Schoolchildren in Japan have had their say: A pair of futuristic digital characters will be the new mascots for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics. Organizers unveiled the winning designs at a school in Tokyo yesterday. Officials had to scrap the original logo because of plagiarism charges.
A total of 205,755 classes at 16,769 elementary schools helped select three short-listed designs, with each class casting a single vote. The winning pair, clad in the ‘ichimatsu” checkered pattern of the Games’ official logo, received 109,041 votes. The selection process involving schoolchildren helps get students enthusiastic about the games.
“The Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games finally have their mascots,” says Ryohei Miyata, head of the mascot selection panel. “This means a lot, especially in Japan. I cannot wait to see these two characters coming to life in the stadiums, on the streets, and on TV.”
Organizers say the mascots combine tradition with innovation, have a “strong sense of justice, and [are] very athletic.” The mascots’ names will be decided by copywriters and other professionals and announced in July or August.
The designer of the winning mascots is Ryo Taniguchi, who graduated as an art major from Cabrillo College in California. Taniguchi is currently active as a character designer/illustrator. His work has been featured by companies and at exhibitions in Japan.
The Tokyo Olympics are scheduled for July 24 to August 9, 2020.
(AP Photo: Designer Ryo Taniguchi, far right, and his winning characters for the 2020 Olympic Games)
