Metaphors related Tokyo Olympics 2020: updated 2 May, 2021

• updated: 2 May, 2021an additional metaphor "a bamboo spear"

Completely irony, recently many Japanese use metaphors related The World War 2 when they express something about Tokyo Olympics 2020; e.g. Operation Imphal, atomic bomb, student mobilization, Imperial General Headquarters etc.; ...even though Olympics is the celebration of peace.

As you know, Japan lost it.  Therefore metaphors connecting with WW2 may have different meanings from another countries. Especially metaphors related the final part of WW2 definitely doesn't mean something having hope for many Japanese. We, most of us, learn these words as historical tragedies or misjudges by the old government in history class of school.  In addition, a large number of Japanese has allergies to war. And or but, whatever, words for war are used by Japanese people now, as metaphors representing Japanese public and social situation and their feelings under holding the Olympics .

I know sometimes metaphors tell us something about future and in many cases metaphors are surprisingly correct. In my impression or inference, at least, many Japanese feels holding the Olympics in this summer wouldn't give a good effect to the world and Japan.

And when I ask myself, " and when everything is like that, what can I do?", the only one answer comes up my heart.

"Write about that in English."

I hope when I remember or express this summer in the future, I could use different kind of metaphors.

Metaphors expressing the Olympics I have found until today

 “in the Japanese army until the end of World War Two, a written mobilization notice”
as calling doctors and nurses for the Olympics.

“student mobilization”
as 810,000 students of elementary school watching the Olympic games at the Olympic stadium.


“Operation Imphal”
as forced holding of the Olympics in this summer by Japanese government.


“atomic bomb (in WW2)”
as Tokyo Olympics 2020. (It doesn't include any feeling to U.S.A.  exact atomic bomb.)


“Imperial Headquarters in WW2”
as our government.


“GHQ (American Army)”
as IOC, controlling and ruling over Japan like the colony of it.

Interestingly, GHQ appeared post The World War 2. According to my knowledge about it, GHQ wasn't only enemy but also they supported recovery of Japan. Until this time, GHQ is only metaphor related after WW2.

“A bamboo spear”              

 *2 May,2021

as masks and sanitizer. Using like ”It’s like defeating B29 with a bamboo spear.”
“B29” is also another metaphor means COVID19.

This expression is a sort of popular phrase in Japan. We use this sentence when we see or hear something foolish, stupid and unscientific.

I guess it probably needs to explain about the situation.
Volunteers of the Olympics haven’t taken vaccine yet, and our government don’t have a plan of vaccination for them until this summer.  In Japan, even 80% of health care workers including doctors and nurses haven’t taken vaccine until today. Of course, “hopefully”, I can’t take vaccine until the Olympics because I’m not over age65.

#canceltheOlympics  #canceltheOlympic  #boycottTokyo2020  #cancelTokyo2020