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Japan’s national broadcaster NHK has announced that its official broadcast song for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and Paralympic Games will be “Hero,” performed by popular Okinawan singer Namie Amuro.
The still unreleased song, which was specifically created for NHK's coverage of the Olympics, will be an inspirational tune, serving as a “human anthem to cheer the athletes,” NHK said. It will be first streamed during the channel’s All Japan Gymnastics Championships live broadcast on April 3.
NHK representatives explained that they appointed the singer for her “powerful voice that can deeply move people’s hearts” and “her popularity among different generations,” Sankei Shimbun reported.
In a statement released to the media, Amuro, 38, said that she is “extremely honored to perform a song for the Olympic and Paralympic games, a dream happening only once in four years.”
“I will perform this song from the bottom of my heart, cheering the athletes competing at the Rio games,” she said.
Past NHK official Olympic and Paralympic theme songs include Yuzu’s “Eiko no Kakehashi” for the 2004 Athens Games, and Ikimonogakari’s “Kaze ga fuiteiru” for the 2012 London Olympics.
© Japan Today
11 Comments
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Yukiii
We support and cheer Amuro-chan!!
Wc626
Aren't AKB going to be featured for Tokyo Games Opening Ceremony in 2020? Yuk-
shonanbb
38 and still so beautiful.
papigiulio
Is she 38? Get out. She looks great indeed.
gogogo
The record label pay under the table for these rights....
wtfjapan
let hope the english version she sings can be understood, most of her english songs are mumbled and if it wasnt for the subtitles you wouldnt even guess she was singing in english
sighclops
Though I'm not a fan of her music, thank christ it wasn't anything associated with Johnny's or AKB.
AsaYugure
Wow! I did not know that Amuro-San was still active! I was very into her music in the late 1990's/early 2000's. I am going to have to check out this new song! :D
sensei258
Baby Don't Cry, we'll Fight Together against those who think you're just a Fashionista, But you have the Golden Touch and belong on The Red Carpet. You're a Wonder Woman who taught me to Be Who I Want To Be. I am So Crazy wishing you would Want Me, Want Me. What a Feeling I have now. I Can't Sleep,Can;t Eat, I'm Sick of all the haters.
nath
It reeks of able-ism to pick this person as the singer for the Paras. Isnt there someone that represents the community better?