Metamorphosis in Motion: Olympic Ceremonies as Sites of Relational Creativity in Japan

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June 10, 2025

Metamorphosis in Motion: Olympic Ceremonies as Sites of Relational Creativity in Japan
Metamorphosis in Motion: Olympic Ceremonies as Sites of Relational Creativity in Japan

Volume 23

Abstract: Examining Olympic opening and closing ceremonies from the perspective of relational creativity, this article analyzes the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics’ opening ceremony and the 2016 Rio Games’ Japanese closing ceremony—both experimented with transitory meanings exploring alternative representations of Japan. We consider them as cases of relational creativity; the Nagano opening ceremony explored the fusion of local religious traditions and Western influences, while the Rio closing ceremony experimented with meanings of urban cosmopolitanism, consumerism, as well as cultural and social inclusivity.

Keywords: Olympics, Opening Ceremony, Relational Creativity, Japan, Meaning-making

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Volume 23

About the author:

Dr. Mariko Ikeda is associate professor at the institute of Art and Design, University of Tsukuba. She is a cultural geographer specialising in cultural research in Germany and Japan.

Dr. Christian Morgner is a Senior Lecturer at the Management School, University of Sheffield. He has been a visiting fellow at institutions including Yale University, Keio University, the University of Leuven, and the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (Paris). Using Grounded Theory, his research on the global formation of media events led to the monograph Global Media Events and numerous papers, exploring how media meanings are created globally. His work also integrates video analysis, bridging sociolinguistics, healthcare studies, and conversation analysis.

Dr. Mohamed Nour El-Barbary is a lecturer at the Center for Tourism Research, Wakayama University. His research interests include cultural heritage, human geography, tourism studies, and linguistic landscapes, focusing on Egypt, Japan, and Germany.

Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus is a peer-reviewed publication, providing critical analysis of the forces shaping the Asia-Pacific and the world.

    About the author:

    Dr. Mariko Ikeda is associate professor at the institute of Art and Design, University of Tsukuba. She is a cultural geographer specialising in cultural research in Germany and Japan.

    Dr. Christian Morgner is a Senior Lecturer at the Management School, University of Sheffield. He has been a visiting fellow at institutions including Yale University, Keio University, the University of Leuven, and the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (Paris). Using Grounded Theory, his research on the global formation of media events led to the monograph Global Media Events and numerous papers, exploring how media meanings are created globally. His work also integrates video analysis, bridging sociolinguistics, healthcare studies, and conversation analysis.

    Dr. Mohamed Nour El-Barbary is a lecturer at the Center for Tourism Research, Wakayama University. His research interests include cultural heritage, human geography, tourism studies, and linguistic landscapes, focusing on Egypt, Japan, and Germany.