The Tokyo Olympics proposal included Akira and Super Mario in the opening ceremony

The Tokyo Olympics will apparently hold the opening ceremonies this July. While the final plans have not yet been announced, Japanese magazine Shukan Bunshun has apparently acquired a 280-page scrapped proposal for the event. Included is one that is Akira-themed and another one that shows Nintendo’s Mario.

Shukan Bunshun is one of the most famous magazines in Japan and is known for its investigative reports and breaking news. The article was published online yesterday and appears in the April 8th issue.

The leaked proposal was reportedly created by the award-winning choreographer Mikiko. Before them worked as a production consultant for Japan’s event during the 2016 Summer Olympics closing ceremony Shukan BunshunHer concept included projection mapping and dance routines for which she is famous.

In one of the pictures of Shukan Bunshun, Kaneda’s bike from Akira can be seen circling around the dome-covered Neo Tokyo. Later, an 8-bit Mario in a bathing suit appears on a giant screen made of lanterns. Below, dancers do a routine inspired by synchronized To bathe. Shukan Bunshun reports that The IOC was enthusiastic about the concept.

Mikiko’s idea has apparently been put on hold, when Hiroshi Sasaki took over As Creative Director, he restructured the creative team and brought in his own ideas. Sasaki has since resigned due to a derogatory suggestion he made for Naomi Watanabe.

Recently Naomi Watanabe, whose Appearance is also included in the supposedly leaked plan, said on youtube that Mikiko’s suggestion was “really cool” and so moving it gave her goose bumps. Later, when Watanabe was briefed on her role at the opening ceremony, she said it sounded very different from the plan Mikiko had outlined. She was especially shocked because she knew that original proposal.

So during the 2016 graduation ceremony Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appeared in a Mario hatHence, the character’s proposed inclusion comes as no surprise. Hugging the Akira Connection is. Created by Katsuhiro Otomo (picture above), Akira Debuted as a manga in 1982 and was later converted into an anime feature film. As is well known it predicted that Neo-Tokyo would host the 2020 Olympics and even seemed to suspect Influence of covid-19 on the games.

The opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics will take place on July 23.