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Rio's "Tokyo 2020 JAPAN HOUSE" becomes a popular spot
The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC), and the Japan Paralympic Committee (JPC) opened the "Tokyo 2020 JAPAN HOUSE" in the Bacha district of Rio de Janeiro during the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The House was established at "Cidade das Artes" (Portuguese for "City of Arts"), a cultural and arts event hall located approximately 15 minutes by car from the Olympic Park.
It serves as a venue for promoting Japan and Tokyo through an all-Japan effort involving the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, relevant ministries and agencies, partners, and local governments. It will also function as a base for related organizations during the Games, hosting press conferences for Japanese athletes, various receptions, and hospitality services for stakeholders.
On August 4, the day before the opening, an opening ceremony and media preview were held.
The presence of Brazil's largest television network, Globo, underscored the high level of interest in Tokyo as the next host city. Mori Yoshiro, President of the Organizing Committee, commented, "This is a wonderful facility to introduce Japan and Tokyo. We want to connect visitors who come here from around the world directly to Tokyo."
In the local government area near the venue entrance, photos of tourist spots from all 47 prefectures are displayed alongside brochures for each destination. Information on Olympic host cities, including Tokyo, is also provided. The Japanese national team support area features a giant panel displaying photos of all athletes, along with national team uniforms and messages of support for the players. The area for the Organizing Committee, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and related ministries and agencies showcases a completed model of the New National Stadium and introduces Tokyo as the "City of Water." It also features an exhibition of over 1,000 hina dolls and promotes culture, including food such as sake and dashi.
On the second floor, visitors can experience Japanese culture firsthand through corners offering calligraphy, yo-yo fishing, and tea ceremony experiences, as well as the opportunity to try on yukata.
At the press conference venue, NEC's "Walk-Through Facial Recognition System" is in operation. This system enables facial recognition without stopping in front of the camera and is used for managing entry for media personnel attending events like medalist press conferences.
The first-floor event space hosts various daily stage performances. These include shows by Rio samba groups, famous Brazilian artists, Japanese taiko drums, and Ryukyu drums, alongside Japanese food symposiums, traditional performing arts demonstrations, Tokyo tourism seminars, and talk shows. The House has drawn large crowds since opening day, surpassing 10,000 visitors on the 8th.
Visitors' motivations varied—longtime Japan fans, those newly interested in Japan, families drawn by the Olympic atmosphere, and people coming specifically for the artist performances—yet all appeared thoroughly enjoying the entire exhibition.
Smiles were abundant at the interactive booths. In the regional government area, visitors were notably engrossed, receiving explanations from representatives to help decide travel destinations, carefully examining brochures in their hands.
In the athlete support area, some visitors remarked, "I can't go see the competitions, but I could experience a part of the Olympics here." Others said, "Japanese technology and traditional culture are truly fascinating and interesting," and "No matter how many photos I take, it's never enough," adding to the lively atmosphere.
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