Tokyo 2020 unveil music video

Remake of 1964 Japanese classic to become a new hit ahead of Tokyo Paralympics.

The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020) have unveiled a music video to accompany the newly-released Tokyo Gorin Ondo 2020 song. The video, which is available on YouTube, features a full-length version of the song and accompanying choreography, with singers and dancers wearing Tokyo 2020 yukata summer kimonos.

Recalled fondly by many people from older generations in Japan, the original Tokyo Gorin Ondo song was written and recorded for the Tokyo 1964 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In the hope of engaging younger generations in advance of the return of the Games to Japan, Tokyo 2020 has commissioned a reproduction of the song with updated lyrics and a new arrangement, performed by Japanese celebrity singers Sayuri Ishikawa, Yuzo Kayama and Pistol Takehara, all of whom feature in the video. Organisers of community events will be able to obtain a recording of the song from the Japan Chamber of Commerce or local municipalities.

Brand new choreography has been deployed, making the song easier for people of varying physical abilities to dance along to. Some elements of the choreography were inspired by the movements of the newly added Olympic sports – karate, baseball/softball, sport climbing, skateboarding, surfing – and the new Paralympic sports of badminton and taekwondo.

In July and August, natsu matsuri, or summer festivals, are widely held throughout Japan. A variety of these are organised by different communities, with festival-goers wearing traditional yukata summer kimonos and happi coats. Paper fans, fireworks and bon folk dancing additionally help to distinguish these summer festivals from other seasonal events in Japan.

Yuichi Kodama, director of the music video, commented: “We’ve tried to bring fresh life to the Tokyo Gorin Ondo song with a more uplifting arrangement and updated choreography. I have a good feeling that fun summers are on their way, and that this song and the dance can help take our minds off the stresses of daily life.”

Tokyo 2020 summer festival goods featured in the video are available for purchase online.