Japan at the Thessaloniki International Fair 2026 (TIF 2026) will bring the spirit of Takumi together with technology, business, traditional arts and contemporary culture. Japan is the Honoured Country at the fair’s 90th edition, taking place from 5 to 13 September 2026.
Its national presence will occupy 3,200 square metres in Pavilion 13 of the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre. Its theme is Takumi (匠), the Japanese idea of mastery and craftsmanship. The pavilion connects it with knowledge passed through generations, human-centred design and continuing innovation.
The nine-day programme combines healthcare, mobility, artificial intelligence and maritime discussions with taiko drumming, shamisen music, Japanese food, manga, anime, calligraphy, kimono and traditional dance.
Japan Pavilion at TIF 2026
Dates: 5–13 September 2026
Location: Pavilion 13, Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre
Weekends: 10:00–22:00
Weekdays: 16:00–22:00
Navigate the Japan Pavilion guide
What does Takumi mean?
The Japanese character 匠, read as Takumi, means an artisan or master craftsperson. It reflects a disciplined commitment to excellence, bringing together knowledge refined over time, precision, attention to detail and continuous improvement.
Takumi values the process of creation as highly as the finished work. It seeks simplicity and beauty through skill, care and respect for the people who will use what is made. This spirit is visible in Japan’s traditional arts and craftsmanship and continues in contemporary design, engineering and technology.
Across the Japan Pavilion, Takumi brings these qualities into the present through three themes: the wisdom passed between generations, compassion expressed through responsible and human-centred design, and the drive behind innovation in infrastructure, mobility and tourism.
Wisdom, Compassion and Drive
The Japan Pavilion is organised around three connected themes:
- Wisdom represents knowledge passed from one generation to the next and used to shape and improve advanced technology.
- Compassion presents sensitivity and mindfulness as foundations for sustainable, human and responsible infrastructure.
- Drive represents the force behind continuing innovation in automotive technology, mobility and tourism.
What visitors can expect inside Pavilion 13
Japan’s 3,200-square-metre presence is designed to combine an exhibition area with a main stage and public activities. Companies and institutions will present work connected with pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, air conditioning, imaging, digital services, automotive technology, tourism, shipping, weather information and agricultural technology.
Cultural events include music, manga, calligraphy and kimono. Visitors can attend introductory Japanese-language sessions and hear about educational links with Japan. Discussions will cover health policy, artificial intelligence, mobility, sustainability, business leadership and bilateral economic cooperation.
Photography, food and information stands are also scheduled to operate throughout the fair.
Japan Pavilion programme by day
The schedule below follows the main-stage programme published by the Embassy of Japan, current as of 5 August 2026. Times and participants may change.
Saturday 5 September: opening day
| 11:00–12:00 | Exhibitors’ opening reception Organised by the Greece-Japan Business Group and the Embassy of Japan. By invitation only. |
|---|---|
| 11:50–12:00 | Taiko performance Taikoist Takuya |
| 12:00–12:30 | Japan Pavilion opening ceremony |
| 13:00–13:15 | Taiko performance Taikoist Takuya |
| 13:15–13:40 | Introduction to the pavilion theme, zones and exhibitors |
| 14:00–14:40 | Drive: open interview With a Japanese delegation, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy Vassilis Kikilias, Japan-Greece Society President Yasuyoshi Karasawa and a Kaiji Press journalist. Some participants remain to be confirmed. |
| 15:00–15:40 | Wisdom: “Defining Success Before Reform: Reimagining Health Policy in Greece” Pharmaceutical panel with representatives from the Japanese delegation, Greek ministries, Daiichi Sankyo Greece, Takeda Hellas and Astellas Pharmaceuticals. Moderated by journalist Niki Lymperaki. Some participants remain to be confirmed. |
| 16:00–17:15 | Drive: automotive industry panel With representatives from Toyota Hellas, Syngelidis Automotive Companies, Nic. J. Theocarakis, Saracakis Group and Petros Petropoulos. Journalist Vaggelis Kiousis is also listed. Some participants remain to be confirmed. |
| 17:35–18:25 | Wisdom: artificial intelligence and digital transformation With Elena Drecheva of Konica Minolta Business Solutions Greece, Jorge Loureiro of Moro Technology Corporation Europe and Marcus Waldmann of Fujifilm Europe. A Japanese delegation and moderator are to be confirmed. |
Sunday 6 September: a sustainable future
| 10:30–11:40 | Compassion: disaster early warning and preparedness With Dr Teppei J. Yasunari of Weathernews and Hokkaido University, a Japanese delegation and a JTI representative. Session subject to confirmation. |
|---|---|
| 12:00–13:00 | Drive: Toyota, “Mobility for All” With a Japanese delegation and athlete Stelios Malakopoulos. |
| 13:30–14:00 | Shamisen performance Kazama Mitsune Duo |
| 14:00–14:20 | Culinary Journey Chef Sotiris Kontizas |
| 14:30–15:00 | Tourism of Japan: “How to Find Your Takumi Journey” |
| 15:30–16:20 | Compassion: sustainability panel |
| 16:40–17:25 | Greece-Japan Business Group event Subject to confirmation. |
| 17:45–18:30 | “Study in Japan: Unlocking Opportunities through MEXT” Presented by alumni of Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). |
| 19:00–19:30 | Taiko performance Taikoist Takuya |
| 20:00–20:30 | Shamisen performance Kazama Mitsune Duo |
Monday 7 September: education
| 18:00–18:30 | “Connecting Minds: AUTH-Japan University Partnership for the Future” Professor Iakovos Michailidis, Vice Rector of International Relations, Outreach, Lifelong Learning and Student Care at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. |
|---|---|
| 19:00–20:00 | Japanese language trial lesson: katakana writing Elena Aloupogianni and Dina Anastasiadou |
Tuesday 8 September: maritime ties
| 18:00–18:30 | Ship for World Youth alumni: “Youth as Cultural Ambassadors” |
|---|---|
| 19:00–20:00 | Japanese language trial lesson: everyday greetings Elena Aloupogianni and Dina Anastasiadou |
Wednesday 9 September: anime and manga
| 18:30–19:00 | Mangatellers: “The Art and Industry of Manga and Anime in the Global Market” Kariofyllis-Christos Chatzopoulos and Raphael Voutsidis |
|---|---|
| 19:00–20:00 | Cosplay parade |
| 20:00–21:00 | Otaku Store: anime songs DJ party |
Thursday 10 September: sports
| 18:30–19:00 | “Takumi and Budō: A Timeless Bond” Presentation and demonstration by the Hellenic Karate Federation and the Hellenic Kendo-Iaido-Naginata Federation. |
|---|---|
| 20:00–21:00 | Judo Federation memorandum of understanding signing ceremony |
Friday 11 September: business mindset
| 16:30–17:00 | “Takumi: Leadership Insights from a Japanese Mindset” Andriana Ubunuki Kalfa |
|---|
Saturday 12 September: the Takumi way
| 11:30–12:30 | Wisdom: Sysmex, “Japanese Excellence and Strategic Growth in Modern Diagnostics” Yuki Hyogu, Kohei Nakayama and Foteini Kafladopoulou |
|---|---|
| 13:00–15:00 | Calligraphy demonstration Followed by gifts from Mizuki Imamura at the Consulate booth. |
| 15:30–16:30 | Wisdom: Weathernews presentation |
| 17:00–18:00 | “21 Projections of Ego”: the artist book DREAMEATER A discussion on cultural mediation and interpretation with Takaaki Nemoto, Kostas Kostis, Stella Lavva and Panagiotis Evangelidis. Coordinated by Dimitrios Goudas and Ioannis Belimpasakis. |
| 19:30–20:30 | Japanese traditional dance Chihoko Yanagi |
Sunday 13 September: the Takumi way
| 11:30–12:30 | Compassion: Daikin, “Designing the Home of Tomorrow” Integrated cooling, heating and hot-water solutions powered by innovation and sustainability, presented by Thanasis Kalomiris. |
|---|---|
| 13:00–13:30 | Kimono presentation Chihoko Yanagi |
| 14:00–14:30 | Calligraphy demonstration Followed by gifts from Mizuki Imamura at the Consulate booth. |
| 17:00–17:30 | Hellenic Bonsai Club: “Bonsai: Where Nature Meets Takumi Craftsmanship” |
| 18:00–18:30 | “Cultural Exchange in Focus: Japanese Cinema at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival” With Panos Achtsioglou of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival and Takaaki Nemoto, subject to confirmation. |
| 20:30–21:00 | Japanese traditional dance Chihoko Yanagi |
| 21:00–22:00 | Closing ceremony |
Companies and organisations taking part
The announced business presence covers pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, energy systems, digital technology, travel, agriculture and mobility. Participants listed in the Embassy programme include Astellas Pharmaceuticals, Daiichi Sankyo, Daikin, Fujifilm Hellas, H.I.S. Dream Travel Business Group, Interwater (Toray), JTI Hellas, Efthymiadis Agrotechnologies, Konica Minolta Business Solutions, Mitsubishi Electric Europe, Moro Technology Corporation, Sysmex, Takeda, Toyota Hellas and Weathernews.
Automotive and mobility brands will also be represented through Greek companies associated with Nissan, Suzuki Marine, Isuzu, Honda and Mazda. Other participating bodies include the Japan National Tourism Organization, the Honorary Consulate of Japan in Thessaloniki and the Japan-Greece Society in Tokyo.
The list may be updated before the fair.
Why Japan’s presence matters
Japan’s role at TIF comes during an anniversary year. The 2026 event is the 90th edition and marks 100 years since the first Thessaloniki International Fair was held in 1926.
It also follows several developments in relations between Greece and Japan. The European Union–Japan Economic Partnership Agreement entered into force in February 2019. Greece and Japan elevated their relationship to a Strategic Partnership in 2023. Their convention for the elimination of double taxation entered into force on 5 December 2024 and generally took effect for taxes from 1 January 2025.
According to the Japanese Embassy, around 40 Japanese subsidiaries and branches operate in Greece, with approximately another 40 companies acting as principal dealers for Japanese brands. Shipping remains an important part of the relationship, while investment and cooperation now extend into energy, medicine, technology, mobility and tourism.
HELEXPO has also announced a structured programme of business-to-business meetings between Japanese participants and exhibitors. The pavilion therefore has two audiences. It is a public introduction to Japanese culture and innovation, and a meeting point for companies and institutions considering closer cooperation.
Practical visitor information
| Event | 90th Thessaloniki International Fair |
|---|---|
| Japan’s role | Honoured Country |
| Dates | 5–13 September 2026 |
| Japan Pavilion | Pavilion 13 |
| Weekend hours | 10:00–22:00 |
| Weekday hours | 16:00–22:00 |
| General admission | €7 online until 31 August, €9 online from 1 September, or €12 at the TIF ticket offices |
| Programme access | Presented by the Embassy as open to TIF visitors, except the exhibitors’ opening reception on 5 September, which is by invitation only |
| Programme | Embassy of Japan in Greece |
| Tickets | Official TIF visitor information |
The Embassy programme does not list separate booking or additional charges for the public activities. Several sessions and participants remain provisional, so check the official programme before visiting.
Sources
- Embassy of Japan in Greece: official TIF 2026 Japan page
- Thessaloniki International Fair: visitor information and tickets
- HELEXPO: participating companies and organisations
- Council of the European Union: European Union–Japan Economic Partnership Agreement
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: entry into force of the Japan–Greece Tax Convention
