Tokyo tokens: Mascots unveiled as Japan prepares for the world’s biggest sporting event

The official mascots for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics were unveiled at a ceremony in Tokyo yesterday.

The mascot for the Olympics is named Miraitowa – a combination of the Japanese words for future and eternity – while the Paralympic mascot will be known as Someity, which comes from a popular cherry blossom variety Someiyoshino. The designs were selected by elementary schoolchildren across Japan. “These mascots are your friends,” Tokyo 2020 organizing committee president Yoshiro Mori told the children. “You have helped to pick them and this Olympics belongs to everyone.”