Festival for Bountiful Seas
Osaka will host the 45th National Rich Sea Creation Convention, “Uoniwa (Naniwa) no Umi Osaka Convention,” for the first time. As a related event, the Rich Sea Creation Festival—a major public event centered on the protection and cultivation of fishery resources and the conservation of the marine environment—will be held at two venues: Aqua Park in Kishiwada City and Rinku Ice Park in Izumisano City. Admission is free at both venues.
At the venues, visitors will find experiential projects where they can get close to the creatures living in Osaka Bay, participatory workshops that parents and children can enjoy together, and numerous gourmet booths serving fresh seafood caught in Osaka Bay. Both venues will also sell the “Uoniwa (Naniwa) no Umi-dukuri Don” (Rich Sea Creation Bowls) using seasonal fishery products caught in Osaka.
The event also includes talk shows featuring convention ambassador Shingo Murakami of SUPER EIGHT, special supporter Ayami Nakajo, and Sakana-kun. Popular characters, including Myaku-Myaku (the official character of the Osaka-Kansai Expo), Mozuyan, Chikirikun, and Yurunakin, will be present to show their support. This lineup is intended to let visitors experience the full appeal of Osaka’s rich seas.
Event details
- Dates: Saturday, November 14, 2026, and Sunday, November 15, 2026
- Hours: 9:00–16:30 on both days
- Admission: Free
- Contact: 06-6210-9612 (weekdays 9:00–17:00)
- Website: Official event page
Locations
- Kishiwada Old Port District Green Space (Aqua Park): 4 Minatomidori-cho, Kishiwada City, Osaka. A 15-minute walk from Kishiwada Station on the Nankai Main Line.
- Rinku Ice Park: 1-23 Rinku Ourai Kita, Izumisano City, Osaka. A 5-minute walk from Rinku Town Station on the Nankai Airport Line/JR.
Access and safety
- Neither venue has parking. Please use public transportation.
- Route buses within Kishiwada City will be free for visitors heading to the Kishiwada venue.
- Baggage inspections will be conducted upon entry to ensure the safety of visitors.
What is the “Rich Sea” of Osaka?
The “Rich Sea” of Osaka is the name for a set of efforts to restore Osaka Bay’s marine environment and support sustainable use of its resources. The bay was once one of Japan’s main industrial zones; decades of landfill, shipping traffic, and wastewater discharge left its waters polluted and its ecosystems degraded. Since the 1990s, local governments, residents, and businesses have worked to improve water quality, rebuild tidal flats, and restore seagrass beds. The “Rich Sea” concept brings these measures together with a practical goal: to ensure that the bay can continue to provide seafood, recreation, and habitat without being exhausted. It assumes that conservation and local livelihoods are not opposed, and that residents and visitors have a role in maintaining the water they use. The 2026 festival is an example. Its program includes tastings of fish caught in the bay, classes on how coastal habitats function, and guided cleanup activities. These events are less about promoting an idea than about showing how the bay is being restored and how people can contribute.
