The Rio de Janeiro Olympic and Paralympic Games wrapped up on September 18th. Through the Games, Brazil successfully demonstrated its ethnic and cultural diversity.
What will be Tokyo’s message, four years from now?
The search for a perfect theme was already beginning in Rio de Janeiro.
This is the Olympic Boulevard at the port area, which hosted a variety of events and was bustling with people every day.
Japan, the next Olympic host, organized a variety of cultural events — one of which featured a group of Brazilian cosplayers dressed as Japanese anime characters.
Traditional folk performances from Tohoku, the area affected by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, were also on display to show the region’s reconstruction.
The Japan House was set up by the Japanese government to showcase Japan’s many attractions to the world.
Sushi made by a top chef, as well as Japanese sake, was presented for tasting, reflecting the best of Japan’s food culture.
Visitors were also able to get a taste of Japan’s traditional culture.
Especially popular was the calligraphy corner, where attendees had a go at writing kanji characters.
ON “Heart”
A panel exhibition of tourist attractions around Japan was also on display.
ON “I had an image of Japan as an industrial country. I didn’t know it was home to so much beautiful nature.”
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government organized cultural programs on-site at the Olympic Boulevard.
Artists transcending genres from Japan and Brazil took part.
One program involved artists creating artwork together with people at welfare facilities. This program, called “TURN,” is supervised by leading Japanese contemporary artist, Katsuhiko Hibino.
Children at a facility in Brazil for people with autism took part in making a Japanese traditional craft. They had a go at spinning yarn, dyeing the yarn, and braiding them into a cord. The project’s aim is to deepen the children’s ties to society through the collaborative work.
The crafts they produced were EDO KUMIHIMO, which are braided cords that were valued as decorative items during the Edo Period.
At the event site, visitors were invited to simulate the process of creating the craft and to discover a new sense of value from the experience.
ON “Taking part in the creative process made me feel the importance of weaving bonds with people”
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike was among the visitors.
“It shows that the Olympics is not only about sports but cultural and personal exchanges too. It will be something to refer to down the road.”
As Japan gets ready to host the 2020 Tokyo Games, a campaign is already underway to create a diverse society embracing all people. If you find yourself in Japan, you are sure to experience this beauty in everywhere you go.
B-ROLL
Japan has four seasons, each with its own variety of natural expressions.
North of Japan is Hokkaido, in all its majestic nature.
Experience rich local culture in the Tohoku Region.
And at the heart of the Kanto region: Tokyo.
Lose yourself among the world-famous tourist attractions in the Chubu region.
Explore Japanese culture past and present among the shrines of Kyoto.
Take in the stunning landscapes of the Chugoku and Shikoku regions.
Escape to the mountains of Kyushu and bathe in its natural hot springs.
Finally, Paradise awaits you in Okinawa.
SHOT LIST:
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (AUGUST 16, 2016) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)
1. VLT (Light Rail) in Olympic Boulevard
2. Crowd in Olympic Boulevard
3. Crowd in front of Olympic Torch
4. Olympic mascot and girls
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (AUGUST 18, 2016) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)
5. Japanese Anime COSPLAY girls in Olympic Boulevard
6. Japanese Anime COSPLAY girls (Back shot)
7. Japanese Anime COSPLAY girls and Fan
8. Japanese Traditional FOLK Dance “ONIKENBAI” (From IWATE Prefecture)
ON LIVE STAGE AT Olympic Boulevard
9. Japanese Traditional Dance “ONIKENBAI”
10. Audience applause
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (AUGUST 19, 2016) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)
11. TOKYO 2020 JAPAN HOUSE FROM THE OUTSIDE
12. CROWD AT JAPAN HOUSE (INSIDE SHOT)
13. SUSHI FOOD
14. WOMAN EATING SUSHI
15. TESTING SAKE
16. KIMONO BEING FITTED
17. PEOPLE WAITING IN LINE FOR CALLIGRAPHY- SHODOU
18. ALEXANDRA,８YEARS OLD, WRITING “KOKORO(HEART)”
19. (SOUNDBITE) (PORTUGUESE) ALEXANDRA, 8 YEARS, SAYING: “Heart”.
20. TOURISM PANELS OF 46 PREFECTURES
21. VISITOR TAKING PICTURE OF PANEL
22. (SOUNDBITE) (PORTUGUESE) ALEXANDRA, 30 YEARS, SAYING:
“I had an image of Japan as an industrial country. I didn’t know it was home to so much beautiful nature. ”.
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (AUGUST 18, 2016) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)
23. TOKYO SKA PARADAISE ORCHESTRA PERFORMING AT PAÇO IMPERIAL
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (AUGUST 20, 2016) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)
24. TOKYO CARAVAN SESSION
25. TOKYO CARAVAN SESSION, TOKYO SKA PARADICE ORCHESTRA AND BRAZILIAN “BERINBAU”MUSICIAN
26. TOKYO CARAVAN SESSION, ENSEMBLE DANCER AND BRASILIAN DANCERS
São PAULO, BRAZIL (AUGUST 04, 2016) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)
27. PIPA(PROJECT INTEGRATION PRO-AUTISM) OUTSIDE
28. PIPA SIGN CLOSE UP
29. KASTUHIKO HIBINO, SUPERVISIOR OF “TURN” SPINNING WITH CHILD
30. KASTUHIKO HIBINO
31. AUTISM CHAILDREN SPINNING
32. AUTISM CHAILDREN SPINNING
33. AUTISM CHAILDREN SPINNING
34. AUTISM CHAILDREN WEAVING
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (AUGUST 21, 2016) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)
35. WORKSHOP OF “EDO KUMIHIMO” (Braided cords that were valued as decorative items at EDO Period.)
36. “KUMIHIMO” CLOSE UP
37. WORKSHOP OF “EDO KUMIHIMO”
38. VISTOR SPINNING
39. (SOUNDBITE) (PORTUGUESE) WILMA, 55 YEARS, SAYING:
“Taking part in the creative process made me feel the importance of weaving bonds with people.”
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (AUGUST 20, 2016) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)
40. GOVERNOR OF TOKYO, YURIKO KOIKE VISITING TURN
41. (SOUNDBITE) (JAPANESE) YURIKO KOIKE, GOVERNOR OF TOKYO, SAYING:
“It shows that the Olympics is not only about sports but cultural and personal exchanges too. It will be something to refer to down the road. ”,
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (AUGUST 19, 2016) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)
42. Japanese Traditional FOLK “IWAKI JANGARA” FROM FUKUSHIMA
43. Japanese Traditional EDO Firemanship at JAPAN HOUSE
44. Japanese Traditional EDO Firemanship performance
45. Japanese Traditional FOLK”ONIKENBAI” FROM IWATE
46. Visitor taking picture with Folk Dancers
NARA, JAPAN (FILE) (JNTO - ACCESS ALL)
47. CHERRY BLOSSOMS IN YOSHINOYAMA / NARA, JAPAN
IBARAKI, JAPAN (FILE) (JNTO - ACCESS ALL)
48. HITACHI SEASIDE PARK / IBARAKI, JAPAN
MIYAGI, JAPAN (FILE) (JNTO - ACCESS ALL)
49. AUTUMN LEAVES IN NARUGO/ MIYAGI, JAPAN
YAMAGATA, JAPAN (FILE) (JNTO - ACCESS ALL)
50. ZAO, SOFT RIMES / YAMAGATA, JAPAN
HOKKAIDO, JAPAN (FILE) (JNTO - ACCESS ALL)
51. LAKE AKAN in WITER / AKANKO, JAPAN
50. TANCHO TSURU（CRANES）/KUSHIRO, JAPAN
51. TANCHOU TSURU CLOSE UP
IWATE, JAPAN (FILE) (JNTO - ACCESS ALL)
52. CHUSONJI KONJIKIDO/ HIRAIZUMI, JAPAN
53. KONJIKIDO BUDDHA STATUE
AKITA, JAPAN (FILE) (JNTO- ACCESS ALL)
54. KAMAKURA (SNOW HOUSE) FESTIVAL / YOKOTE, JAPAN
55. KAMAKURA CLOSE UP
TOKYO, JAPAN (FILE) (JNTO - ACCESS ALL)
56. TOKYO SKY TREE TOWER / TOKYO, JAPAN
YAMANASHI, JAPAN (FILE) (JNTO - ACCESS ALL)
57. FUJISAN FROM ARAKURAYAMA PARK/FUJIYOSHIDA, JAPAN
GIFU, JAPAN (FILE) (JNTO - ACCESS ALL)
58. SHIRAKAWAGO WINTER / GIFU, JAPAN
NAGANO, JAPAN (FILE) (JNTO - ACCESS ALL)
59. JIGOKUDANI YAENKOEN HOT SPRING/ NAGANO,JAPAN
60. JIGOKUDANI YAENKOEN MONKEY TAKING BATH
ISHIKAWA, JAPAN (FILE) (JNTO - ACCESS ALL)
61. KENROKUEN PARK/KANAZAWA, JAPAN
KYOTO, JAPAN (FILE) (JNTO - ACCESS ALL)
62. KIYOMIZU TEMPLE AND CHERRY BLOSSOMS /KYOTO, JAPAN
HYOUGO, JAPAN (FILE) (JNTO - ACCESS ALL)
63. HIMEJI CATSLE AND CHERRY BLOSSOMS/HIJEJI.JAPAN
OSAKA, JAPAN (FILE) (JNTO - ACCESS ALL)
64. DOUTONBORI/OSAKA, JAPAN
TOTTORI, JAPAN (FILE) (JNTO- ACCESS ALL)
65. TOTTORI DUNE/TOTTORI,JAPAN
EHIME, JAPAN (FILE) (JNTO - ACCESS ALL)
66. SHIMANAMI ROAD/EHIME, JAPAN
MIYAZAKI, JAPAN (FILE) (JNTO ACCESS ALL)
67. TERUHA BRIDGE/AYA,JAPAN
68. TERUHA BRIDGE
SAGA, JAPAN (FILE) (JNTO- ACCESS ALL)
69. TYUTOKU INARI/M SHRINE/KASHIMA, JAPAN
KAGOSHIMA, JAPAN (FILE) (JNTO- ACCESS ALL)
70. TAMATEBAKO HOT SPRING/IBUSUKI, JAPAN
OKINAWA, JAPAN (FILE) (DJS- ACCESS ALL)
71. BOUGAINVILLEA FLOWER / SHURI, JAPAN
72. YONAHAMAEHAMA BEACH /MIYAKO,JAPAN
END
Since 2015, Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Arts Council Tokyo have been engaged in the Leading Project, which serves as the lead-in to the Cultural Program of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
This year, with the eyes of the world focused on the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we will hold programs in Rio de Janeiro itself during the Games.
TOKYO CARAVAN:
Devised by playwright, director, and actor Hideki Noda, this is a new cultural movement based on the concept of engendering new forms of expression through the mingling of cultures brought about by encounters between a diverse array of artists. In the summer of 2016, during the Olympic Games, talented Japanese artists from a variety of genres will encounter local artists in Rio de Janeiro, holding culture “inter-mixture” workshops and creating works that transcend national borders, languages, cultures, and their respective genres. Then, after departing from Brazil, TOKYO Caravan will pop up in Fukushima, Miyagi and a range of other locations within Japan and overseas, presenting a “Grand Cultural Circus” and offering an ongoing program of exchange that goes beyond national and regional boundaries.
TURN
Supervised by artist Katsuhiko Hibino, TURN is an art project to creatively promote meeting opportunities with a diverse array of people and the relationships among them.
At CULTURE & TOKYO in RIO, artists based in Japan and Brazil will reside in São Paulo and visit welfare facilities, using traditional crafts as the basis for the Exchange Program conducted over the course of day-to-day interaction with the residents of those facilities. As well as exhibited the arts works produced as result of the Exchange Program at Paço Imperial, held workshops and conferences.
FOUR ARTISTS Participants
Jum Nakao (Artist, Brazil) Brazilian basketry (cestaria)
AssisteÌ‚ncia Social Dom JoseÌ Gaspar “Ikoi-no-Sono”
Tati Polo (Artist, Brazil) Edo Tsumami
Associação ProÌ-Excepcionais Kodomo-no-Sono
Yasuaki Igarashi (Artist, Japan) Edo Kumihimo
Projeto de Integração ProÌ-Autista (PIPA)
Sachie Takiguchi (Workshop Facilitator, Japan) Tohoku Paper Cut-out Decorations “Kiriko”
Associação ComunitaÌria Monte Azul
18 September 2016
