Society | Mar 01

Mascots selected for 2020 Tokyo Games

Mar 01 (NHK) - The mascots for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics have been announced.

School children from about 16,000 elementary schools across Japan and overseas voted from among 3 sets of mascots shortlisted by a panel of experts.

The results were unveiled by the organizers of the 2020 Games at an elementary school in Tokyo on Wednesday, drawing cheers from the 550 students packing the venue.

The winning mascots are a pair of humanoid characters clad in the checkered pattern that is featured on the Games' official emblems.

The Olympic mascot features a white body with an indigo blue checkered pattern. The Paralympic character sports a pink checkered pattern.

The mascots do not have names yet. The committee plans to announce their names this summer.

MORE Society NEWS

Mysterious Black Animal Spotted in Tokyo

There have been multiple reports of a mysterious black animal in downtown Tokyo, with the enigmatic creature captured on video looking around nervously before noticing the camera and staring it down for about 15 seconds, then running away.

Former Host Pleads Guilty to Receiving 25 Million Yen from "Riri-chan"

A former host admitted to knowingly receiving approximately 25 million yen that had been deceitfully obtained by convicted scammer "Riri-chan," in a trial held on April 23.

Osaka Crackdowns on Bird Feeding

Osaka City has issued an administrative order to stop feeding pigeons and crows following continuous complaints about droppings and noise.

POPULAR NEWS

Japan's Population Crisis: 744 Municipalities Could Disappear by 2050

A private organization has revealed that approximately 40% of the national municipalities, totaling 744, could potentially disappear by 2050 due to declining populations.

Young Faces, New Trends: The Rise of Makeup Among Japan's Students

Youngsters in Japan are enthusiastically embracing the world of cosmetics, with a recent survey reporting some 60% of elementary students own some form of makeup.

Decoding U.S. 'Black Ship' Data Centers in Japan

Major American IT companies like Microsoft and Oracle have announced substantial investments totalling 4 trillion yen ($26 billion) in data centers in Japan, sparking concerns about digital sovereignty and AI development.

Former Host Pleads Guilty to Receiving 25 Million Yen from "Riri-chan"

A former host admitted to knowingly receiving approximately 25 million yen that had been deceitfully obtained by convicted scammer "Riri-chan," in a trial held on April 23.

Sakura Tree Collapses on Teacher at Kyoto Tourist Spot

A cherry tree located at one of Kyoto's busiest pedestrian streets, Sanneizaka, a main pathway to Kiyomizu Temple, suddenly fell at 11:45 AM on Tuesday, trapping a school teacher beneath.

FOLLOW US