Miraitowa and Someity

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Miraitowa ( Japanese ミ ラ イ ト ワ) and Someity ( Japanese ソ メ イ テ ィ) are the official Olympic mascots of the Summer Games and the 2021 Paralympic Games in Tokyo .

Emergence

A competition for the design of the mascots was held in Japan in 2017 . Anyone over 18 and living in Japan could take part. A total of 2042 proposals were submitted. After several selection phases, the Tokyo Olympic Games Organizing Committee decided on three designs. These were put up for election to around 200,000 primary school classes in Japan. Each class had a vote. Miraitowa and Someity by Ryo Taniguchi took first place with 109,041 votes in February 2018; however, at the time they were still unnamed. The names were not published until July 2018. After various options had gone through a trademark review, the names Miraitowa and Someity were available fixed.

Name and description

Miraitowa and Someity on a bus in Japan

Miraitowa

The name Miraitowa is made up of the Japanese word Mirai (未来) future and Towa (永久) eternity. The thought behind this naming was a wish.

"This name was chosen for the Olympic mascot to promote a future full of hope forever, in the hearts of all the people in the world."
This name was chosen for the Olympic mascot to create a future forever full of hope in the hearts of all people in the world.

According to the official website of the organizers, the mascot was inspired by a Japanese proverb: “Learn from the past and develop new ideas.” Miraitowa is happy and very sporty, while the mascot also has a strong sense of righteousness and can get along with it teleport anywhere with his special power. Miraitowa's blue and white checkered clothing is similar to the traditional Japanese ichimatsu-moyo pattern (市 松 模 様), which was also used in the official Olympic logo of the Games in the form of a circle and is depicted on Miraitowa's forehead.

Someity

The name Someity originated on the one hand from the English "so mighty" (so strong) , on the other hand the name should also be reminiscent of a Japanese cherry blossom nart Somei-Yoshino (Prunus × yedoensis), which is also called Tokyo cherry and is a characteristic plant of the city Tokyo applies. Someity are accorded great powers.

"Someity can show enormous mental and physical strength, representing Paralympic athletes who overcome obstacles and redefine the boundaries of possibility."
Someity can show tremendous mental and physical strength, representing the Paralympic athletes who overcome great obstacles and redefine the limits of what is possible.

Someity has telepathic powers through the sensors on his head and can fly with his pink and white cape and even move things through willpower. The mascot embodies the virtues of the Paralympic athletes: determination and tenacity. Someity's clothes are checked in white and pink; again the Japanese ichimatsu-moyo pattern (市 松 模 様) is used, which is also included in the logo of the Paralympic Games and can be seen on Someity's forehead. Just like the name, the colors white and pink are reminiscent of the Japanese cherry blossom.

Manga

Both mascots are said to be both futuristic superheroes and represent traditional Japan. With their large, round eyes and, compared to their bodies, oversized heads, they are reminiscent of characters from a Japanese manga . The attributes attributed to them are also reminiscent of comic heroes.

Artist

Ryo Taniguchi ( Japanese 谷口 亮, Taniguchi Ryo ) won the 2018 Olympic mascot design competition. He was born in Fukuoka (on the island of Kyushu ) in 1974 and studied art in the USA at Cambrillo College in California . His career began with a small postcard exhibition on a shopping street in Fukuoka. There he sold cards with his own designs. Taniguchi found out about the design competition for the mascots on Facebook . From the beginning he intended to create something typically Japanese and incorporate the ichimatsu-moyo motif, which became popular in the Edo period (1603–1878). The head shape of Miraitowa and Someity should resemble samurai helmets, because Taniguchi meant "I integrate Japanese nature, tradition and the country's future." (I combine Japanese nature and tradition with the future of the country) .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ DPA: The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games now have mascots. Retrieved July 17, 2021 .
  2. ↑ a b Designer: Ryo Taniguchi. Retrieved July 17, 2021 (American English).
  3. ↑ a b Paralympic Mascot Someity. Retrieved July 17, 2021 (American English).
  4. ↑ Tokyo 2020 mascot designer leaves unique impression with designs, appearance . In: Mainichi Daily News . March 25, 2018 ( mainichi.jp [accessed July 17, 2021]).
  5. ↑ KYODO NEWS: Tokyo 2020 mascot designer draws inspiration from the scenic route. Retrieved July 17, 2021 .