The event is “No reservations (free admission)” but certain invitees or relevant personnel will have priority access.
Be part of the official ceremony featuring the national anthems of Croatia and
Japan, speeches from distinguished officials, performances by Kwansei Gakuin
Glee Club and National folk dance ensemble of Croatia – LADO.
©2025 ZENRIN DataCom
地図データ©2025 ZENRIN
East Gate Zone E12-01
Basic Information
| Date and time | 21/09/2025 (Sun) 11:00 ~ 12:00 （ 10:00 Open ） |
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| Venue | East Gate Zone EXPO National Day Hall “Ray Garden” |
| Capacity | 450 Persons |
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| Reservation | Available w/o reservations (Open entry) *There's a possibility that the operation method may be changed according to situations. |
Programme
- 1. Croatia National Day11:00–12:00 at National Day Hall “Ray Garden” (guests seated by 10:45) OFFICIAL CEREMONY Be part of the official ceremony featuring the national anthems of Croatia and Japan, speeches from distinguished officials, performances by Kwansei Gakuin Glee Club and National Folk Dance Ensemble of Croatia – LADO.
Performers & Organizers Information
National Folk Dance Ensemble of Croatia "LADO"
Founded 76 years ago, LADO is a professional folklore ensemble dedicated to researching, collecting, artistically interpreting, and showcasing the finest examples of Croatia’s rich musical and dance traditions. Its exceptional dancers, who are also accomplished singers, can seamlessly transform from a dance ensemble into a distinguished folk choir. The musicians of the LADO Ensemble Orchestra are masterful multi-instrumentalists, performing on more than eighty traditional and classical instruments.
Lado on stage
Kwansei Gakuin Glee Club
The story begins in 1919. After World War I, a group of Czechoslovak soldiers was returning home from Siberia. Their ship, the s.s. Heffron, was damaged by a typhoon and docked in Kobe for repairs. During their stay in Kobe, they met students of Kwansei Gakuin University - among them, members of the young Glee Club, the first university male choir in Japan. Despite years of hardship, the soldiers still carried their instruments and sang with strong, deep voices. One of the songs they shared was “U Boj, U Boj,” a powerful call to battle. Moved by the music, the Japanese students hand-copied the worn-out sheet music and began learning the song. At a farewell gathering, the Glee Club surprised the soldiers by singing “U Boj, U Boj.” The soldiers were astonished and deeply touched -their homeland, their song, echoed in distant Japan. The encounter was brief but unforgettable. For decades, the origins and meaning of the song remained a mystery. Some believed it was Serbian, others Czech. Only later was the truth discovered: “U Boj, U Boj” comes from the Croatian national opera Nikola Šubić Zrinski, composed by Ivan Zajc in 1876. The opera depicts the heroic defense of Siget in 1566, when Zrinski and his knights mounted a final stand against the Ottomans. The song is sung at the moment the heroes leave the fortress for their last battle. The Glee Club carried the song through history: 🎶 It became the finale of their concerts and brought them victories at national choir competitions in Japan. 🌎 In 1965, they performed it at Lincoln Center in New York, where students from Yugoslavia immediately recognized it. ✈️ In 1989, the song “returned home” when they performed it in Zagreb, the birthplace of the opera. Today, “U Boj, U Boj” is one of the most beloved pieces among Japanese male choirs, and its story stands as a testament to cultural exchange, friendship, and unity. On September 21, when the voices of the Kwansei Gakuin Glee Club rise again in Osaka, it will not be just a performance — but the continuation of a living bridge between Japan and Croatia, a bridge first built in Kobe over 100 years ago.
Kwansei Gakuin Glee Club on stage
