Directors for the ceremonies have decided.

It has been decided that Mansai Nomura will stage and oversee the entire opening and closing ceremonies of the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, and the press conference was held yesterday.

His title is "the Chief Executive Creative Director." Too long.

Mansai Nomura is a major Kyogen actor. Kyogen is one of the Japanese old traditional theaters, like Kabuki.

I can say that most of Japanese people have never seen Kyogen, but Mansai Nomura is very famous because he has also appeared in popular movies and TV dramas.

He commented in the press conference that he wants to make the ceremonies be simple and full of Japanese spirit.

The theme is "Requiescat and Recovery."

According to Nomura, it refers not only the Aftermath of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami but the 2nd World War, because, in August when the Olympics Games will be held, there are the two atomic-bomb days (Hiroshima 6th, Nagasaki 9th) and the war-end anniversary (15th).

Left: Takashi Yamazaki, a movie director, responsible for the ceremonies of Olympics

Center: Mansai Nomura

Right: Hiroshi Sasaki, a Creative Director, responsible for the ceremonies of Paralympics

(frm: https://tokyo2020.org)

Somehow I have a pretty high expectation for the ceremonies!

And, I was relieved to know that Yasushi Akimoto won't be involved in the ceremonies.

My article about it; Terrible assignment - Yasushi Akimoto