national

Tokyo being billed as 'Recovery Olympics' — but not for all

22 Comments
By MARI YAMAGUCHI and STEPHEN WADE

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.


22 Comments
Login to comment

"The amount of money spent on the Olympics should have been used for real reconstruction."

That statement sums up everything about these Olympics. Everyone affected could have been easily rehoused for the money that will go into this over-rated 2 star circus

31 ( +31 / -0 )

I think Japan getting the 2020 Olympics was a mistake. It used to be a prideful thing to do. Now it’s a corporate event for essentially professional athletes- at least those with any hope of achieving anything close to a victory. Japan is literally shrinking population wise. They have more important things to concentrate on.

24 ( +24 / -0 )

And the melted fuel still spews radiation out every second of the day.

16 ( +16 / -0 )

 It used to be a prideful thing to do.

It still is for the Japanese. Everything Japan does on the international stage is "prideful." It seems they feel they need the recognition.

9 ( +12 / -3 )

Recovery of what? There are still tens of thousands of people living in temporary housing and many are still billeted across the country. Fukushima Dia-ichi is not recovering at all. After ten years they still have no idea how to deal with the melted fuel rods and they intend to dump millions of tons of radioactive water into the ocean because they have done nothing about alternatives. I'm quite sure they are not talking about economic recovery coz there has been none of that either. Recovery of what?

19 ( +19 / -0 )

Let's bring together a brigade of those of us who love Japan (and bitch about it at the same time) to volunteer to meet in Futaba, for sakura, and clean up the place. I'm sure the authorities will volunteer to loan us some Hazmat suits while the not-so-local locals feed us. I, for one, would not fear sleeping there. Just bring me food and water, the suit, and bugger off while I clean out the weeds, shoot or poison the rats, and dust the place. What else can you do, but sit back and pontificate???? Bunch of weenies. We could call ourselves, 'The Weenie Brigade' (translate to Japanese, please, meaning we all sit around a campfire or in a kitchen after a long day's work and roast weenies over an open fire - call it modern-day real-man camping - and women are allowed, too, as long as they don't insist on cooking!!!)

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

These are great pictures.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I think Japan getting the 2020 Olympics was a mistake. It used to be a prideful thing to do.

There was a Japanese writer on one of the morning shows the other day and he said that the Olympics was now mostly a "we are a big boy now" show of pride for developing countries. He mentioned that gold medal winning athletes in Europe do not get the adulation they get in Japan.

I agree with the "mostly professional athletes" assertion too.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

I still do not understand the reason Japan invited the Olympics. Why it is needed. It was decided without due discussions.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

From Mario brothers to a full on meltdown (denied) the biggest in debt country per GDP used to be the 2nd biggest economy now Abenomics has reduced that, thousands in temporary housing. But Japan has the Olympics? How cool is that? Crowded trains, heat stroke on a massive scale and locals complaining about these pesky rude foreigners. Children living below the poverty line. 60% of workers paying the extra tax with no benifits. An aging society that the leaders are desperate to play out their grandfathers play book. Looking like this might end badly.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

This is so utterly disgusting on so so many levels, a total disgrace! The govt has been USING Fukushima since 311 in the worst possible ways & it continues today unabated & the people......the govt does NOT give a damn!!

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Friday, March 11,

This is the date of the earthquake and Tsunami NOT the nuclear disaster, which happened 2 days later, please get the facts correct!

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Just what exactly is Tokyo trying to recover from?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

RECOVERY OLYMPICS

I think it's aptly named. I wonder how many years it will take us to recover from the debts this little extravaganza is going to cost us!

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Recovery Olymipcs? another tax rise and the country recovers, of course if politians who just can't reduce spending or their wages whould care might have a chance. 9 years thousands displaced clutching a book on how to claim a monicom of compensation that is baffling. A PM dressed as a game character telling people all is under control? You really can't make this up. Beautiful Japan.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

@vanityofvanities you know, I was thinking about why Japan push for the Olympics myself. And I came to one conclusion, hearing somebody bring up the shrinking population. It’s to get more people to not only visit Japan, but to want to work there, hearing about said shrinking population. I mean, that’s my theory anyway.

Because as bad as the labor standards are in Japan, in most third countries, it’s still even worse. I mean do I need to remind you about sweatshops?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I'm glad some of the victims are telling it like it is; while Abe stands proud of himself on the astroturf of the new Stadium and pats himself on the back, repeating the non-victim victim's mantra of "We are the only nation to have suffered this and that, and this is proof of our recovery!", the REAL victims get spit on as they are used time and time again to make politicians look good. It's nearly as bad as Abe talking about how Japan is the only nation to suffer atomic bomb attacks as he addresses the media on why he won't sign a ban on such weapons. I hope the world gets a chance to see Abe's lies (and others who spread this "recovery Olympics" nonsense) for what they are.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

My hometown in northwestern Pennsylvania is a shell of its former industrial glory with population going down to maybe 10,000 after a high of 30,000. We can blame internationalization and de-industrialization caused by highly competitive Japanese manufacturers. I go back from time to time but certainly do not shed tears. It is actually quite boring and most people seem to drink a lot. I would never encourage my government to pour money into that place. Move forward to the future...

Well with that attitude they'll continue to vote Trump. That's why they feel let down and left behind; nobody wants to invest in western PA.

Things are changing in PGH though.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites