Writingbolt's Creation

*****

So, that happened.

I have said that, before, after previous Olympics ceremonies.  Accidents happen.  Technical difficulties happen.  What was intended to be a beautiful musical composition does not sound nice.  And, a torch of some sort is lit.  That would seem to be the average outcome since 2008’s epic Beijing opening.  Any opening ceremony before 2008 is a blur to me…except for the stellar torch lighting by the Greeks, using the flaming arrow to deliver the flame.  [It’s rather hard to top that one.]

Tokyo’s 2021 (classified as 2020, negating the impact of the current crisis) opening ceremony tried its best to delight under pressured conditions.  And, surprisingly, it managed a few highlights worth repeat watching.  I expected more in some areas and less in others.  I did not think the parade would happen and that the whole ceremony would be cut from five and a half? hours to two or less.  But, aside from the lack of crowd participation (no typical cameras flashing constantly from countless seats in the dark; no shouts and whistling), all of the desired elements were there…well, almost.

What was missing?

Back in 2016, Rio gave audiences a humorous and dazzling glimpse of what to expect from Tokyo in 2020.  That very technical trailer sparked a creative explosion inside me, some of which has painted itself on my blog space (in previous posts).  There were hints of video games and anime.  I…kind of…expected to see more of that in the opening ceremony.  But, the Prime Minister did NOT appear in his Mario costume.  There was no Pac-Man (or Puck-Man) simulation on the CG floor or around the stadium.  No one danced in a Hello Kitty mascot costume.  There are two MASCOTS for the season, and they did not appear, at all, during the opening ceremony.

At a previous Olympics ceremonies, there have been…technical difficulties which are both disappointing and remotely comical.  I do not think Tokyo’s most recent mistake was intended nor a spoof of any previous accident.  During the PICTOGRAMS (just making sure I spell it right; not “pictographs”) segment, there was a fairly obvious stumble with the Badminton display.  [I thought it was Tennis when I first saw the segment.]  I couldn’t resist a loud AWWH!  I knew what the performers were attempting, and it pained me to see them falter.  After all, the Olympics are known for feeding perfectionism.  SO much pressure to be perfect.  And, Japan is noted for being detail-oriented…with all of its precise origami folds.

Yet, the PICTOGRAMS segment is a must-watch moment.  [I watched it five times the day it aired.]

Also among the better moments, I was awed–as many who watched probably were–by the DRONES converting the Tokyo Summer Olympics 2020 logo into a…er…slightly rotating…globe above…er…slightly to one side of the main stadium.  I think TV viewers had a better view than the people in the stadium.  WHY was the drone globe not directly over the “crowd?”  Fear of falling drones?  Drone exhaust concerns?  Do drones make exhaust?  Anyway.  A beautiful image and use of technology paired with a song that is not particularly a personal favorite yet one that–with singers from around the world (singing in English?)–definitely generated a harmonizing fire, drawing all nations together.

Yes.  Let’s gather close together; everyone, now.  Oh, did we mention you should be wearing MASKS?  Well…maybe you can lower those masks for 30 seconds, now, when you’re on the medal ceremony platforms.  But, wait.  What are those athletes in the parade doing?  I see a number of bold faces NOT wearing masks…or failing to wear their masks, properly.  Some people seemed to think not covering their noses was a fairly good idea.  I know.  Temperatures have been on the rise.  The stadium heats up even faster with fire and active bodies.  But…masks, people.  Masks.  Safety for everyone.

In a parade where FLAG BEARERS were asked to enter the stadium in coed couples, not every nation seemed able to follow suit.  But…it was a nice idea!  Couples carrying the flags of their nations, together.  If we could try that, again, next time, maybe bearers would be more coordinated.  Maybe nations would plan ahead.  Still, some got into the spirit of the moment and made the most of it.  I bow with admiration to them.  I also give respect to the nations that tried to honor Tokyo with their outfits and accessories (like those trendy hand fans).  Nice work.

The brave and lucky “few” who entered the stadium were treated to a blizzard of paper birds.  [I hope those were safe to handle.]  How cool was that…cool souvenirs…and they made me think of a fun way to exchange notes with participants/audience members.  But…maybe not under crisis conditions.  Sigh.

Backing up to the beginning, there was a lovely image of a single figure “sprouting” into action (appearing like a plant sprout which blossomed into more and more active bodies).  This soon became a bit confusing and crowded by a group of what looked like mold spores or cheese globs connected to a red geometric shape which contracted and expanded across the field.  There was some mention of a unifying force.  But, all I saw was a Covid-19 explosion draining the vitality from the scene.  The “red” did not look like a happy, unifying force.  It looked and sounded dismal.

Later, there was another segment boasting “unity” and “diversity, featuring a number of Japanese “kids” in odd bowl-cut wigs and a number of colored blocks.  [This preceded the drone display, I think.]  I understood the basic…thought.  But, the whole lacked something.  It felt a bit “slapped-together.”  Still, it inspired me to craft a similar segment for a future opening/closing ceremony (if I ever have the opportunity to work with a creative team for such a project).

COMMERCIALS.  Who would have guessed commercials would make a greater effort to entertain this year?  I don’t remember enjoying commercials as much in previous years.  I just remember ads for credit-card companies featuring athletes purchasing various things.  They were not very clever…but very obvious.  Yes.  Okay.  Visa.  Got it.  But, this year, I was actually amused by “junk sleep,” by a talking car that drives itself and winks (though I can never quite hear “her” name, clearly), by a “tomorrow” that produces a shoe from a seed and finding a needle–er, phone–in a haystack.  ‘Plenty of amusing ads, as if I was watching the (American) Super Bowl.  And, yeah, there were those obvious credit-card ads, too.  But, apparently, Toyota is really filling the space, taking up the load like the metal ox.

KABUKI?  Yes!  PIANO?  No.  The brief showcase of kabuki theater was a nice touch but poorly explained.  Or, rather, I didn’t quite understand the effort.  But, man, that guy was toting a big sword!  And then, there was the “prodigy” piano portion which…if I may be frank…did nothing for me.  Okay, this might be a tad rude, but…I can rapidly hit piano keys, too!  Just watch!  That’s how the performance felt to me; a girl pounding the keys as fast as she could, like the tap dancer that preceded her tried to impress with his fast feet.  If I don’t feel the rhythm, it’s just hectic pacing.  Sorry.  [I did like the pianist’s appearance, though.]

If I heard correctly, the TORCH RELAY was cancelled for reasons related to the current health crisis.  I don’t understand how an outdoor relay would be any more hazardous than the one inside the stadium which blended “Paralympics” athletes with the more able-bodied variety.  [Did anyone catch the old man getting a “wedgie?”  I know, he needed help walking…but, seriously, he was given a “wedgie!”]  Maybe there was concern for crowds gathering around the relay runners?  Then, I could understand the concern.  But, if people were told to stay home/indoors and merely observe the relay on TV/devices…wouldn’t that have worked?  After all the talk about wood from all parts of Japan being brought together to make so many things, including the main stadium, why WOULDN’T Japan want to follow through with the authentic torch relay?

The torch lighting lacked a little something.  [Again, just try to top the Greeks with their flaming arrow.]  I was content with the unfolding shape.  But, I guess I thought Mt. Fuji would be…taller?  And, I thought something was going to be built around the mountain, considering all of the laborers seen earlier.  I suppose a torch not lighting would have been worse.  So…it’s lit…and that’s good.  [I find myself going back to the first championship of the Pokémon cartoon series, in Kanto, and looking for some firebird to carry the torch flame.]

I’d also like to applaud Tokyo for making a very “wooden” opening ceremony.  It appealed to my “Chinese astrological spirit” (so to speak).  From the Olympic rings to the bonsai trees behind reporters during interview portions and paper lanterns…just throw in some images of thriving bamboo, and I’ll be good.

Overall, I was not disappointed, considering the possible limitations, balancing the highlights with the shortcomings.  But, I did see room for improvement.

Feel free to share your thoughts and feelings on the Tokyo 2020/2021 opening ceremony.