After New York and London, BRIDGE moves to Osaka

The BRIDGE roadshow has officially arrived in Osaka, marking the third pivotal stop in a global journey that is shaping the future of media, technology, and cross-cultural collaboration.

Launched by the UAE National Media Office (NMO) and powered by the Bridge Alliance, this series of high-profile events is designed to unite innovators, business leaders, and policymakers to address the critical challenges and opportunities in today’s fast-evolving media landscape.

Following successful events in New York and London, Osaka now takes its place as the latest hub in this dynamic global dialogue — setting the stage for new ideas, strategic connections, and a deeper exploration of global media’s evolving role.

Each stop of the BRIDGE Roadshow contributes to Connecting Conversations, an evolving series of insights aimed at shaping the agenda for BRIDGE Summit 2025 — the largest global platform uniting media, cultural and creative content creators, leaders, and decision-makers to transform how the world communicates. Its inaugural edition will take place in Abu Dhabi from 8 to 10 December 2025.

The summit will bring together the full spectrum of media professionals — including creators, journalists, producers, and communicators — alongside government entities, business leaders, and policymakers, forging partnerships that create meaningful impact and reflect a shared commitment to a more connected, ethical, and sustainable world.

Osaka: A Strategic Spotlight on Innovation, Culture, and Responsibility

As the host city for Expo 2025, Osaka provided the perfect backdrop for BRIDGE’s focus on the intersection of traditional values and cutting-edge innovation. In the presence of Abdulla Bin Mohammed Bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the UAE National Media Office and the UAE Media Council, and Shihab Ahmed Mohamed Abdulrahim Al Faheem, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Japan, over 30 of Japan’s most influential leaders from media, technology, and finance gathered to discuss themes ranging from artificial intelligence (AI) to responsible media practices and ethical storytelling.

A highlight of the Osaka programme was a one-on-one conversation, Who's Cashing In on the Truth Deficit?, featuring insights from Leika Kihara, the Chief Correspondent of Japan Policy of Reuters Japan; and Wendy Siew, Senior VP of WPP Media Japan. The session explored how, in a world fed by algorithms, means to communicate with trust and impact amid content overload and scepticism.

During an extremely insightful talk ‘Thinking Machines, Feeling Minds: AI’s Next Frontier’ Dr. Hiro Hamada, Research Team Lead, ARAYA Inc, drew from neuroscience and machine learning to explain how AI is reshaping the architecture of perception, and what this means for human experience, agency and trust in a world where attention is currency and narrative is power.

Abdulla Bin Mohammed Bin Butti Al Hamed reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to shaping a leading media model defined by agility, transparency and impact, anchored in universal human values.

The Chairman highlighted the unwavering support of the UAE’s leadership for transformative media initiatives, among them the BRIDGE roadshow.

He stressed that BRIDGE 2025 in Abu Dhabi will serve as a platform to launch robust strategic partnerships that elevate media as a key driver of sustainable development and long-term prosperity.

“As we stand at the crossroads of rapid change in media, cultural and creative content creation, driven by AI and shifting platforms, we must recognise the critical role of responsible storytelling in shaping the future,” said Dr. Jamal Mohammed Obaid Al Kaabi, Director-General of the UAE National Media Office. “BRIDGE exists to navigate this new reality — to bring together media creators and global stakeholders with a shared mission to build trust, transparency, and impact. The BRIDGE Summit 2025 in Abu Dhabi will be a platform where we unite ideas and ambitions to tackle the challenges of our time, create purposeful media, and drive meaningful solutions for a connected, ethical world.”

In New York, the discussions focused on the future of trust in artificial intelligence and its role in verifying facts. London explored the concept of narrative diplomacy, examining how governments can collaborate with media institutions to promote more responsible storytelling.

Meanwhile, Osaka placed Asia’s dynamic creative economy in the spotlight, with a strong emphasis on the ethical use of generative AI and the delicate balance between technological innovation and cultural authenticity.

Upcoming events in Shanghai and other key cities will expand on the themes introduced so far — from AI and cross-cultural storytelling to new models of collaboration in a fragmented digital landscape.

Registrations for BRIDGE Summit 2025 are now open at https://www.worldmediabridge.com/en/.