Mansai Nomura heads the recruitment for the opening ceremony ©Getty Images

The Opening and Closing Ceremonies for this year's Olympic Games in Tokyo are "nearly 80 per cent complete" according to chief executive creative director Mansai Nomura.

Nomura, an actor who took the role in 2018, is best-known for his roles in kyogen, a traditional form of comedy theatre. 

"I think the structure is already finished," he said.

"There are still a lot of details we are working on. 

"I think overall we have finished 70 to 80 percent.

"We have made steady progress and hopefully you will feel excited."

In the country home to Nintendo, there are rumours that Mario may appear in the Opening Ceremony to the Tokyo Olympics -just like the country's Prime Minister Shinzō Abe did during Rio 2016 ©Getty Images
In the country home to Nintendo, there are rumours that Mario may appear in the Opening Ceremony to the Tokyo Olympics -just like the country's Prime Minister Shinzō Abe did during Rio 2016 ©Getty Images

He claimed the Tokyo 2020 Opening Ceremony, due to take place on July 24, is different because of the idea of "creating together".

The recruitment to find extras for the Ceremonies have already started, with Nomura hoping to give more opportunities to students.

Around 1,000 people be selected to be Olympic assistant cast members and 1,200 will be chosen for the Paralympic Games, due to start on August 25 - in exactly 200 days. 

The recruitment of extras for the Opening and Closing cCeremonies officially started today day and Nomura hopes to give "college students" more opportunities.

With the results being announced in late March, applications are set to open until 11.59pm local time on February 28 on the the Tokyo 2020 website.

The assistant cast members will also support each delegation at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the Games.