"This work was produced in the hope that the commitment and enthusiasm of athletes, as well as everybody supporting the Olympic Games, will soar high above Tokyo to reach people the world over," said Kanazawa.

Kakinuma, who was a guest calligrapher at Princeton University in the United States from 2006 to 2007, said he chose "Kai" out of tens of thousands of Chinese characters.

"Your entire body and soul open completely toward the universe," he said. "That is what I call an explosion."

The posters will also be displayed across the city with the aim of promoting both the Olympics and Paralympics.