Producing the Olympic Games Festival

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From the Olympics Toward Tomorrow

Producing the Olympic Games Festival

Nagano Olympics Committee (NAOC) announced on February 7, 1995, that it selected Mr. Keita Asari (age 61), the well-known musical director, as the "general producer" to supervise the production of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the Nagano Olympic Games, as well as the art exhibits and cultural events.

In the afternoon of the same day, Mr. Asari held a press conference at a hotel in Tokyo, and said, "I have been given a very awesome assignment. I was truly moved from the heart at the Lillehammer Olympic Games. For the Nagano Olympic Games, I would like to develop the artistic direction with the image of harmony among culture, nature, history, and talent, first and foremost."

In summer of 1994, NAOC decided on the policy of coordinating the Opening Ceremony, Closing Ceremony, and the art exhibits under the direction of a general producer to ensure that individual programs would not suffer from disorganized images. NAOC conducted its search among highly evaluated art and theater directors in and outside Japan, and finally selected Mr. Asari.

Mr. Asari is the director of the "Gekidan Shiki" theater group. He has produced many musicals including the Japanese-language versions of "Chorus Line" and "Cats," as well as originals such as "Musical Ri Koran." In September 1994, he directed the performance of "Jesus Christ Superstar," the first Japanese-language musical to be performed in Korea. Mr. Asari is from Tokyo, but has strong ties with Nagano Prefecture. He has a rehearsal facility in Omachi City, Nagano Prefecture, and has built a theater reference center in that city. (originally run February 7, 1995)

The selection of members of the producer team who will be in charge of directing the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Nagano Olympic Games and the cultural program was finalized on September 9, 1996. The general producer, Mr. Keita Asari, welcomed conductor Seiji Ozawa, who is connected with Nagano Prefecture through Saito Kinen Festival, as advisor. Mr. Haruhiko Hagimoto, who is from Iida City and who heads a TV production company, will be the video/film director, and Mr. Mitsuru(?) Arai, the writer, will serve as the image director who will create the overall image of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Awards ceremonies, and the ceremonies and festivities overall. Because Mr. Asari has a very busy schedule, Mr. Hiroshi(?) Machida, advisor of Showa University's Lifelong Study Center, will serve as Assistant Producer, and handle liaison and coordination with NAOC.

General producer Asari's thinking is to ensure that "the cultural program will be as excellent and exciting in content as the sports events." Three music producers, Messrs. Tatsuji Nagashima, Naoyasu Kajimoto, and Akimoto Tanabe, will plan the performances of professional artists, and handle the necessary negotiations, in their capacity as assistant producers. In order to realize Mr. Asari's wish to produce cultural events even in the Southern Nagano region, where there are no athletic event sites planned, Ms. Akiko Ozaki, representative of Office Mayu who is well-versed with cultural matters in the prefecture, will be handling coordination with local communities as an assistant producer.

Participation of amateur cultural and art organizations is also an important element for creating the event. Mr. Hiroshi Shimazaki, who was the event producer for the Shinshu Expo, will be the director in charge of local cultural programs, and will prepare for the participation of Nagano residents. (originally run September 9, 1996)

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