To be read as a direct continuation of Part 12; https://watchitdie.blogspot.com/2021/10/the-2020-summer-olympics-opening_21.html
Pictogram Round.
Within the Olympics each sport is represented by a Pictogram. A little picture telling you what it is.
So the Sailing events are represented by a little picture of a sailing boat. The Cycling events are represented by a little picture of a bicycle. And so forth.
This tradition began at the 1964 Summer Olympics. Held in Tokyo, Japan.
It was introduced as a way to help visitors cope with Japan's pretty impenetrable written language.
Known as; "Kanji" written Japanese is also pictographic. Each word is represented by a little picture.
The Japanese word for; "Tree" is; "Ki."
It is written as a single vertical line. With a horizontal line around two thirds of the way up. With two diagonal lines reaching down from the top. Like branches.
It is literally a picture of a tree.
The Japanese word for; "Forest" is; "Mori." It is written as two of the symbols for Tree.
Literally a group of more than one tree.
The Roman or Latin alphabet is made up of 26 individual characters.
The Arabic alphabet is slightly longer. Being made up of 28 individual characters.
The Cyrillic or Russian alphabet is slightly longer still. Made up of 33 individual characters.
Written Japanese is made up of more than 2,800 individual characters.
Made up of the 1,945 characters of Joyo Kanji. 285 characters of Jinmei Kanji. Along with 587 characters which are not included on either list.
Obviously not having an alphabet. In the sense of the Roman, Arabic or Cyrillic alphabets. Japanese doesn't really have a concept of alphabetical order.
Instead their list of characters are arranged according to the number of lines or; "Strokes" they include.
This is done through the; "System of Kanji Indexing by Pattern (SKIP)."
The first thing you have to do is look at how the strokes in the character can be divided;
1. Left and Right.
2. Top and Bottom.
3. Enclosed. As if part of the character was sitting in a box.
4. Other. Characters which can't be divided into any of the three categories.
You then count the number of strokes in each part of the division. The number of strokes in the left-hand side along with the number of strokes in the right-hand side.
This leaves you with a SKIP code.
Take for example; "Haiku." A type of poem that is probably one of the most widely known Japanese words.
The character for Haiku can be divided between Left and Right. So has the number 1.
There are 2 strokes on the left-hand side of the division and 8 strokes on the right-hand side of the division.
Giving Haiku the SKIP code 1-2-8.
During the games. Along with my continuing, delayed coverage. My paywall readers have been deluged with so much more information on just this topic.
That has turned this section into a further mockery. Of the US/UK and their clumsy attempts to hijack my relationship with Miley Cyrus.
Throughout the US/UK's overriding objective. At the expense of all other objectives.
Has been to prove that I'm insane.
The belief that I have a secret relationship with Miley Cyrus. Who hides secret messages in her Instagram posts being evidence of such.
In the US/UK's extremely disordered thought process.
They believe that this will erase the last 20 years of evidence and prove, once and for all. That they've been the sane ones all along.
Obviously though. Even they know they can't say that out loud.
So instead they've been arguing that Miley Cyrus and I can't speak to each other directly. Using Direct Messages (DM) or email etc.
As that would be a secret.
Nobody else would be able to see. As the mysteries of Miley Cyrus' rumoured bisexuality is revealed.
Meanwhile. I've been using it as an opportunity to teach everyone Japanese.
That is something I used to do with my lesbian best friend. Before meeting our bisexual girlfriend. Forming the World Famous Thrupple.
We sat around smoking a lot of Marijuana or; "Ma." Trying and failing to teach each other Japanese.
So that's why I've been unable to use Instagram. Since the big crash of October 4th (4/10/21).
The US/UK are trying, and failing, to make sure that any direct communication I would have with Miley Cyrus would be secret.
So they can go back to arguing that Miley Cyrus and I couldn't possibly be allowed to speak to each other directly.
Although I periodically offer them the question of whether they would like to correct their mistake. As it is so obvious that they are absolutely desperate for my help.
I've more-or-less just told them to p*ss off.
If I can't speak to Miley Cyrus directly. You know, that thing humans do.
Then there really isn't much I can do for her. Meaning there's no point wasting time on it.
A sane person would really have known that.
However the Japanese hosts didn't know that I was going to start a language lesson. Until about 20 minutes before the Opening Ceremony began.
Meaning it was probably the one section of the Opening Ceremony that wasn't intended as a savage mockery of the US and UK.
In settling on the idea of Pictograms. Ahead of the 1964 Summer Games. The Japanese hosts clearly looked at their language and thought;
"Let's really dumb this down for the foreigners."
Although I have absolutely no evidence to support it. I have often wondered whether it is the sheer complexity of the Japanese language.
Which has led to them being, possibly, the most educationally and technologically advanced nation on Earth.
The mind expanding power of having to cram all of that information into your brain. From a very young age.
At around 16:25 on 25/10/21 (UK date) I'll pick this up later.
Edited at around 17:55 on 26/10/21 (UK date) to copy & paste;
With all of the letters in their vast alphabet being little pictures. Written Japanese is very artistic. To write any word you literally have to draw a series of little pictures.
Not only are the characters ordered by the number of strokes in them. Those strokes are supposed to be applied or written in a specific and precise order.
For example in the word; "Tree/Ki."
You start by drawing the horizontal line/stroke. You then draw the vertical line/stroke. Followed by the left-hand side branch line/stroke. Finally you draw right-hand side branch line/stroke.
As a result people who know how to handwrite in Japanese. Tend to be very good at drawing. Making Japan a World leader in traditional animation.
Combined with the level of educational and technological advancement. Which I remain convinced is a direct result of their language.
Japan has also become a World leader in computer animation. Computer Generated Imagery (CGI).
It's actually a huge (friendly) rivalry between Japan and South Korea. Over which country is the best at animation and CGI.
Whatever the animated TV show you've been watching. Wherever it claims to come from in the World. It has been animated in either South Korea or Japan.
Supposedly American TV shows like; "The Simpsons" or; "Family Guy." South Korea enjoys a special relationship with Family Guy.
The same goes for almost all video games.
Using their advanced technical expertise. Japan has decided to update the pictograms for the 2020 games. Making moving pictograms.
The sequence began with a short computer generated animation.
Telling us the story of how the pictograms came into being at the 1964 games. Then have been used at every games since. It ended by showing us the new, moving, 2020 pictograms.
When the animation ended we returned to the arena. Where the Japanese physical comedy group Gamarjobat had set themselves a challenge.
To act out live versions of 50 of the pictograms. In the space of 4 minutes.
This sequence could only be described as; "Frenetic."
With urgent music and shaky camera work adding to the sense of jeopardy. As we watched breathlessly to see if the physical challenge could be completed in time.
Some people have likened this to a Japanese TV gameshow. Or what is actually, more often, the gameshow sequence in a much longer Japanese TV variety show.
I think the most globally famous example is; "Takeshi's Castle." Which was sold to more than 30 countries.
Takeshi's Castle was hosted by Takeshi Kitano. Who also featured in the year 2000 movie; "Battle Royale."
Along with the movie the gameshow was part of that shortlived western obsession with Japan and Japanese culture. Seemingly inspired by Buffy the Vampire Slayer and that Samurai sword attack on a British Church.
A lot of people have commented on the apparent cruelty of Japanese gameshows. There does seem to be an attitude that it's not really entertainment unless someone is really suffering.
Gamarjobat certainly seemed to be suffering. As they raced through their physical challenge.
However I think the sequence also served as an introduction to the pace life in Tokyo itself.
This was something Japan brought up in their section of the 2016 Olympic Closing Ceremony. Held in Rio de Janerio, Brazil those games had something of a laid-back, sitting on the beach sort of atmosphere to them.
Japan tried to warn people that the Tokyo games were going to be the polar opposite of that.
They did this by showing the pedestrian "scramble" crossing in the Shibuya district. One of the more globally famous Tokyo landmarks.
The Shibuya Crossing sits outside two Tokyo railway stations. Shibuya Station and Shinjuku Station.
They are used by 6 million commuters each and every day. Many of whom then battle each other and the traffic across the Shibuya Crossing.
It's often said that America's New York City is; "The City That Never Sleeps."
In that case then Tokyo is a city that has been experiencing a 75 year manic episode.
Or at least that's what visitors to the Olympics would have experienced. If the pandemic hadn't locked down the city just before the games.
The 2020 pictograms were done in the two-tone Imperial Purple/White colour scheme of the Ichimatsu Moro/Harmonised Chequered 2020 emblem.
The first 15 pictograms tackled featured only one figure. Even if they were representing team sports.
So they were acted out by a single performer. In an Imperial Purple/Blue costume with their head fully covered. To represent the anonymous, androgynous stick-figure of the pictogram.
In keeping with the style of the pictogram the figure also wore a tightly fitting white jacket. Giving the whole outfit a sense of a Fencing uniform.
The single performer was accompanied by an assistant. Dressed in the same costume. Only all in white. To give the impression of them being hidden in the white background of the pictogram.
This invoked to the Geometric Progression element of the Ichimatsu Moro logo. The never ending rhythm between Purple and White.
As I discussed in that section. To the people of Bali this checkerboard pattern is known as; "Saput Poleng." It is used to symbolise the balance in the Universe. Light and Dark. Good and Evil etc.
In that way it is similar to the "Ying Yang" symbol. Probably the most famous symbol from Taoism. It to symbolises the balance in the Universe.
However a lot of people assume the Ying Yang symbolises just one example of balance. Between Male and Female.
Along the androgynous figures themselves. Suggesting the Universe demands one Male and one Female for a relationship to be balanced.
Would allow you to really wind up the gay-rights for gays mob.
Along with the slower nations; America, Canada, New Zealand. Who think Transgender athletes are still an ongoing debate within the Olympic/Para-Olympic movement.
It also reminded me of the SKIP system by which Japanese is organised.
First you divide the character. Then by casting the light of your gaze you count the strokes in one part of the character. While the other part of the character is cast into darkness.
The figure in white wasn't the only assistant the single performer had. As the camera work became ever more shaky you started catching glimpses of stagehands being caught in the edge of shot.
On the 25th pictogram one of these stagehands. In his baseball cap, cargo shorts and polo shirt was caught dead centre of the shot.
Making you think they'd made a terrible mistake. Failed their challenge.
Then the camera zoomed in on the logo on his polo shirt. It was the sailing boat! The 26th pictogram!
Pictograms 15 through to 17 were not acted out live. Instead there was a seamless cut to a pre-recorded video.
Those pictograms were shown using only the performer's hands. Sort of like the shadow puppets you would make against a wall.
Some people have said that this was an example of; "Finger Tutting." A style of modern "Street" dance which particularly focuses on hand movements.
I though think it was a reference to; "Bunraku." A form of Japanese puppet theatre which is commonly mistaken for; "Kabuki." More on that later.
The pictograms for the Equestrian events (27-29) were also done in this Finger Tutting/Bunraku style.
They were particularly highlighted by a change in the music. Which contained elements of the song; "Camptown Races."
Due to its frequent use in "Black and White Minstrel Shows" complete with; "Blackface." Camptown Races considered quite racist. Particularly in America.
It seemed included here to troll the particularly US element. Particularly the Black Lives Matter element. Of the US/UK effort to clumsily hijack my relationship with Miley Cyrus.
As I said. About 20 minutes before the start of the Opening Ceremony. Through to me getting shutout of Instagram. I'd been giving my paywall readers Japanese lessons.
In the several months prior to that. I'd been giving them lessons in the Cavaletti method of horse training.
This involves using logs or small fences. To teach a horse how to control things like pace and stride length.
These basic skills are useful in everything to do with horses. However they are particularly on display in Olympic Equestrian events such as Dressage.
Specifically the method I was teaching everyone. Was the one pioneered by Reiner Klimke. Who won Gold in Dressage at the 1964 Tokyo games.
This was a massive running joke throughout the Equestrian qualifiers.
It even played a role in Bruce Springsteen's daughter, Jessica Springsteen. Being selected for the American Equestrian team.
This joke, of course, made an utter mockery of the US/UK's claim. That Miley Cyrus and I couldn't possibly speak to each other directly.
As that would be a secret!
That mockery was continued here.
The pictogram for "Eventing (29)." Doesn't show Eventing. It shows the Cavaletti method.
At around 18:15 on 26/10/21 (UK date) I'll pick this up tomorrow.
Edited at around 17:20 on 28/10/21 (UK date) to tidy up a bit and copy & paste;
At the 30th pictogram, Canoe Slalom, the sequence returned to live action in the arena.
From the 32nd pictogram, Rowing, they started to show pictograms which included two figures.
So they brought in a second performer. Dressed in the same Imperial Purple/Blue costume with a White jacket.
At the 33rd pictogram the two performers disappeared behind a White barrier. They would then alternate popping up to show pictograms where only one figure was represented.
On the 41st pictogram the sequence seamlessly cut to a pre-recorded video. To showcase Japan's ability to move seamlessly between live action and pre-recorded video.
The pictograms shown dealt with the Martial Arts of Kumite and Kata, the two of the three disciplines of Karate. Along with the Martial Art of Judo.
All of which Japan are extremely proud of. Having invented them.
For these pictograms the Imperial Purple/Blue performers wore traditional Karate/Judo uniforms; "Gi."
They stripped off those Gi to represent the pictogram for Wrestling. Greco-Roman Wrestling. Not the Sumo Wrestling Japan invented and prefers.
During this video sequence the White-clad helper started to become more prominent and active.
Taking on the role of the Referee during the bouts. Even kneeling in a Japanese style during the Wrestling pictogram.
It was the White-clad helper who tapped the Imperial Purple/Blue clad performers on the shoulder. Then rushed them out of the video back to the live action for the final 6 pictograms.
For the 50th and final pictogram, Triathlon. The White-clad helper donned a hat with an Imperial Purple/Blue brim and a white crown. To form the head of the swimmer in the pictogram.
The sequence ended with both of the Imperial Purple/Blue-clad performers and the White-clad helper standing on the medal podium.
The performer in Imperial Purple/Blue fencing outfit was in 1st place. The performer in the Purple/Blue Gi was in 2nd place. While the White-clad helper was in 3rd place.
Although it is difficult to tell. Given the deliberately androgynous nature of the costumes. I suspect that the helper was female. While the two performers were male.
The fed into that recurring theme of these games. Improving rights for women with Japanese society.
It showed the woman finally getting her credit. Unlike the Daiku workgang boss in the Rose of Allendale sequence. Unlike so many women in Japanese society.
It also served as a little tribute to all the games volunteers. The people who work quietly in the background to make the games happen.
It could also be viewed as a reference to The World Famous Thrupple.
Any mention of which inevitably mocks the US/UK's clumsy attempts to hijack my relationship with Miley Cyrus.
The notion that I or the World would be shocked from its axis. By the rumour that Miley Cyrus may be bisexual.
Comedy Control Room.
This sequence showed the famous Japanese comedian Hitori Gekidan. Essentially mucking about in an empty TV control room.
This was a reference to Japan's decision not to start the Opening Ceremony with the traditional countdown.
Obviously there is no longer a need for a Countdown as TV broadcast technology has advanced so much since the tradition began. Computerisation has left TV control rooms looking as empty as the one Hitori Gekidan was mucking about in.
The very 1960's style of this TV control room. Saw it resemble the NASA Mission Control.
As you may have seen depicted in the 1995 movie; "Apollo 13." Or the 1998 TV show; "From The Earth To The Moon."
As was discussed during the Fun With Flags I section. At the end of the Second World War Japan had its current "Peace Constitution" imposed on it.
Article 9 sees Japan give up its right to resolve disputes through war. Along with the right to possess offensive weapons. Such as ballistic missiles.
Ballistic missiles and space rockets are really the same thing. Differing only in what you put at the top of them.
One of the leading figures in NASA's space program was the German scientist Wernhar Von Braun.
Despite many people thinking he should have been hung for Crimes Against Humanity. In his role as the head of Nazi Germany's V2 missile program. All the slave labour that involved.
So Japan has never been permitted to participate in space exploration. Which must be frustrating for them. Given their technological dominance in all other areas.
To give you an idea of how frustrated the Japanese seem. The key year in the Space Race was 1969. With Apollo 11 landing on the Moon.
In 1969 Japan established Kanamara Matsuri. The Festival of the Steel Penis.
A joke that it seems to have taken Jeff Bezos and Blue Origin 52 years to catch up with.
Part of Hitori Gekidan's mucking about involved him flicking various switches. Apparently not knowing what they did.
As Hitori Gekidan flicked each switch. Unbeknown to him it would have an effect in the arena. Turning on or off various lights or changing their colour.
Something of a neat trick. Sequencing the live lighting changes with the pre-recorded video.
At one point Hitori Gekidan draw on a digital drawing pad. What was eventually revealed to be a funny face appeared on the big screen in the arena in real time.
The way that these black strokes were applied. Was a reference to the artistic nature of written Japanese.
However it was also a show of support for Russia. Against the US and the IOC's hate campaign against the country.
At the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics. The Russian hosts had various sculptures and objects hanging from the arena ceiling.
They used light to create a shadow drawing of a massive penis on the arena floor.
A really technically sophisticated way. Of making a really childish joke.
Which only served to make it even funnier.
Eventually Hitori Gekidan's boss taps him on the shoulder.
In keeping with the recurring theme of the games. Improving rights for women within Japanese society.
It was a female boss.
Specifically Shizuka Arakawa. A very famous Japanese Figure Skater. Who won Gold at the 2006 Winter Olympics. Held in Turin, Italy.
Silently Shizuka Arakawa told her incompent male employee, Hitori Gekidan. To stop messing about and start the show. By finding and pressing the right button.
And by; "Button" we mean; "Clitoris."
After fumbling about for a while it was clear that Hitori Gekidan couldn't find the button. So it fell to Shizuka Arakawa to find and press the button herself.
With the flick of a switch the video started showing the lights come on across Tokyo. Lighting up the Olympic Venues and landmarks to a soundtrack of Soft Jazz.
Which reminded me of the famous opening titles of US TV show; "Saturday Night Live (SNL)."
Another little swipe at them. For making the mistake of participating in the US/UK's clumsy effort to hijack my relationship with Miley Cyrus.
As was discussed at the 2021 Oscars. Movies such as; "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" and; "The United States Vs Billie Holiday." Along with at the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest.
Jazz music was invented by Black Americans in the 1920/30's. Jazz and Blues, through genres such as Ska and Reggae, are really the basis for all popular music in the west and, by extension, globally.
The invention of Jazz music also really demonstrates the divergent fortunes of Black Americans. In the years following the US Civil War (1861-1865). Really through to the present day.
Black Americans in the Republican controlled Northern States were free. Leading to a huge explosion in Black American culture.
Meanwhile Black Americans in the Southern States remained under the yoke of the Democrats. Oppressed by Jim Crow laws they were not free to achieve in the way Republicans were.
By its nature Jazz is non-conformist. Songs are not written in advance but improvised by the musicians on the day.
The notion of a Jazz record is really a contradiction. More than any other it is a genre of music that must be experienced live.
Japanese society has an extremely conformist culture. So it is odd that they have really embraced Jazz. Introduced by US troops stationed there in the 1940/50's.
It is interesting to see how Japan has taken this very wild, non-conformist style of music.
Turning it into the very safe, soft version being displayed here. Along with really anywhere else you will go in Japan's nightlife.
That touches on another recurring theme of these games.
Japan's insular society's intense distrust of outsiders. A relic of their "Locked State (Sakoku) Policy" of the Edo Period.
Particularly the tension with Black outsiders. Particularly Black African outsiders.
Who not only physically really stand out in a crowd. Also tend to come from a cultural background that couldn't be more different from Japan's.
Something which, like improving rights for women in Japanese society. Japan feels it needs to have a conversation with itself about.
To be continued in Part 14.
17:50 on 28/10/21 (UK date).
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