TOKYO 2020 This summer, let's get excited with the "Olympic Ondo," "festivals," and "licensed merchandise"!
On June 26, the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee held a presentation event titled "Connect with TOKYO 2020 Through Festivals" at Shinjuku Park Tower Hall in Tokyo.
"Connect with TOKYO 2020 Through Festivals" is an initiative centered on three pillars—"Tokyo Olympics Ondo," "Support Programs (Festivals)," and "Official Licensed Products"—aiming to build nationwide excitement for the 2020 Tokyo Games through Japan's cultural festivals.
Four athletes attended the event: Olympians Motoko Obayashi (volleyball) and Mizuki Fujii (badminton), and Paralympians Aki Taguchi (shooting) and Atsushi Yamamoto (athletics/snowboarding).
The four athletes appeared wearing new summer yukata from the official licensed merchandise line. On the Bon dance stage set up at the venue, they joined members of the Tokyo Folk Song Federation to perform the new choreography for "Tokyo Olympic Ondo 2020," titled "Yuu Yuu Odorou" (Let's Dance Joyfully), dancing in a circle.
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The four shared their impressions: "It's fun to dance together," "There's also a wheelchair version, so we want to gather and dance," and "Men can enjoy it without any problem."
Joining the four on stage were guests EXILE ÜSA and EXILE TETSUYA for a talk segment. The duo expressed, "We want to energize dancing across Japan," and "We want to contribute by leveraging our dance skills." They also praised the newly released yukata, noting, "The fireworks motif pattern really lifts your spirits," and "It's incredibly comfortable!"
The newly released licensed merchandise lineup features summer-appropriate items like jinbei, folding fans, hand fans, and furoshiki bags. Guests praised them, saying things like, "With these accessories, I want to go to a festival," and "I want to head out to a fireworks display with these."
Official Online Shop:
https://tokyo2020shop.jp/
The "Tokyo 2020 Support Program (Festival)" aims to expand the circle of people dancing the Tokyo Olympic Ondo 2020 at festivals nationwide, calling them the "Dance Squad!" In 2020, opportunities will be created for visitors to Japan to join in the dancing.
This summer, Olympians and Paralympians who attended the event will visit festivals nationwide to promote the dance.
ÜSA, drawing on her experience running projects where she travels to festivals domestically and internationally to connect with locals through dance, said, "Dance allows people to connect emotionally, even if they've never met before or come from different countries. I'd be happy if this initiative spreads the concept of 'HAPPY & PEACE'." TETSUYA, who watched the PyeongChang Paralympics, stated, "The wonderful thing about dance is its freedom. I want to come up with ideas to make the wheelchair version even more fun."
The two will collaborate on creating a special video to promote the Tokyo Olympics Ondo 2020 and plan to appear at festivals across the country whenever their schedules allow.
Special Site:
https://tokyo2020.org/jp/special/ondo/
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