
The organizers of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics are still wiping the egg from their faces over the controversy surrounding the event’s possibly plagiarized, definitely dropped logo. Not only is the Organising Committee scrambling to prepare a new emblem, it also has to deal with recalling all of the promotional items it had already produced bearing the now cancelled design.
But with the rather convincing accusations that designer Kenjiro Sano copied the emblem coming so late in the game, some of those promotional materials have already made their way into the hands of private parties who are now reselling the sure to be rare items at a premium in online auctions.
If you head on over to Yahoo! Auctions, Japan’s most popular online auction house, you can place a bid for this pair of posters, sporting the looks created by either Sano or French designer Olivier Debie, depending on which side of the plagiarism debate you feel has made the more compelling case.
The seller, who goes by the screen name rucchi_en, says that the 103 by 72.5-centimeter (40.6 by 28.5-inch) posters have never been used, and are thus free of scratches and fading. Currently, the highest bid sits at 50,000 yen (US$410), although plunking down 100,000 yen will allow you to purchase the posters outright right now.
As a matter of fact, if you happen to have any posters or memorabilia sporting Sano’s Olympic emblem, the market for such items seems to be booming. On Sunday, a pair of Sano-designed Olympic and Paralympic posters (which may or may not be the same two rucchi_en is looking to unload), were successfully sold in an online auction for 45,000 yen, meaning that the market price for such items seems to have risen 11 percent in just a matter of days, a fantastic rate of growth for an investment.
If you’re interested in owning the posters, either to hang on your wall or try to flip to another buyer, bids can be placed for rucchi_en’s auction here. Alternatively, you can wait for the Tokyo Olympics Organising Committee to come up with a new, almost certainly more aesthetically pleasing pair of designs, then buy posters of them for a fraction of the cost.
Sources: Byokan Sunday, Yahoo! Auctions, NHK
Images: Yahoo! Auctions


Could the 2020 Tokyo Olympics logo possibly be plagiarized?
Looks like it’s time to say good-bye, and maybe good riddance, to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics logo
7-Eleven issues statement over the discontinued Olympic emblem, and their oden
Official 2020 Tokyo Olympic logos possess a little secret you might not have noticed
Olympic committee expands call for logo design submissions, children and office workers welcome
East Japan Railway announces plans to abolish magnetic-strip tickets
New Square Enix Cafe reveals Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Nier, and Fullmetal Alchemist menu items
Shakey’s Japan creates matcha mochi, Kyoto fish, and Kansai Chili Con Carne pizzas
Anne Hathaway creates PR frenzy in Japan after mentioning Tottori in Devil Wears Prada interview
Trigun Legacy Cafe coming to two Japanese cities this summer to salute series’ original form
7-Eleven Japan reinvents convenience store fruit sandwiches with new salty pink sakura peach variety
Starbucks adds new Fruit Gummy sweets to stores in Japan
Family Mart commits “reverse fraud” in new Giant All-Star Festival, and we couldn’t be happier
Pump yourself up with Yokohama’s new extravagant Cool Fuel ice cream
7-Eleven Japan releases a chocolate chip sandwich… that tastes like ice cream
Even at twice regular Daiso price, this handy item is still great for summer travel in Japan
Japanese convenience store shows us how to dress for the rainy season
Ghibli’s No Face continues to demonstrate his generous character growth by dispensing soy sauce
Japanese rice cooker recipe gives us a tasty new way to enjoy vegetables and wieners
Kyoto public junior high school becomes first in Japan with a hoodie school uniform
Tokyo’s Pokémon Cafe reopens this month with brand-new sweets and Pikachu show
New Tokyo sweets shop offers 648 different mochi ice cream dumpling combinations
Colour Hunting: The hot new street photography trend changing how we see Japan
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
Uniqlo reveals third round of massive 100-year-anniversary manga T-shirts for Jump’s Shueisha
New official Ghibli anime food cookbook will teach you how to make Ponyo’s ramen and more
Japanese convenience store Lawson launches new “mini supermarket” chain, L Minimart
Japan’s real-world Pokémon hot spring’s first photos are here![Photos]
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
New Tokyo Olympic stadium architect responds to accusations of plagiarism
Is there an adorably chubby bird hiding inside the Tokyo Olympics logo?
McDonald’s Japan gets into the spirit of the games with new Tokyo 2020 Olympics tumblers
Just what the heck is the Tokyo Olympics symbol supposed to be?
Tokyo Olympic chief may resign over misogynistic remarks, promises statement