The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020)
unveiled details of the online "wassai" programme, one of the three main elements of the Tokyo 2020 NIPPON
Festival. The Festival is being organised in celebration of this summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games under
the theme of "Participation and Interaction".
wassai is a coined word that combines the two Japanese words "wa" and "sai". "Wa" can be depicted in
writing with several different characters, each with a different meaning, including 話 ("talk"), 輪 ("circle"), 環
("unity") and 和 ("peace"). "Sai" means festival in Japanese.
From today, people in Japan and in countries around the world are being invited to submit illustrations of
imaginary creatures that embody their thoughts and emotions. The illustrations will be shown during the online
wassai event in the form of a huge "WA" (circle). This special event aims to bring the world together online
before the Olympic and Paralympic Games, at the same time providing people in other countries with an
opportunity to experience Japanese culture in a hands-on manner and to enjoy new encounters, even though
they may be unable to visit Japan for now.
Submission of illustrations
Illustrations may be submitted during the period Monday 20 April – Sunday 20 June via either of the following
websites:
https://wassai-join.tokyo2020.org/en/ (English)
https://wassai-join.tokyo2020.org/jp/ (Japanese)
Notes for participants:
Please upload a scanned copy or a photograph of your illustration along with all the required information via the
application form. Please note that submitted illustration that are the same as or similar to existing characters or
images will not be eligible for inclusion.
The "wassai" Programme
Date and time: Sunday 18 July 2021 from 18:00 JST
Location: Will be streamed online via the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee’s official social media
accounts, with participation invited from anywhere in the world.
Content: wassai dance & music and other activities
Next-generation Japanese artists YAMADA Aoi and TAKAMURA Tuki have choreographed a dance aimed at uniting
the world online in "WA" ("in a circle"). A popular Japanese rock band WANIMA provided their song "WAGOKORO"
for the wassai programme. You can see those artists’ profiles and messages as well as a video featuring the
dance and the song at https://tokyo2020.org/en/events/wassai/
Further details about the programme, how to watch it, and the performers on the day will be announced as soon
as they are confirmed.
Tokyo 2020 NIPPON Festival
The Tokyo 2020 NIPPON Festival, launched this month as a core part of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, is
a cultural programme promoting global peace and human solidarity. In the wake of the social fragmentation
caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it also aims to help to refocus attention on global understanding, solidarity
and cooperation.
Tokyo 2020 Nippon Festival website: https://tokyo2020.org/en/events/nippon-festival/
Downloads
Images of wassai, footage of the wassai dance and the song and images including Japanese artists participating
in this programme, which have been published on the programme website can be downloaded from the Tokyo
2020 Online Press Room at https://media.tokyo2020.org/en/.
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