Classical actor and director Mansai Nomura promised July 31 that the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic opening and closing ceremonies will be full of “Japaneseness” and “wit,” one day after the games’ organizing committee named him chief executive creative director for the four events.
“There are many things that could potentially become issues, such as money, but above everything quality is important,” said Nomura, an acclaimed kyogen (comic theater) and noh actor who has also performed leading roles in various contemporary plays, movies and TV series. “We want the ceremonies to be high-quality and to express the Japanese spirit.
“From tradition to the cutting edge, Japan has many methods and ideas that are full of wit. We want to make full use of those things in the ceremonies,” he added.
Nomura will lead an experienced team and oversee production of all four ceremonies, which are expected to attract hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide.
Award-winning movie director Takashi Yamazaki was named executive creative director for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games (July 24-Aug. 9). Commercial director Hiroshi Sasaki, who produced the flag handover segment at the closing ceremony of the 2016 Rio Olympics, will serve in the top role for the Paralympics (Aug. 25-Sept. 6). (The Japan Times)
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