GREEN x EXPO Association held a “GREEN x EXPO 2027 One Year Prior to the Event Press Conference” on March 19. It was announced that the new official ambassadors for the event will be Yuji Kitagawa and Atsuharu Iwasawa of the folk duo “Yuzu” from Yokohama, and that a collaboration song will be created for the event.
In addition to Mr. Kitagawa and Mr. Iwasawa of Yuzu, Ms. Mana Ashida, who is working as an official ambassador, and the official mascot character “Tunktunku” appeared at the presentation. At the beginning of the event, a video of the commemorative planting of a “yuzu tree” at the GREENxEXPO site was shown.
Upon assuming the position of ambassador, Mr. Iwasawa commented, “We were born and raised in Yokohama, so we are very honored. Yokohama has a strong image of the sea, but in fact there is also a lot of nature, and I hope to convey that charm to people.
Mr. Kitagawa smiled, “I am a citizen of Yokohama, and I feel a deep connection to be appointed as an ambassador in the 30th anniversary year of my debut.
He also shared his memories of performing on the streets of Isesagicho, Yokohama, around the time of his debut about 30 years ago. Kitagawa said, “I feel the four seasons of Japan when I am performing on the street. The lyrics often include the names of flowers,” she said, referring to the GREENxEXPO event and the songwriting inspired by nature.
Mr. Iwasawa described themselves at the time of their debut as “sprouts the size of a kaiware daikon radish. Mr. Kitagawa says, “I think we are still alive today because we worked hard toward the future,” while he modestly describes the current state of the company as “not yet …… (laugh) big enough to be a big yuzu tree.
Regarding the decision to produce a song in collaboration with GREEN×EXPO, Ms. Kitagawa expressed her enthusiasm, “I want the song to express the beauty, gentleness, and strength of trees and flowers as they move forward, and I hope we can share the future that GREEN×EXPO envisions with everyone while receiving it in our own way.
© Source travel watch