Abstract
At the closing ceremony of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games,
a presentation was delivered by the Japanese contingent to promote
the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Characters of Japanese anime and
manga such as Hello Kitty, Doraemon and Pacman appeared on the
main screen of the Maracanã Stadium, as well as the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who arrived dressed up as Mario of Nintendo’s Super Mario. The world of Cool Japan – the Japanese government endorsed creative sectors – was shown and broadcast to a global audience. According to Abe’s media releases, his intention in Brazil was to demonstrate Japan’s soft power ability with the assistance of famous Japanese fictional characters.1 His video recorded comment was also posted on his Facebook page within hours of the closing
ceremony.2 The reactions reported in the international media such as the BBC,3 CNN,4 as well as social media like Facebook and Twitter reveal that Abe’s mission was successful.
a presentation was delivered by the Japanese contingent to promote
the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Characters of Japanese anime and
manga such as Hello Kitty, Doraemon and Pacman appeared on the
main screen of the Maracanã Stadium, as well as the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who arrived dressed up as Mario of Nintendo’s Super Mario. The world of Cool Japan – the Japanese government endorsed creative sectors – was shown and broadcast to a global audience. According to Abe’s media releases, his intention in Brazil was to demonstrate Japan’s soft power ability with the assistance of famous Japanese fictional characters.1 His video recorded comment was also posted on his Facebook page within hours of the closing
ceremony.2 The reactions reported in the international media such as the BBC,3 CNN,4 as well as social media like Facebook and Twitter reveal that Abe’s mission was successful.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Exporting Japanese Aesthetics |
| Subtitle of host publication | Evolution from Tradition to Cool Japan |
| Editors | Tets Kimura, Jennifer Anne Harris |
| Place of Publication | Eastbourne |
| Publisher | Sussex Academic Press |
| Chapter | Introduction |
| Pages | 1-11 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781782846581 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781789760019 |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2020 |
Publication series
| Name | Sussex library of Asian and Asian American studies |
|---|
Keywords
- Civilization, Modern -- Japanese influences
- Japan -- Civilization
- Aesthetics, Japanese