「これが新型iPadです」 pic.twitter.com/aiMvG5wHo8
— 片岡K (@kataoka_k) September 7, 2013
Despite almost missing the opportunity due to health concerns about Fukushima, Japan has been chosen to be the host of the 2020 Olympic games. Like any important globally relevant event, memes were a popular way to react and respond to the event.
IOC総会会場より。 pic.twitter.com/dJtGVeQC32 — 片岡K (@kataoka_k) September 7, 2013
オリンピック新競技きた！ついに時代がポッパーに追い付いたか・・・ pic.twitter.com/6d9u5x9oZ1 — ミジンコ大好きくろ猫 (@kuroneko_popi) September 8, 2013
スパダ皆伝二曲目発表 pic.twitter.com/f2dvgfbCcQ
— 青星B (@Orion_Space) September 8, 2013
オリンピック会長からの報告 pic.twitter.com/Y4VFe0xjQ1
— か⃞る⃞た⃞ (@karuta_n) September 7, 2013
Popular Japanese memes were simple edits of the initial announcement, which netizens used as a springboard to build off from. When an official less-than-ceremoniously unveiled the Tokyo pick via a plain white card which read, “Tokyo 2020”, photoshoppers were quick to insert new content, remixing and replaying the exciting moment again and again online.
This person’s meme says it all. 2020 Olympics tainted by #dolphinblood. #ShutTaijiDown #Tweet4Dolphins #Tweet4Taiji pic.twitter.com/R8djaoJOQX
— Monkey!!! (@WSchnes) September 9, 2013
2020 olympics pic.twitter.com/4ybIRwMuMw
— Black Spider-Man (@_chrissean) September 8, 2013
However the celebrations of the announcement in Japan were sprinkled with images shaming Japan’s animal rights abuses and the ongoing environmental disaster at Fukushima. It’s important to note that these reactions came predominantly from western netizens. Bloody images of Taiji’s dolphin hunting practices, which were brought to international attention by the documentary, The Cove, stood in stark juxtaposition with playful images of Doreamon working out.
Tokyo will host the 2020 Summer Olympics and the Fukushima-inspired mascot already appeared on The Simpsons. pic.twitter.com/OX2QFhmhr9
— Nell Scovell (@NellSco) September 8, 2013
Tokyo announce the mascot for the 2020 Olympics. pic.twitter.com/K9LO8Zu0Pv
— W (@WWarped) September 8, 2013
The torch of the 2020 Olympics! #Fukushima #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/y3qmWPqGcs
— Patrick LaMontagne (@CartoonInk) September 8, 2013
Despite the critiques of animal rights, and the very serious situation in Fukushima, celebratory and playful images took the day. There are some fun illustrations, but most notably, Doreamon is everywhere! (The robot cat is “the first special ambassador in support of Tokyo’s Bid to stage the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.“)
“ドラえもん” 東京2020オリンピック・パラリンピック招致スペシャルアンバサダーに就任 pic.twitter.com/NE38PQuxFZ
— わらわにはできひんわ～ (@aimeezou) September 9, 2013
据说…东京2020申奥成功，作为申奥大使的蓝胖子也功不可没呢，来看这组有趣的奥运造型～ pic.twitter.com/90H0lBxarJ
— 谷歌地图 (@gugeditu) September 9, 2013
祝・東京五輪その２！ 実はオリンピック分子はもう一つあるのです。 その名も「オリンピアダン」！オリンピックの五輪マークのように、5つの輪っかが鎖状に絡まった見事な形の分子なのです。 （http://t.co/qlc0oYDEmEより） pic.twitter.com/CZ0L9zUm7y
— Chem-Station (@chemstation) September 8, 2013
（2020年オリンピック・パラリンピック開催地が東京に決定！やったね！私たちは治安の維持に全力で取り組みます！）（テワタサナイーヌ） pic.twitter.com/hcFHGYPFk7
— 警視庁犯罪抑止対策本部 (@MPD_yokushi) September 9, 2013
And in an odd twist, gaming site Kotaku pointed out that popular anime film Akira had predicted that Tokyo would host the Olympics in 2020. It seems dying for a meme but we’ve only come across this one from Know Your Meme so far.
Do you have any insight into memetic responses to the Olympics announcement? We’re still researching online reactions and are especially interested in hearing from Japanese-speaking readers. Please get in touch!
