To commemorate the 55th anniversary of the broadcast of the popular anime "Sazae-san" (Fuji TV), a special episode titled "Celebrating the Expo! Special" will air on August 24th from 6:30 PM. The Sazae family visited the Osaka Expo held 55 years ago in 1970, and the first episode of the special will be a re-broadcast of "Sazae Goes to the Expo," which aired 55 years ago on June 14th, 1970. The second episode, "Sazae Goes to the Expo Again," will feature the Sazae family visiting the currently ongoing Expo 2025(Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan), marking the Sazae family's first "Osaka Expo episode" in 55 years. It has also been announced that actress Norika Fujiwara and her husband, kabuki actor Kataoka Ainosuke, will appear as themselves in "Sazae Goes to the Expo Again."
In "Sazae Goes to the Expo Again," Sazae and her friends meet Fujiwara-san, honorary director of the Japan Pavilion, at the Expo site by chance. Ainosuke also appears and engages in a hilarious exchange with the family. The episode features many of the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan's famous sites, including pavilions from around the world, the Flying Car Station, the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion, and the signature pavilions "The Future of Life" and "Earth at Night."
After finishing the recording, Ainosuke commented, "I couldn't be more grateful to be able to play myself in the nationally loved anime 'Sazae-san,' and to be able to appear as myself as a couple. It's a memory that I will cherish forever. My wife was in the stage version of 'Sazae-san,' so I went to see it many times. The Sazae-san family was recreated exactly as they were, and I thought it was fun no matter how many times I watched it, so I'm happy that we were able to appear in the anime, which also portrayed the real side of us as a couple, and that it will be broadcast on 'Sazae-san.'"
Fujiwara said, "It was a dream come true to be able to appear as myself in 'Sazae-san.' I had a lot of fun during the dubbing, and the recording progressed with laughter. I was also playing the role of Sazae on stage until just recently, so I'm really grateful for the opportunity to be involved in even a small way in such a nationally beloved anime."
Ainosuke said, "I was really happy to be able to talk to Sazae-san. Not only that, but I also got to drink and laugh with the Sazae-san family, and the moment that screen came on, I was really excited." Fujiwara also recalled, "My husband and I also had a scene where we made jokes with Namihei and Masao, and it was the ultimate joy!"
Regarding the collaboration with the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, Fujiwara commented, "It was an honor to be able to appear as Honorary Director of the Japan Pavilion in this powerful collaboration between the nationally beloved anime 'Sazae-san' and the national event, the Expo. 'Sazae-san' is a work loved by people of all ages, from adults to children, all over Japan. The Expo is an important place where people from all over the world share wisdom and inspiration. I felt very happy to be able to introduce the Sazae-san family there, and as Honorary Director, I am pleased that I can convey its charm to people who have never been to the Expo before." Ainosuke praised the Expo, saying, "We have been to the Expo many times, but the level of reproduction of the Expo was so high that it made us think, 'Wow! That brings back memories!'"
Fujiwara said, "I have performed in the stage adaptation of 'Sazae-san' three times, and each time I feel that it carefully depicts Japanese culture throughout the seasons, such as the flowers blooming in the Isono family's garden and seasonal events. In fact, when you look back at the anime, you see the family going to the Osaka Expo 55 years ago, and appearing in the opening video for the Aichi Expo, so Japan's four seasons, events, tourist spots, and even Expos are all alive in the work. It was an incredibly happy experience for me to be able to take part in such a work once again."
Ainosuke said, "The world today has become so convenient that conversations between parents and children, especially between grandparents, are disappearing and there is no time for family time together. In times like these, I think 'Sazae-san' is a truly meaningful program. I would like everyone to watch it, especially in a world where things that were once commonplace are becoming less common." Fujiwara continued, "I have been watching 'Sazae-san' since I was a child, and there are many episodes that bring me to tears. This work, filled with family love, is truly timeless. I am truly honored to have been able to work with it not only on stage, but also in the anime. In particular, this collaboration episode with the Expo has become a keepsake for my husband and I!", promoting the Osaka Expo episode.
"Sazae-san" is based on a manga by Machiko Hasegawa. The TV anime began airing on October 5, 1969. In 2013, it was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the "longest-running TV anime program," and in 2019, it broke its own record by five years. In 2024, it was recognized by the Guinness World Records for another five years. Voice actress Midori Kato, who has played Fuguta Sazae since the first broadcast, has also been recognized by the Guinness World Records for "the longest time a voice actress (female) has played the same character in a TV anime program." It airs every Sunday at 6:30 pm on Fuji TV.
