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A story that began with an unfortunate incident turned into a heartwarming act of kindness that strengthened the friendship between the people of the Baltic States and Japan.

In May, during the EXPO 2025 World Expo in Osaka, a visitor took the official mascot of the exhibition — a Myaku-Myaku plush toy — from the Baltic Pavilion, where it greeted guests at the shared Lithuanian and Latvian stand.

When Lithuania’s Ambassador to Japan, Aurelijus Zykas, reported the incident on the social media platform X, his post reached over 29 million views! Interest in the location of the event — the Lithuanian and Latvian Pavilion — was enormous: the story was widely covered in Japanese media and sparked active discussions on social networks.

In response, Japanese citizens showed concern and solidarity — they brought hundreds of comforting messages and Myaku-Myaku plush toys to the Baltic Pavilion. In total, 140 mascots found a home in the pavilion, and the story reached as many as 92 million people!

The Baltics at Expo 2025 Osaka team visited Osaka’s Women and Children’s Hospital and donated the Myaku-Myaku toys brought by visitors to the children there.