On January 6th, 2020, the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020) unveiled the twenty Tokyo 2020 official art posters, 12 based on the theme of the Olympic Games and eight on the Paralympic Games.

The posters were created by 19 internationally renowned artists and designers, including famous manga-ka Hirohiko Araki (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure) and Naoki Urasawa (Monster, 20th Century Boys).

According to the press release, "(the posters) will be presented to the public across the capital with the aim to raise awareness of the fast-approaching Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games and they will feature in the range of official licensed merchandise."

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Sample of Posters

Here are six of the posters, along with comments from the artists.
(Please click or tap on the images below to zoom in):

Posters for the Olympics

"Now it's your turn!" (Naoki Urasawa, Manga Artist)

Artist comment:

Sports manga is a genre of manga almost unique to Japan. Sports manga played a significant role in the evolution and success of Japanese manga because the weekly serial comic was the perfect format for capturing the excitement of sporting events. Manga artists through the ages have committed their talent to conveying the thrill of heated matches and games. Concluding with the line, “To be continued!” each weekly episode has left readers on the edge of their seats, just like watching a real match.
This is a new work created exclusively for the Olympic Games. It is my attempt at representations that transcend sporting events, race and gender.
Everybody gets a turn. Now it’s your turn!

"Space Kicker" (Shinro Ohtake, painter)

Artist comment:

Multicolored spherical celestial bodies hurtling through space at the speed of light. Never-to-be-repeated chance encounters of vivid, sparkling colors and heavenly beings—I was imagining an Olympic scene far removed from Earth. A pink figure appears out of nowhere.
Without so much as a blink, the figure nonchalantly does kick-ups with a bright red ball.
Is this the “god of games”?
When Tokyo hosted the Olympic Games back in 1964, I was at elementary school, where we did papercutting in class. So I decided to create my imagined universe in papercutting.
I cut out unfinished artwork and, along with scraps of printed matter and random bits of colored paper found in the studio, threw it in the air. And the “Space Kicker” spontaneously appeared where the multicolored fragments had landed.

"FLY HIGH !" (Shoko Kanazawa, Calligrapher)

Artist comment:

This work was produced in the hope that the commitment and enthusiasm of athletes, as well as everybody supporting the Olympic Games, will soar high above Tokyo to reach people the world over. The calligraphy with its ray of dazzling light represents the energy of athletes. It is executed on a ground covered with gold foil showcasing fine Japanese craftsmanship. The Tokyo Games is shown employing calligraphy and other uniquely Japanese traditional mediums in a way that communicates depth, authenticity down to the finest details and released energy.

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Posters for the Paralympics

"The Sky above The Great Wave off the Coast of Kanagawa" (Hirohiko Araki, Manga Artist)

Artist comment:

I imagined the gods of sports descending on Japan from a sky filled with clouds resembling turbulent waves.
The compositional motif was taken from Katsushika Hokusai’s print, The Great Wave off the Coast of Kanagawa.
Deciding on the color of Mt. Fuji was difficult, but I finally settled on a honey color.

"PARALYMPIAN" (GOO CHOKI PAR, Graphic Designer)

Artist comment:

Moving forward. Human aspiration for ceaseless progress removes physical limits, removes handicaps and leaps over the boundaries of nationalities and gender. Each life living in the present in 2020—I wanted to capture all of them, equally, in their beautiful and iconic shapes.
The work’s main motif is an individual who moves forward. Arms swinging boldly, feet hitting the ground with full force. This primitive embodiment of movement represents the determination of all Paralympians trying to move forward toward a surer future.
The work pays homage to what each and every athlete has achieved, and to the history of human endeavor and progress.

"Horseback Archery" (Akira Yamaguchi, Painter)

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Tokyo 2020 Official Art Poster Exhibition

If you'd like to see these posters up close to admire them in all their detail, they'll be displayed at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo from January 7th to February 16th in an exhibition hosted by Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture and Tokyo 2020.

This is the first time that all 20 Tokyo 2020 official art posters are unveiled to the public.

• Place: Entrance hall of Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo（4-1-1 Miyoshi, Koto-ku, Tokyo)
• Opening hours: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Closed: Mondays（except January 13th), January 14th
• Admission: Free
• Access: Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
• Inquiries: +81 (0)3 5777 8600 (from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. every day)