On Jan. 17, the Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games held the first review meeting to determine how to select official mascots for the games. The committee confirmed the basic policy on selection. Ms. Yoshiko Ikoma (deputy chairperson), a fashion journalist, said that the committee would like to conceive more cutting-edge mascots with striking originality than counterparts appearing in past games. Members exchanged opinions including the most use of the potential of talented creators in Japan, a nation famed for its subculture such as characters, anime and manga, she added. The committee plans to hold review meetings for six times and is scheduled to inform the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee how to select mascots by the end of March. It has not yet been determined when official mascots will be presented. The webmaster, a yuru-chara lover, expects to see epoch-making mascots.
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