World-famous anime stars Astroboy and Pikachu became the latest celebrities to lend enthusiastic support to TOKYO 2016, Japan’s Bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, during the Tokyo International Anime Fair, the world’s largest anime exhibition, on 27-30 March.
 
Held at Tokyo Big Sight, which is the TOKYO 2016-proposed venue for fencing, handball and taekwondo, the Tokyo International Anime Fair welcomed 126,622 visitors and 289 companies during its four-day program.

TOKYO 2016 collaborated with anime companies during the fair to enlist their beloved anime icons in the effort to raise awareness of the Olympic movement and interest in sport among the youth. Astroboy, the superhero android of the popular anime series by the same name, and mice-like lightening-wielding Pikachu of the Pokémon (pocket monster) series, are animated heroes for countless millions of young people throughout the world. They are two of the best-known faces of anime, one of the most widely appreciated Japanese art forms in the world.
 
TOKYO 2016 decided to harness the power of anime because it is a centrepiece of Japanese youth culture. In turn, the nation’s youth are central to the Bid and its goals of providing a model sports culture for Japanese youth and a new legacy of sport for future generations. The Games in Tokyo would also serve as a springboard to vault the world deeper into the international sport and Olympic movements.

TOKYO 2016 CEO and Chairman Dr Ichiro Kono commented: ‘TOKYO 2016 is honoured by the strong show of public support from the nation’s anime industry and their anime stars, who are treasured national icons beloved by youth worldwide. TOKYO 2016 aims to create an environment where the Olympic family and indeed the entire world would experience the excitement and entertainment of the Olympic Games framed by Japan’s distinctive culture. We will continue to engage Japan’s youth role models in an effort to inspire more and more young people, who are at the heart of our Bid, to participate in the international sport and Olympic movements, and help us bring the Games to Japan’.

For further information, please contact:
Hidetoshi Maki (Mr), Deputy Director General, TOKYO 2016 Olympic Games Bid Committee
Masa Takaya (Mr), Manager, Planning & PR Div., TOKYO 2016 Olympic Games Bid Committee
+81-3-5320-2480, mailto:masanori.takaya@tokyo2016.or.jp