Japan faces Y5.9 bil loss over scrapped Olympic stadium

“Can you compare the labor cost in Beijing and Tokyo, and say that’s a fair comparison?”

Yes, bring the Chinese workers in and tell them it's just like in Beijing. Labor costs don't account for more than 20% of the total cost anyway..

Ebisen cost anyway..Yes, bring the Chinese workers in and tell them it's just like in Beijing. Labor costs don't account for more than 20% of the total You must be kidding, Right ?

€The new architect and architect firms haven't been selected yet. Then Basic ( Kihon) Design and Jisshi Design that will take at least 2 years. This is a new project so the all construction companies do not have similar experience. And that is chaos. Supposed to begin construction in july . The construction probably use their automated computer controlled construction gadgets after they are updated. Nssd push button experts

The Ministry heads and politicians should be on the hook for all the wasted public money.

drlucifer - of course I was joking, I didn't think it's neccesary to point it out :) . Claiming labor costs accounts for the 6 times difference in prices between Beijing and Tokyo is really thick, as labour costs are only a small percentage of the total costs of such projects ;) .

Those who involved in making decision should be held accountable. They cant just get away with their irresponsibility. We cant pay for their stupidity.

Wow! A 5.9 billion yen payout for doing nothing! Sweet! I should start a construction company!

What worries me is that they will rush the job and disregard the safety regulations for the construction. Use cheaper materials. This doesnt bode well.

You'd think it's time for the Japanese public to do a Trump and fire all the politicians.

Wow! A 5.9 billion yen payout for doing nothing! Sweet! I should start a construction company!

Right. I'm thinking of turning up at LDP HQ with a shovel.

Just go to the head of the local Yakuza and kindly ask for your money back

There should be a public outcry as to the abseloute waste of money...People are still being held in temporary accommodation and struggling to make ends meet after the tsunami disaster. An appalling waste of funds.

@gaijinintsukuba

Those who involved in making decision should be held accountable. They cant just get away with their irresponsibility. We cant pay for their stupidity.

If this were a modern democracy with a functioning justice system, then yes. Being Japan, it's no one's fault & the taxpayer foots the bill.

Too bad Govt is directly involved in construction of this stadium. Now job of the PM is to deal with a stadium construction (clap-clap).

All our tax money is being wasted on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

There was always going to be a pently but 5.9b yen if far more acceptable than a cost of 252b yen and we know it would have blown out even further. Still think it was the right move by Abe.

Architect group did not use usual budget estimation that ignore future inflation

WesternerJapan87,

All our tax money is being wasted on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Let's keep some perspective. It's our CHILDREN's future tax money is all being wasted, and on all sorts of things.

The 252 billion yen for a stadium was arguably too much, but it is minutia. It pales in comparison to the 40,000 billion yen budget deficits that the government racks up each year, with no sign of any return, or sustainably boosted economic growth, or benefit otherwise to show for it.

Suga "is forming a panel" to look into the matter. The panel will spend a lot of money itself to investigate the situation, but nothing will be discovered, because it was Suga's government which squandered the money. The investigation will say that the loss of money was "very regrettable", and the matter will be closed. In the meantime, the sons, daughters, nephews, nieces and grandchildren of politicians who made this mess can look forward to being guaranteed jobs in the companies which received the money. Politics as usual.

In any other part of the world this cancellation, this late in the game, would spell 'game over' for this stadium being finished in time. This is Japan so there is the slightest of chances that they 'may' pull it off BUT in the end to get it done in time it will be under-built and overcharged just to get it done. Cost for the end result will clearly show that it would have been better to have pressed on with the first 'ripoff' stadium. This 'alternative second choice stadium' will be a stop-gap just to house the 2020 Olympic events and then may not get much use after that because it won't be design for much more. Factor that waste into the savings and you're better off sticking with the first because it will end up costing the same in the end or more.

I see the Olympic project has got off to a flying start.

Yield point of Abenomics has been reached with this decision.

when these projects are under taken don't they ask for a fixed prices when quoting for this work? if they don't they should, this way the price won't creep up, and why would you stop the project at this critical moment in time? shurly its going to cost even more if its scrapped, because contracts have been signed for the work, now your going to have to redesign the stadium costing more money, and them your going to have to get quotes for the work, this takes years not weeks, and believe me time is ticking and time is NOT on Japans side, so at this rate all of the spectators will be sitting on deck chairs on a grassy knoll over looking the activities. stupid, stupid, stupid, decision to scrap it now.

Yes to Zichi above. The San Francisco Bay Bridge went from $1.5 billion to $6.4 billion, and opened 10 years after the projected date. In addition, cables and supports are now starting to to show signs of corrosion even though it has been open only 2 years. Was supposed to last 150 years and withstand a huge quake, but now needs more $ thrown at it just to keep it from falling apart by itself! Save money on the stadium, but make sure the money spent is spent well.

It is good that foreigners can let the world know the good, the bad and the ugly about Japan. In this case the bad. Maybe shame will help.