Tokyo
Credit: Tawatchai Prakobkit
OLYMPIC PREGAME
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch Relay kicks off in the Fukushima
prefecture on March 26, 2020, and then spends 121 days on the road,
passing through all 47 prefectures in Japan to showcase the cultural
and scenic attractions of each, especially the country’s famous cherry
blossoms, which will be blooming along the route.
Under the slogan of “Hope Lights Our Way,” the relay intends to
inspire and demonstrate solidarity between Japan’s regions still
recovering from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Follow the route and
festivities along the way or celebrate its arrival in Tokyo on July 10 with
two weeks of celebration until the opening ceremony on July 24.
To build yet more energy for the games, the Tokyo 2020 Nippon
Festival will throw a number of cultural events, including an exhibition
of the ancient art of Japanese calligraphy from April 25 to May 10 at
the National Art Center in Tokyo. Titled Nature in Japan and the Spirit
of “Sho,” the exhibition brings 200 venerated calligraphers to display
their work.
The art of kabuki will also be highlighted at the Tokyo 2020 Nippon
Festival, this time fused with opera to combine eastern and western
theatrical traditions and international stars of the genres.
FLYWASHINGTON.COM 36 SPRING 2020
KABUKI x OPERA “Luminous, The Lord” plays on April 18 at the Tokyo
Metropolitan Gymnasium in Shibuya.
Closer to Tokyo 2020, Olympic athlete–led experiences will be
available on the Airbnb platform, thanks to a nine-year partnership
with the Olympic games signed in Nov. 2019. Airbnb users will
have access to interactive experiences with Olympians, such as the
opportunity to be trained or toured through the city by an athlete.
This initiative also provides an additional stream of income to
Olympic athletes after the games.
SUSTAINABLE TOKYO 2020
Tokyo is applying its vaunted tech talent to create the most sustainable
Olympics ever. For more than two years, the Tokyo 2020 organizing
committee gathered 78,895 tons of electronic gadgets. This haul
included 6.21 million mobile phones and all the required materials to
create the 5,000 gold, silver, and bronze medals.
Furthermore, Tokyo 2020 will make ample use of Oi Hockey Stadium,
which opened in August 2019 and features the most sustainable turf
in Olympic history. Made from regrowable raw materials, including
60 percent sugar cane, it uses 2/3 less water than previous Olympic
field hockey turfs.