As reported by The Japan Times, the Finance Ministry announced that works depicting the famous gods of wind and thunder have been chosen.

The pair of drawings are based on the "Fujin-Raijin-zu Byobu" - Wind God and Thunder God Screens - which was painted by Tawaraya Sōtatsu in the 17th century and is registered as a national treasure.

They won with 28,741 votes in a public poll.

The Japan Mint solicited votes through Twitter and postcards, and accepted ballots in person at five venues in Tokyo, Osaka, Saitama and Hiroshima.

That accounted for 43 per cent of all 66,318 votes, according to The Asahi Shimbun, followed by the new National Stadium with 21,053 votes and Mount Fuji with 16,451 votes, at 32 per cent and 25 per cent, respectively.

Voting was held for two weeks in the middle of June.

"It was our first attempt to choose a coin design via a public vote, so we hope the coin will contribute to the excitement around the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games," a Finance Ministry official was reported as saying by The Japan Times.

"The three options were all excellent designs. 

"As the public chose the wind god and thunder god for the coins, we hope everyone will treasure the coins for many years to come."

Raijin, the god of thunder, is depicted on the Olympic coin, while Fujin, the god of wind, will adorn the Paralympic coin.

The coins are scheduled to be available at banking institutions across Japan from around next July, the same month in which the 2020 Olympics begin.