of Asahikawa City

(2) Introduction of Shimae Daifuku

Shimae Daifuku, the Daifuku fairy and official character of the Asahikawa Confectionary Expo 2025, who has appeared at various events since last year and is gaining fans, made an appearance and once again introduced herself.

Shimae Daifuku and the Executive Committee

(3) Convention Outline and Venue Contents

Executive Committee Chairman Takashi Mizukami gave an overview of the Asahikawa Confectionary Expo 2025, which is only 100 days away, and introduced the contents of the venue.

Image of the outdoor venue of the Taisetsu Arena

Image of the Taisetsu Arena indoor venue

He also introduced the "Crafted Confectionary Exhibition," where approximately 90 crafted confectionaries created by confectionary artisans from all over Japan using their traditional skills will be on display, the "Sweets Family Land Hokkaido," a hands-on pavilion where seven major confectionary manufacturers will present games, sampling of rare confectionaries, and other activities, and the "Sweets Family Land Hokkaido," a pavilion for children and adults where children will have a chance to experience the confectionary industry. The "Sweets Family Land Hokkaido" and the "National Sweets Market" will sell more than 1,000 sweets that can only be purchased in that region of Japan.

In addition, a demonstration video of the White Rock Dome, the symbolic exhibit, was shown to convey the appeal of sweets and Hokkaido in the video.

The demonstration video can be viewed on YouTube (https://youtu.be/v3kMJy5GzJc).

<Makers scheduled to exhibit at Sweets Family Land Hokkaido

Calbee, Fujiya, Bourbon, Meiji, Morinaga Seika, Yamazaki Baking, Lotte, etc.

＜Sweets Family Land Hokkaido Booth Image

Morinaga Seika booth (image)

Lotte booth (image)

(4) Crowdfunding

Details of the crowdfunding campaign, which has been accepting donations since February 1, were introduced. A large exhibition project with 100,000 origami cranes will be held at the venue to convey to visitors the desire for peace that disasters and conflicts will cease and that everyone can enjoy sweets with a smile and peace of mind. We prepared a number of return gifts that are perfect for both those who plan to visit and those who do not, and called for support from many people who love sweets, both in and outside of the province.

*For more details, please visit the "Ubugoe" crowdfunding website ( https://ubgoe.com/projects/839 ).

Now accepting crowdfunding support

(5) Official theme song

The four official theme songs decided last November were also heard at the event. It was also announced that the four selected artists will perform live on the "Taiseketsu Stage" at the venue during the event.

Official Theme Song Award Winning Artists

(6) PR Ambassadors and Ambassadors

Yu Ichibe Toyoshima, an opera singer from Asahikawa City, Hokkaido, has been appointed as the PR Ambassador for the Asahikawa Confectionary Expo 2025, and Rowan Berry, a local idol mainly from Asahikawa, and Ryujin Ryoga, another local hero, have been appointed as ambassadors to promote the event to the younger generation and children. We also introduced the Asahikawa Confectionary Expo.

We also announced the appointment of "#Confectionary Expo Gourmet Ambassadors" as a new initiative to deliver the charms of the Asahikawa Confectionary Expo 2025 to many people. We have asked 14 influencers in the fields of gourmet food, sweets, excursions, and child-rearing who are active in Sapporo and Asahikawa, as "#Confectionary Expo Gourmet Ambassadors" to help spread the charms of the Asahikawa Confectionary Expo 2025 within Hokkaido and beyond, and will be working in each genre to promote the Asahikawa Confectionary Expo We will be communicating the charms of the Asahikawa Confectionary Expo 2025 to as many people as possible in each genre. At the venue, we presented Riko Mogu with a letter of commission on behalf of the "#Confectionary Expo Gourmet Ambassadors".

#Confectionary Expo Gourmet Ambassadors

Presenting a letter of commission to an influencer

We also announced that we will start accepting applications on March 7 for auditions to determine the "Mikucha Collaboration Ambassadors" (tentative name), who will deliver the appeal of the Confectionary Expo and local conditions through the "Mikucha" community app, which allows live distribution and video posting. The four winners will assist with the opening ceremony and help liven up the Confectionary Expo, and we also announced that limited edition sweets for the Asahikawa Confectionary Expo 2025, featuring the winners on the packaging, will be sold at the event.

(7) Commemorative Sweets Project

The Hokuren Agricultural Cooperative Federation, an official sponsor of the Asahikawa Confectionary Expo 2025, has announced the "Asahikawa Confectionary Expo 2025 Commemorative Sweets Project," a project to promote Hokkaido sweets through the Asahikawa Confectionary Expo 2025. Fifteen confectionary makers in Hokkaido will put their best efforts into developing commemorative sweets using ingredients from Hokkaido, a "treasure trove of raw materials for sweets," including milk, sugar, wheat, and azuki beans.

The developed products will be on sale at stores of the 15 companies participating in the project from May, and a stamp rally will also be held where visitors can win wonderful prizes by visiting the Hokuren booth at the venue during the confectionary expo after visiting the stores that sell the products. Furthermore, we have announced that some commemorative sweets will also be sold at the "National Sweets Market" at the venue.

Asahikawa Confectionary Expo 2025 Commemorative Sweets Project

<15 companies participating in the project> *In no particular order

Anne Charlotte, Ikkyu Daifukudo, Kinotoya, Cake des Bois, Sapporo Grand Hotel, Chocolatier Masart, Stella Maris, Takeda Confectionery, Otaru Niikuraya, Birthday Eve, Patisserie Bliss Bliss, Patisserie Fou! Bembeya, Yamadaya Confectionery, YUHIA SWEETREE

Video Messages

Naomichi Suzuki, Governor of Hokkaido

My name is Naomichi Suzuki, Governor of Hokkaido, and from May 30 (Friday) to June 15 (Sunday), the 28th National Confectionary Exposition in Hokkaido will be held in Asahikawa City. Do you know this one, everyone? You may think this is a "shimaenaga," but it is not. It is the fairy of "mame-daifuku" (bean-shaped rice cake), and its name is "shimae-daifuku. It is a very complicated story, so I hope you will all remember it.

The National Confectionary Expo is a confectionary festival with a history and tradition of over 100 years. This is the first time in 57 years that it has been held in Hokkaido. Hokkaido is Japan's largest producer of the raw materials used to make confections, such as sugar beets, wheat, raw milk, glutinous rice, and azuki beans, so I think it can be said that Hokkaido supports the confectionery industry in Japan. Hokkaido is also extremely popular as the "Sweets Kingdom of Hokkaido," with a wide variety of confectionaries that attract people.

The theme of the Asahikawa Confectionary Expo is "SMILE SWEETS HOKKAIDO. We hope that everyone will come to the "Asahikawa Confectionary Expo" where not only the eaters and makers, but also the producers and local people will bring smiles to everyone's faces, regardless of age. Shimae Daifuku" is a doll, but you will be able to meet "Shimae Daifuku," who is 175 centimeters taller than I am, at the event, so I hope you all enjoy yourselves. I look forward to meeting you all.

Kosuke Imazu, Mayor of Asahikawa City

Hello, everyone. I am Kosuke Imazu, the mayor of Asahikawa City. The 28th National Confectionary Exposition, Hokkaido: Asahikawa Confectionary Expo 2025 is approaching, and I am very honored that Asahikawa was chosen to host the event, the first time in 57 years that it has been held in Hokkaido. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the members of the Executive Committee.

I have heard that after the headquarters of the former 7th Army Division was relocated to Asahikawa in 1901, Asahikawa was lined with confectionery shops along the Division Street, which runs from the Division to Asahikawa Station. Today, this street is well known to citizens as the first pedestrianized shopping park street in Japan. Today, more than 120 years later, there are more than 150 sweets shops in Asahikawa, and they are still loved by the citizens of Asahikawa as they were in the past. Asahikawa is home to the Asahiyama Zoo, the Asahikawa Design Center, which represents the city's design and hosted the UNESCO City of Design World Conference last year, Kita no Arashiyama, which is a cluster of kilns and glass studios, sake and local beer produced by the underground water of Daisetsuzan National Park, Sanroku-gai, the busiest shopping district in northern Hokkaido, and fish from the Sea of Japan, Pacific Ocean, and Okhotsk Sea. Asahikawa is also home to the most delicious rice and Asahikawa ramen noodles in all of Hokkaido.

We look forward to seeing you in Asahikawa. We look forward to seeing you at the Asahikawa Confectionary Expo 2025.

Corner in the venue of the press conference 100 days before the exposition

At the 100 Days Before Press Conference, we had a "Shimae Daifuku Greeting", an "Exhibition and Tasting of Confectioneries from all over Japan", and an "Official Goods Exhibition", which were enjoyed by the event participants.

Shimae Daifuku and influencers

Nationwide famous sweets prepared for tasting

Some of the official goods

Simultaneous PR event 100 days before the event

PR events were held at various locations in Sapporo to commemorate the 100th day before the event. In addition to the sale of advance tickets, official goods, and Confectionary Expo limited edition confections, a meet and greet with the official character "Shimae Daifuku" and a promotional video were shown at the venues, appealing to many people that the event was finally about to begin.

PR in front of Dosanko Plaza Sapporo

PR at Chikaho, the underground pedestrian plaza in front of Sapporo Station

(1)Sapporo Station Underground Pedestrian Plaza, Chikaho, Kita-odori Intersection Square (East)

February 19 (Wed.) & 20 (Thu.) 9:30-19:00

(2)Dosanko Plaza Sapporo

February 19 (Wed.) & 20 (Thu.) 10:00-18:00

(3)JTB Travel Gate Sapporo

February 20 (Thu) 10:00-19:00

Asahikawa Confectionary Expo 2025 Outline

Asahikawa Confectionary Expo 2025

Name: The 28th National Confectionary Exposition, Hokkaido

　　　　　Asahikawa Confectionary Expo 2025 SMILE SWEETS HOKKAIDO

Period: May 30 (Fri) - June 15 (Sun), 2025 (17 days)

Opening hours: 10:00-18:00 (17:00 on the last day)

Venue ：Dohoku Arcs Taisetsu Arena (Asahikawa Taisetsu Arena),

　　　　　Roadside Station Asahikawa (Asahikawa Local Industry Promotion Center),

　　　　　Asahikawa Taisetsu Crystal Hall

Sponsor: The 28th National Confectionary Exposition Hokkaido Executive Committee

　　　　　(Hokkaido Confectionery Industry Association, Asahikawa City, etc.)

Supported by: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Agency for Cultural Affairs, Small and Medium Enterprise Agency,

　　　　　Tourism Agency, Hokkaido, Hokkaido Board of Education, Sapporo City, Asahikawa City,

　　　　　Asahikawa City Board of Education, Hokkaido Mayors Association, Hokkaido Towns and Villages Association, Asahikawa Chamber of Commerce and Industry

　　　　　Asahikawa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (as of December 2024)

Official website : https://kashihaku-hokkaido.jp/

Official Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/kashihaku_2025/

Official X : https://x.com/kashihaku_2025

Admission ticket information

Advance tickets are available for 1,200 yen for adults, 1,000 yen for junior and senior high school students, and 600 yen for elementary school students (tax included) until May 29, 2025 (Thursday), the day before the event. Tickets are also available at Seicomart (Doshin Playguide), Seven-Eleven (Ticket Pia), and Lawson (Lo-chike). Seicomart (Doshin Playguide), Seven-Eleven (Ticket Pia) and Lawson (Lochike).

For more information, please visit the official website at https://kashihaku-hokkaido.jp/ticket/.

Also, special services will be offered at stores and facilities in Hokkaido where advance tickets are purchased.

The service is available not only at confectionery stores, but also at more than 170 stores and facilities in Hokkaido (as of January 2025), including cafes, Japanese-style pubs, soba noodle stores, ramen stores, and hotels.

The special offers are valid until June 30, 2025 (Monday).

*Eligible stores and facilities can be found on the official website ( https://kashihaku-hokkaido.jp/ticket/ ).

Please check with each store or facility for detailed conditions of use of benefits and services.