-Being able to count on her great satisfaction says Vattani-

ROME, Feb. 14, 2025 /ANSA=Kyodo JBN/ --

Jun Ichikawa, a Japanese film, theatre and television actress who has been living and working in Italy for years, will be among Italy’s Ambassadors at Expo 2025 Osaka.

The actress will bring her precious experience in acting and art to the Italy Pavilion, with the creation of projects capable of strengthening the artistic and cultural dialogue between Italy and Japan.

Currently on tour with “Iliad – the game of gods” with Alessio Boni, Jun Ichikawa has placed the relationship between mythology, current affairs and the language of spirituality at the centre of her artistic path: universal themes that spark dialogue between cultures such as Italy’s and Japan’s.

“It is a great honour to be able to be an Ambassador of the Italy Pavilion and I hope I can give my contribution so the exchange between Italy and Japan can widen through reciprocal knowledge in the world of art and show business”, said Jun Ichikawa.

“I have always dreamed that I could be a messenger, a bridge between Italy and Japan.

“I have been studying human beings for years in their complexity and beauty in order to be able to interpret them in all their countless masks.

“It is of great inspiration to be able to be part of two such rich cultures, close but also so far, like Italy and Japan".

Ambassador Mario Vattani, the Commissioner General for Italy at Expo 2025 Osaka, said that "being able to count on Jun Ichikawa as Ambassador of the Italy Pavilion is a reason of great satisfaction for us.

“Her career, an example of the deep connection between Italy and Japan, is an inspiration for young generations," he continued.

“Ahead of Expo 2025 Osaka, whose theme is ‘Designing Future Society for Our Lives’, the role of Ambassador aims not only to be an invitation to get close to art and culture, but also be an incentive to deepen and develop curiosity”.

Jun Ichikawa, an internationally-renowned Japanese actress, dancer and voice actress, grew up in Japan and Italy, where she started her artistic career, cooperating with great theatre actors including Anna Maria Guarnieri, Max Tortora and Paolo Rossi.

In 2003, she obtained a lead role in the film “Singing behind screens", directed by Ermanno Olmi, and was subsequently starred in TV series including “R.I.S. imperfect crimes”, “The pupil” and “Citadel: Diana” which made her popular.

Since then, she has worked with world renowned directors such as Ridley Scott, Dario Argento and Giuseppe Tornatore.

She also worked with Dustin Hoffman and Peter Greenaway in the director’s latest movie.

Respected as a voice actress too, she has done voiceovers for the Harry Potter saga, “The Karate Kid”, “Lost in Translation”, the Disney film “Raya and the last Dragon” and the Marvel movie “Eternals”.

She has also worked in Japan and recently acted in a Japanese movie, "Taverna de Gaga", which was filmed in Tropea.

Thanks to her versatility and talent, Jun Ichikawa has won several best actress awards, consolidating her position in the film industry and in theatre both in Italy and abroad.

Jun Ichikawa joins a list of prestigious names in Japanese culture and business who have accepted to become Ambassadors of the Italy Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka.

They include: the designer Junko Koshino, industrial designer Ken Okuyama, designer Toshyuki Kita, orchestra conductor Tomomi Nishimoto, sculptor Susumu Shingu, entrepreneur and philanthropist Yuzo Yagi – who funded the restoration of the Pyramid of Caius Cestius in Rome – illustrator and character designer Yoshitaka Amano, sommelier Takuma Yamada and soprano Yasko Fujii.

Source: General Commissioner’s Office of Italy for Expo 2025 Osaka