Tokyo Olympic opening ceremony begins

A moment of silence was offered inside the stadium.

Must have been difficult to enforce with all those people there.

Dull, sombre, uninteresting, depressing.

Where was the eye opening spectacle?

I agree with toning it down - a big, garish spectacle would be seen as not appreciating the world's situation right now. But that said - they didn't have to bore us with it, did they?

Turn the music up some more it will drown out that annoying crowd cheering.

1st Gold Medal is for Japan

Tokyo Games will be the most expensive in history since the total bill is expected to exceed $ 15 billion. (including 3 billion for postponement)

"In September 2013, the IOC evaluation report presented a budget of 6.6 billion euros for the organization of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games"

We don’t have to pay for that, do we?

Great to se all the smiling faces. The worlds greatest sporting even has begun. Let’s all enjoy and cheer on our home nations and/or our new adopted country.

A depressing reminder of the times we're living through.

I just feel sad for all the young athletes that have trained and sacrificed much to be here. I’m glad it’s continuing. Not surprised by the negativity, it’s all the rage these days with the me me me people. Good luck athletes and break a leg! Ignore the Debbie downers.

Fizzbit,

Good luck athletes and break a leg! Ignore the Debbie downers.

Nobody complained about the athletes; many people complained about the cost and the boring ceremony.

It looks terrible seeing a lot of the athletes walking in recording everything on their smartphones.

They are participating in the ceremony, not watching it.

I watched the first ten minutes before going to my futsal game.

I was just going what in god's name was that.

For once, I agree with the moderator (and Kentarogaijin).

So far I’ve loved the ceremony - stellar job, especially with the dancing carpenters. Some happiness in the middle of these dark times.

Tanekuma77Today 

It looks terrible seeing a lot of the athletes walking in recording everything on their smartphones. 

They are participating in the ceremony, not watching it.

They’re not really in a ceremony so much as walking in an empty stadium to canned music. Are they waving to the cameras or friends on other teams?

Nobody complained about the athletes; many people complained about the cost and the boring ceremony.

isn’t it like complaining about the cost and decorations of your 6 year old daughter’s birthday cake? How do you think it would make your daughter feel? Of course it’s going to be a little boring, but it’s not really about us adults is it?

The hearts of the Tohoku has been moved. Thank you President Bach!

I just saw one team walk in with no masks? Can’t remember what country they were from thinking a pre 2020 one.

I was hoping to see 500 taiko drummers open the ceremony. One can only wonder what the pre-pandemic plan for the opening ceremony was.

I think that for overseas audiences, who are not familiar with anime and manga, the music and references would have been lost on them, unless the TV commentators from their respective countries were able to explain it to them.

At least, the athletes seemed to be enjoying themselves. I think they will focus on the games we will see some good competitive events.

For myself, I welcome the distraction from the coronavirus and will watch a lot of events on TV. And I fervently hope that the Games do not result in a spike in coronavirus cases.

@BORSCHT

Either way, recording with their phones as they walk in is in poor taste in my opinion. It’s a ceremony in an event. They are participating, not watching.

A toned down ceremony is sensible, so is a reduced number of athletes marching in.

May the event be safe and successful, there is a lot of hard work put in over the years.

The losers will complain, they don’t understand being passionate about anything!!!

I think that for overseas audiences, who are not familiar with anime and manga, the music and references would have been lost on them

I was completely lost. At one point I asked my J wife if there was some kind of storyline that she understood and I didn't. Apparently she didn't get the anime/manga/game music references either. Just came across as some random dancing and lights.

Hard to see so far how this is the most expensive Olympics on record. It looks very cheap.

Also, what’s with the athletes and other people wearing masks as chin guards or not at all (ex. the whole Turkmenistan team)?

Ulysses

Great points, well made. What an occasion, the world needs this as we all move on from Covid.

I’m crying, the emotion is too strong, I just have no words.

Then came the fireworks, a 20-second blast of light — as if to say these Olympics have finally emerged from dark times.

Watching this spectacle, I felt my heart rise in time as I gazed up at Bach and the shining faces of the officials in the grandstands. All the darkness of the pandemic and hard times seem to dissipate, truly this was a symbol of the triumph of the spirit of sport. Everyone seemed joined in humble appreciation of our Japanese hosts in their subtle wisdom to carrying out this Olympic and vanquishing the virus.

It’s like a fairy tale. The joy.

I can only imagine the smiles on the faces of the Fukushima orphans. Nearly grown up now, going to sleep tonight with dreams of Olympic glory!

A robust economy, athletes have i-phones, not so robust athletes have a confused look.

Hello JapanToday commentators. Are any of you actually interested in sports? Or are you just here to make cynical remarks about Tokyo 2020 at every opportunity?.

This is a $100million opening ceremony, extravagance, how? Where did the money go?

Immature and regressive comments as ever by the Olympic haters who are also the ones who want us in lockdown with loses of liberty. Too bad guys, the worlds leading sporting event has begun, the world is in awe.

These games will go down in history as a winner against adversity, a winner against a vile minority who like to spout abuse daily. Now, they have nothing to say, it’s always like this in human history, the negativity will always be defeated.

Missed anything? Looks like everyone here tonight is behaving nicely. Well done!

Btw: Our family friend is marching for Turkmenistan. We hope Zaman Berkarar inspired Japan with their Tokyo engineering of a great stadium. - Best wishes and “Peace to All”.

Thumbs up to the people who are enjoying the opening ceremony & cheering on the athletes & performers.

Thumbs down to the haters who are writing negative comments for the sake of being negative - get a life !

In all my chat groups over here in Australia. Well done and thanks from all of us. Japan, such a proud, friendly and respected country. Our best wishes

Thumbs up to the people who are enjoying the opening ceremony & cheering on the athletes & performers.

Thanks for the encouragement, appreciate it.

I don’t know any of those singers but what a great friggen idea to sing John’s Imagine.

These games will go down in history as a winner against adversity, a winner against a vile minority who like to spout abuse daily. Now, they have nothing to say, it’s always like this in human history, the negativity will always be defeated.

Tone it down mate. This is a celebration.

Thanks for the encouragement, appreciate it.

I’m sure the Fukushima orphans are thinking the same

I don’t know any of those singers but what a great friggen idea to sing John’s Imagine.

They sang image?

Now I am even more elated that I didn't watch.

A song by a rich white guy about socialism he never accepted and move to the USA to avoid paying taxes in the UK to support socialised medical, etc ..

What the hell is "Chinese Taipei"?

In case you were wondering, no, it's not a scene from a bad dystopian movie, but the Olympics opening ceremony. At one million USD a minute... Paid out of my taxes... I'm so depressed, I'm gonna have a glass of wine and going to sleep...jeeez..

They sang image?

Now I am even more elated that I didn't watch.

Many people around the world are watching and will feel inspired. Inspired by the achievements of the athletes, the message of unity and humanity coming together. On the other hand, you gain absolutely nothing with your cynicism. Congratulations.

80% of the Japanese didn't want the olympics, but seems as if 95% of them are watching the opening ceremony. Hope it all goes smoothly.

Brent Forest:

What the hell is "Chinese Taipei"?

It's the "we don't have the kintamas to call it Taiwan".

It seems that any Olympic opening ceremony tries to outdo the previous ceremonies. It’s a game of nationalistic one-upmanship. This event was a toned down one, but - apparently - still excessive given the current situation we’re living in.

And this begs the question: When did the Olympic opening ceremony become so extravagant? Which Games started going ‘over the top’ with their opening? When did it become a Hollywood-like extravaganza?

Does anyone know?

Tanekuma77Today  09:58 pm JST

@BORSCHT

Either way, recording with their phones as they walk in is in poor taste in my opinion. It’s a ceremony in an event. They are participating, not watching.

Quite so. Good taste, good manners and just knowing how to conduct oneself is now a lost art.