Crowds line routes in Tochigi as Olympic torch arrives in Kanto region

Good to see people out and about enjoying themselves

Spectators lined routes in Ashikaga and Tochigi cities while officials repeatedly called out warnings to them to maintain social distancing as a precaution against the coronavirus. 

In the photo, none of the spectators are practicing social distancing.

I thought 80% didn't want the Olympics, must be the 20% out in force.

@Asiaman7 - Social distancing (1-2m) is not practiced in most situations in Japan. Sure there are signs but nobody is panicked about being in close proximity to one another. And outdoor events have never been proven to be spreading issues. All clusters are coming from indoors. People want to poopoo the Olympics but so many major sporting leagues have proven it is possible to continue business in a safe manner. The baseball stadiums here have tons of fans and there are no huge outbreaks.

And outdoor events have never been proven to be spreading issues. All clusters are coming from indoors. 

That’s right.

An exemption, bbqs here have seen a cluster last year. But it was a party with drunk people, not any normal outdoor event.

Japan is a too dense country for social distancing to be fully working. Just go on with that

So nice to see people having fun and going out.

Just need to step up the testing then everyone who tests negative can go out and do things together

That little flame cost USD 13+ Billion. Clap and enjoy it people.

Covid doesn't care about your money or Olymics

This does not seem to be a large crowd.

There is definatly a forceful push to make this a popular thing, even in the face of the publics apathy. YOU MUST enjoy and celebrate this farce, because YOU and your children are paying for it wether you want it or not.

I thought the point was to avoid crowds and maintain social distance???

" Sure there are signs but nobody is panicked about being in close proximity to one another. And outdoor events have never been proven to be spreading issues. All clusters are coming from indoors. People want to poopoo the Olympics but so many major sporting leagues have proven it is possible to continue business in a safe manner. The baseball stadiums here have tons of fans and there are no huge outbreaks."

Well written and well reasoned post. Too bad, it will fall on deaf ears.

I hope they can keep the tracksuit it's about the only thing positive coming out of this shimozol.

The baseball stadiums here have tons of fans and there are no huge outbreaks.

Yes, and I heard in the news that I guess in July, the UFC will conduct UFC 264 in a full packed arena in Forida. ( I guess, it was Florida).

And the news said that America will start to open up for fans to sport events.

And these sport events are indoors.

So I don't see any problem if the people here on the picture stand outside and watch this torch.

in the US a high percentage of people is already vaccinated.

they are close to herd immunity.

places like Texas do not need masks anymore.

Japan and the US is not comparable.

The virus doesn't care whether you're in- or outdoor!

One good sneeze or cough from the person next to you (who got it) will most definitely give you the "sniffels",

Lack of knowledge. First, the person has to be infected and, there is enough air blowing to spread away the virus if any. The only chance you will get it outside is to speak very closely from someone without any mask and for a long time.

Well, seems like I was wrong when I thought no one would be interested in watching the torch relay... I forgot that people will turn out in force for any event here. ;-)

Spectators lined routes in Ashikaga and Tochigi cities while officials repeatedly called out warnings to them to maintain social distancing as a precaution against the coronavirus. 

A van also went ahead of runners reminding people to clap but not cheer or yell out. Most spectators wore masks.

God, sounds horrible. I love the way you get shouted at by loudspeakers and loudhailers all the time.

Jeez, I'm in a negative mood today... sorry.

well in 14 days since the start researchers will be able to track directly if there are any uptick in cases

Seeing the Olympic torch is not worth exposing yourself to the coronavirus.

I assume most will be elderly high risk groups. The torch operates in the same manner as a crop dusting plane.

Cancel the games!

klausdorthToday 11:05 am JST

not lack of knowledge, it is possible, even though the chance is less than 6%.

I guess you were making reference to that.

One study published in April identified a single instances of transmission outdoors, between two Chinese villagers, out of more than 7,000 cases.

In an analysis of 25,000 cases, which has not yet been independently reviewed, 6% of cases were linked to environments with an outdoor element, such as sporting events or concerts.

These were enclosed areas in which social distancing was not observed, or in which people stayed for a while, moving around and talking loudly or singing.

“There were virtually no cases that we could identify that took place in sort of everyday life outdoors,” study author Mike Weed, a professor and researcher at Canterbury Christ Church University, said.

Sometimes we just have to let things go.

Bringing a female torch runner on the boat in chichi performance .

There may be refreshed immaculately.

That bad taste of the Dentus planner and many protests can be erased up then?

I thought 80% didn't want the Olympics, must be the 20% out in force.

To be generous, there are over a hundred people in the photo. Practice your arithmetic.

How soon people forget. If they are lining up to see a torch they will go to the games.