Tokyo Olympics are set to kick start from July 23, 2021 amid the Covid-19 pandemic. There has been a number of changes in the Olympics due to the fear of spreading of virus. Some new faces have come while some legends have withdrawn from the tournament. But, one thing remains constant. The Mascot!

Tokyo Olympics’ Two Mascots

Tokyo Olympics 2020 will have two mascots- Miraitowa and Someity.

“Miraitowa” is the official Mascot for Tokyo Olympics 2020. Miraitowa comes from the combination of two Japanese words-Mirai and Towa. Mirai means future while Towa means eternity. The name resembles the Olympic design and the structure is thoughtfully sketched to depict Tokyo Games Emblem. The body and head contains blue indigo ichimatsu pattern which resembles it.

This year, due to Covid-19 restrictions, there won’t be spectators cheering for the athletes at the venues. So, Miraitowa has taken over that responsibility. It will be seen cheering the athletes and their staff. Along with this, it will also greet the guests and athletes at the venues.

Meanwhile, Someity is the mascot designed for Paralympic games. Its name comes from two words, someiyoshino- a kind of cherry blossom and the phrase-‘so mighty’. The body and head of Someity is designed in pink ichimatsu-pattern. It will represent the spirit of Paralympians – the athletes who overcome obstacles and set new goals with an optimistic approach.

Both, Miraitowa and Someity were chosen in February 2018 from Japanese elementary schools. More than 16,000 applicants participated in the process before Ryo Taniguchi designed them. Taniguchi is the creator of both the Mascots for Tokyo Games 2020. He believes that both the mascots personify each other.

He has focused on intricate details of these Mascots. Along with tech-savvy look, he has added Japanese traditional elements of ancient military headpieces as well.

Miraitowa and Someity’s characterstics

Miraitowa will be seen in the robotic avatar at the Games. Its most unique part is the “power of teleportation.” It has adapted the new age of technology wherein it will be able to switch smoothly between the real world and the digital world.

Whereas Someity has sensory cherry blossom antennas that can send and receive messages telepathically. It has the power to fly as well. According to Paralympic website, it is a superhuman with human nature as they believe it has “dignified inner strength.”

Both the Mascots have cameras mounted on their heads which can identify people and respond accordingly via expressions and movements.

At every Olympics, a mascot becomes the face of it. It not only represents the Games but also plays an important role in promotion and branding. The concept of Mascots initially started as an attraction for the younger audience. However, with time, Mascots evolved into an integral part of these games.

Due to Covid-19 pandemic, the public can’t meet Miraitowa and Someity in real. But, Amazon has taken an initiative to deliver its feel to homes. The Mascots are available on Amazon in the shape of soft toys, miniatures and Uno cards with their faces on it. Also, Miraitowa and Someity can greet the public on official websites of the Games.