ONSEN DAY, OSAKA EXPO
Osaka, June 25, 2025
Onsen Tourism in Tunisia: Reviving Carthaginian Thermal Heritage, as an integrating vector of sustainable and decentralized development
vent Overview
Onsen Day at the Osaka Expo 2025 is a collaborative event between Japan and Tunisia presenting their shared experience of traditional health and wellness practices. This special event aims at spotlighting the potential contribution of thermal therapy, holistic wellness, and onsen tourism to sustainable development in general, and particularly in Africa. It reviews the experience of both countries, drawing lessons and exploring opportunities for innovation, and for cross-cultural collaboration and partnership.
Bringing together institutional representatives, wellness industry pioneers, and visionary thinkers and practitioners from both nations, the event will explore the potential of hot springs (onsen) tourism and introduce emerging wellness models inspired by Japanese practices. The highlight includes a bilateral discussion on how traditional and modern wellness methods can serve as tools for decentralized health, economic development, and cultural diplomacy.
Agenda
Welcoming Remarks (18 :00 – 18 :30 PM)
Opening remarks by Master of Ceremony, Dr Abdessalem Rabhi, Program Manager at IGES, Hayama, Kanagawa, Japan
Speech of H.E Ahmed Chafra| Ambassador of Tunisia in Tokyo
Speech of M. Riadh Attia| Deputy General Manager of CEPEX and Deputy General Commissioner of Tunisia at Expo 2025 Osaka
Speech of M. Ittoku Saraya | Honorary Consul of Tunisia in Osaka
Speech of M. Tomoo Nakayama | President of the Tunisian-Japanese Friendship Association
Speech on M. Tetsuro Yano | Afreco President
Presentations (18 :30 – 20 :00 PM)
‘’ Onsen Tourism in Japan: Source of inspiration and partnership for Tunisia and other African and Mediterranean countries’’
Presentation of Program by Master of Ceremony Ramses Koumuro-Benboubaker
M. Kenji Kitayama | Expert in Onsen Tourism in Japan: “Economic, social and cultural importance of Onsen Tourism in decentralized, rural and sustainable development in Japan”
Dr. Junichiro Kojo | President K-Tokyo (Synapse therapy specialist): “Synapse therapy, a great value added wellness service product for Onsen Tourism”
Ms Nami Suzuki|K-Tokyo Chief secretary, “Synapse Therapy for Onsen Tourism in Tunisia”
Onsen tourism in Tunisia: The emergence of a new decentralized tourism with high added value and local content’’
Promotional video, Geography and History of Onsens and Hammams in Tunisia
M. Salah Hannachi | Former Ambassador of Tunisia in Tokyo, President of the Tunisia-Japan Friendship Association, and President of the Support Committee: “Leveraging the hot springs, onsen and wellness tourism, ovop for rural development, decentralized, high local content and high value added tourism in Tunisia and other Mediterranean and African developing countries.
M. Mohamed Mehdi Haloui| General Director of ONTT (The National Tunisian Office of Tourism): “Tunisia’s experience with thalassotherapy, wellness Tourism, and potential for onsen tourism”
Ms Chahnez Guizani | General Director of ONTH (The National Office of Thermal Springs and Hydrotherapy): “The hot spring network in Tunisia and its potential for decentralized heritage based sustainable development”
M. Azouz Ennifar |Former Ambassador and UN Under-Secretay General, Vice President of Support Committee: “Korbous, the awakening of the Kusatsu of Tunisia, past, present and future”
M. Faiez Rouissi |Architect, Green Hill Resorts Founder: “Green Hill Resorts, a pioneering mountain resort project of Onsen Tourism in Tunisia”
Panel Question, Answers & Debate (20:00 – 20:30 PM)
Cocktail at the Tunisian Pavilion and (20 :45- 21:30)