The summer vacation season has begun, and tourist attractions all over Japan are bustling. The beach and the pool are nice, but there's a place you can only experience this year, right? That's right, the Expo! The Japan Esports Union (JeSU) held "JAPAN ESPORTS CONNECT" at EXPO2025 Osaka/Kansai Expo! The Saiga NAK editorial department also covered the event on-site!
An Esports Event Held at EXPO2025 Osaka/Kansai Expo!
We have come to the EXPO2025 Osaka/Kansai Expo, being held in Yumeshima, Konohana Ward, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture!
The "JAPAN ESPORTS CONNECT," hosted by the Japan Esports Union, is an esports event where professional esports players and influencers faced off in a two-day competition with these titles:
- eFootball
- THE KING OF FIGHTERS XV
- Pazudora
- Puyo Puyo Champions
- Street Fighter 6
- Tekken 8
In addition to the stage events, exhibitions on the history of esports and booths where visitors could try out esports titles were also set up.
Archived footage of the stage events has been released on the YouTube channel "Japan Esports Association - JeSU Official Channel."
List of Performers
- Overall MC: Kosuke Hiraiwa (@kouhiraiwa777)
- Streamer: Nephrite (@Nephrite2)
- Streamer: Zackray (@Ssb4_Zackray)
- Streamer: Oniya (@oniyanogame)
- Streamer: Donpisha (@DONPISHA22)
- Streamer: RaMu (@dpandaramu)
- Streamer: Mokou (@mokouliszt)
- Streamer: Futon-chan (@indegnasen210)
- Streamer: Ceros (@trollceros)
- Streamer: Obo (@obormentv)
- Streamer: Yuka Kuramochi (@yukakuramoti)
- eFootball Player: Udi (@udi_no_mikata)
- eFootball Player: Leva (@Leva_39)
- eFootball Caster: Taiga Kishi (@StanSmith_jp)
- eFootball Commentator: Hikac Games (@hikacgames)
- THE KING OF FIGHTERS XV Player: SCORE (@score33333)
- THE KING OF FIGHTERS XV Player: Akira (@akiradayooooo)
- THE KING OF FIGHTERS XV Caster: Yukinojo (@yukinojoooo)
- THE KING OF FIGHTERS XV Commentator: BON (@bon_kof)
- Pazudora Player: Kaito☆ (@kaitopzu)
- Pazudora Player: HiroNa (@na_ringa)
- Pazudora Caster: OooDa (@OooDa)
- Pazudora Commentator: Kosuke (@kosukepad1)
- Puyo Puyo Champions Player: Piponeer (@piponeer)
- Puyo Puyo Champions Player: delta (@delta_so)
- Puyo Puyo Champions Caster: Yu Minakami (@Fuuhi78)
- Puyo Puyo Champions Commentator: Tom (@tom_nadja)
- Puyo Puyo Champions Guest: Yuuki (@kryu_puyo)
- Street Fighter 6 Player: GO1 (@GO13151)
- Street Fighter 6 Player: Haitani (@hai090)
- Street Fighter 6 Caster: Aru (@papatiwawa)
- Street Fighter 6 Commentator: Hameko. (@hameko)
- Tekken 8 Player: YoujinBΩY (@youjin_boy)
- Tekken 8 Player: Yuu (@Yuu_Norespect)
- Tekken 8 Caster: Genya (@genya1107)
- Tekken 8 Commentator: Hameko. (@hameko)
Stage Event Day 1
Stage Event Day 2
Many Visitors Lined Up at the Experience Booths Inside the Venue
Esports experience booths were set up at the same time as the stage events. Despite it being a weekday, many people of all ages and genders experienced the esports titles.
A stamp rally was also held inside the venue. By collecting stamps through esports experiences and other activities at each booth, you could participate in a lottery.
Exhibitions on Esports too!
Various exhibitions about esports were also held at the venue.
At the 20th Asian Games (2026/Aichi-Nagoya), which will be held from Saturday, September 19 to Sunday, October 4, 2026, 13 esports titles from 11 genres will be featured as competitive events. The Japanese national team, playing on home turf, will aim for medals.
Saiga NAK
What I personally found interesting was the chronological table summarizing the history of esports in Japan. Seeing the enrichment since the 2020s, I once again got the impression that esports has completely permeated Japan.
We also saw officials from both within Japan and abroad inspecting the venue, so holding an esports event at an international expo in Japan must have great significance.
MVPのもこうさん(@mokouliszt)と、倉持由香さん(@yukakuramoti)には、@mouse_computer のJeSU公認PCが贈られます！ pic.twitter.com/wusax2n9Na
— 日本eスポーツ協会(JESU) (@JeSUofficial) July 24, 2025