The majority of the Japanese Olympic team returned from Paris on Tuesday and received a big welcome from hundreds of fans at Narita airport in Chiba Prefecture.
Many of the athletes who won medals were wearing them around their necks as they entered the arrival terminal, Kyodo News reported.
Japan won 45 medals — 20 gold, 12 silver and 13 bronze — its second highest ever after Tokyo Olympics three years ago.
Medalists met Prime Minister Fumio Kishida later in the day at his office. He told them they took on challenges and inspired everyone. "For that, I am truly grateful," he said.
On Wednesday, the Japanese Olympic team will be disbanded at a ceremony.
© Japan Today
28 Comments
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KazukoHarmony
In the photo, the women athletes are generally relegated to the edges — other than the one woman positioned to Kishida’s left and the one placed behind her.
Why?
factchecker
It's over. Give it a rest.
Medalists met Prime Minister Fumio Kishida later in the day at his office. He told them they took on challenges and inspired everyone. "For that, I am truly grateful," he said.
Sure, because he inspires no one.
Roberto Figari
Congratulations to all!
Thank you for your time, dedication and sacrifices, just to participate in the Olympic Games.
Gene Hennigh
The negative commenters are the intellectuals. Always look on the "I am, like, really smart. Smarter than you are" side of life. Positive, upbeat comments are done by the childish. Nevertheless, Japan did exceptionally well and, childish though it is, I congratulate them and hope the can celebrate with their families and friends. Their years of training, work, and emotional efforts paid off. That goes for the ones who didn't win medals, too.
Japantime
I heard they were the most popular country in Paris. They beat other countries with a larger population. Everyone was supporting Japan as their second team.
dbsaiya
Get the suits outta the photo!
HappySmiles
Really? Where did you see that reported?
Fighto!
Welcome back to all the Olympians - all the sacrifice, dedication and hard work has paid off!
Congratulations to all!
YeahRight
A huge waste of time, money, and resources. For what? Bragging rights? Nothing to brag about. Japan lost way more than they won.
The biggest surprise is that Kishida didn't go to the Olympics. He's always looking for ways to waste taxpayers' money on overseas junkets.
WoodyLee
Good Job, and welcome home.
Yumster100
they did, what is so hard to understand such a simple article?
Asiaman7
It didn’t really pay off for swimmer Daiya Seto, but media often concentrates on those who have achieved success, not those who have failed to do so for various reasons.
—
Expected to medal in Tokyo and Paris, Seto continued his four-year fall.
Seto went from Japan swimming's golden boy (200 and 400 IM world champion), captain of the national team, and sure thing for medals -- likely gold -- at the Tokyo Games, to a sordid extramarital affair controversy, suspension by the Japan Swimming Federation, loss of various sponsorships, and then poor performances at both the Tokyo and Paris Games.
As Kyodo News reported, Seto went “from hero to zero.”
No photo with the prime minister for him, but his story of continually battling his demons over years would likely resonate with many in society who do the same.
Corey
Thank God that it’s over.
Patient Zero
A tip of the fedora to all of the downvoters of the congratulatory comments to the athletes. You're doing a marvelous job as gatekeepers and protectors of the "one true foreigner" fantasy. Yes, we know. Japan was made only for you.
Cephus
Otsukaresama desu, okaeriii
TokyoLiving
Welcome back, and thanks for everything..
Well now it's over..
Now let's move forward..
Brian Trout
Suggestion: One congratulatory comment might be adequate.
Others could upvote instead of repeatedly writing the same comment.
Patient Zero
Maybe others would like to offer their congratulations, as well.
Ah. Sorry, m'Lord. You are correct. This completely shatters the fantasy. There can be only one to be accepted among the locals!
Peter14
JapantimeToday 07:31 am JST
I heard the most popular team was the French, who most considered their second team. I heard no talk of Japan other than their athletes did very well, better than most expected.
Also well ahead of expectations was Australia, and about the best performing nation by population being New Zealand with 10 gold medals from a population of just over 5 million.
All can be proud of their athletes and their country. It was a great Olympics. Well done France, thank you athletes for the memories.
Aoi Azuuri
typical "bread and circus" that distract public eyes from innumerable issues such as Noto peninsula quake where government abandoned evacuees, corrupted politics, poverty or discrimination spreading at society, massacre or the war.
Ruby
Well done team Japan!
Jonathan Prin
Congratulations to all participants, in the spirit of the Olympic Games/JO.
Funny part : easy to know gender of the front row without even looking their faces.
Also M. Kishida in the middle is not deserved IMHO.
Dr.Cajetan Coelho
20 gold, 12 silver and 13 bronze is a rich haul. Congratulations to the athletes and to their support staff.
lostrune2
There's still the Paralympics
No, that'd be small Australia - the Aussies are known to be party animals!
shogun36
What a combination for a group picture.
Some of the best athletes in the world, in their respective field.
Along with some of the worst “politicians” in the world.
DanteKH
Congrats all the Olympians!
However,why is Kishida's and the rest of politicians in this photo? Why did this get politicized?
Daniel_Basso
Congratulations to the Japanese Team, landing third after USA & China shows they did great, specially those with medals!