Totallympics International Song Contest - Special Event

[Vektor 3,326]

Anime has become a worldwide phenomenon over the decades, which inspired many Western artists to work with Japanese animation studios. Most notably Toei Animation has produced an anime music film for Daft Punk's Discovery album, titled Interstella 5555, showcasing some classic cel animation. Here's a scene from that movie, which is also the music video of Daft Punk's One More Time.

 

 

And to showcase modern anime, the "digital era", with some blend of 2D and 3D animation, here's the music video of Shelter, which was produced by A-1 Pictures.

 

[kungshamra71 892]

Japan is the place of those kind of things we think "only in Japan!", so i'll share some of those I found out while i was there visiting it ( although apparently according to some friends of mine this bands are worldwide known and I was the ignorant that had no idea this existed )

 

I'll start with Baby Metal!

 

[Vojthas 949]

Mr. and Mrs. Crețu wanted to contribute once more for the Japan Day:

 

 

 

 

[Wumo 3,002]

As this day is a celebration of Japanese culture, I will present a fragment of Japan's sports culture, as we are after all a community of worldwide sports fans here on Totallympics. Football and baseball are arguably the most popular sports in Japan, and two of the most widely watched. However there are so many more sports and activities. Many of them traditional to Japan that are still praticed even today. There are also many modern spins on traditional sports as well as sports that have been influenced by others.

 

First we will take a look at what some might consider the national sport of Japan, Sumo.

 

One of the most famous and well-known of the Japanese sports is sumo. Sumo is essentially a wrestling sport, but the rules are a bit different from western style wrestling. Usually the match begins when both wrestlers put both hands on the ground, and ends when one player is pushed out of the ring or any part of their body other than the soles of their feet touches the ground. The match also will end if any sumo wrestler loses the loincloth around their body, mawashi, as the wrestler becomes disqualified when that happens. Although many people tend to look at sumo as fascinating but comical, there is actually a very serious element to sumo wrestling, and it is highly esteemed and respected.

Sumo wrestling has religious elements as its origins are founded in Shinto tradition. However, it's not as strongly tied to Shinto as it once was, although you can still see a lot of its influence in sumo traditions. Many people don't realize that sumo wrestling also tends to be rigid in its rules and discipline, and sumo wrestlers must follow strict rules that are set on them including things like diet and dress code. Sumo wrestlers often reside in places called heya where they train and learn strict discipline, and there is also often a hierarchy that influences how each wrestler is treated and the chores they must do. As there are rankings in sumo between the wrestlers, the top wrestlers acquire a celebrity like status and are treated as such.

There are only six official tournaments a year, and they tend to sell out as they are a popular spectator sport. 

 

[Griff88 1,952]

...And at the ongoing July tournament, spectators began filling the Kokugikan

[kungshamra71 892]

A bit more of crazy things spotted in Japan, now in pictures. Do you know there's a giant Gundam robot in Tokyo, as well as a godzilla statue?

 

 

And did you knew you can go Mario Karting around the city? 

 

[Vektor 3,326]

Speaking of Godzilla, let's listen to the Godzilla medley. 

 

[Dnl 691]

 

[heywoodu 15,145]

 

    

[OlympicIRL 5,532]

 

@Werloc could not be here to post these himself today but he has kindly asked me to share these songs with you as part of his tribute to Japanese music.

 

Quote

Werloc

 

 

 

"sadly I can't join in the celebrations today, but I wish you all a happy Japan day and I'm sending you some music that you can party to"