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© Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.'The greatest honor': Osaka lights Olympic cauldron
By ANDREW DAMPF TOKYO©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
61 Comments
oldman_13
Congratulations Naomi! Japan is proud of you.
Dr.Cajetan Coelho
Wishing the athletes, organizers, media, and lovers of the Olympic spirit - happy times ahead.
TrevorPeace
"What a moment for Naomi Osaka. For the new Japan. For racial injustice. For female athletes. For tennis."
What a crock.
Samit Basu
This was the most disappointing Cauldron lighting ceremony of the past 2 decades.
TokyoJoe
Looking forward to her using this platform to shine a light on the xenophobia issues in Japan and the way 'half' people are not accepted as Japanese (unless they are successful sportsmen/women).
Dee
It's interesting to see people how people react to a 23 year old black woman's success.
snowymountainhell
Good for her and those betting on it being her to light that cauldron!
Few people were supportive but Japan, you sure gave the world another surprise.
smartacus
I don't think it was boring. The cauldron-lighting ceremony was somber and low-key to reflect the coronavirus impact on the Games. Being powered by hydrogen makes it a first for the Olympics.
I quite liked the final few minutes when the three baseball players gave the flame to the two healthcare workers who have it to the children of Tohoku, who in turn gave it to Osaka.
JDoe
3 hour ceremony with only 2 worthwhile moments (drones, Oh & Nagashima) that lasted maybe 8 min. Totally & completely disappointing and BORING opening ceremony.
bokuda
She got massively abused in Japan not so long ago because she was openly supporting Black Live Matters.
didou
Maybe lighting the stadium was the reason why she couldn’t avoid joining the Olympics, not like the French and British Opens,
Mr Kipling
The honor is usually given to a sporting great. Osaka is at the top of her game now but hasn't had the longevity to be considered a great.
Should have been ICHIRO! (who BTW turned the offer down)
collegepark30349
This reeks of corporate sponsor influence. Think of the money to be made from her lighting the cauldron - the commercials, the posters, the t-shirts. The game will now be a little less way over-budget.
But, what did she do to deserve it? What has she ever done for Japan? If they wanted somebody who is bi-racial, why not Hachimura or Darvish? At least they grew up in Japan and can, you know, speak Japanese. Their Olympic accomplishments are the same as hers - nothing. At tennis player? Why not Sugiyama Ai? She has won grand slams and an Olympic medal in tennis. Matthew (Mashu) Baker? He has a gold medal in Judo. It should have been an accomplished Olympian, maybe in judo since it is from Japan. Or an athlete from Tohoku. Or the children from Tohoku. Not a corporate shill.
snowymountainhell
Perhaps someone forgot their consistent tagline to @5:48am” Congratulations Naomi! Japan is proud of you.”
Along with their previous stances:
Perhaps Naomi Osaka can inspires us that people can change their ideas?
O'Brien
In times like these it is appropriate for people to come together.
In times like these there is no bigotry.
In times like these there is no race and no color.
This is humanity at its best and it is shameful that some people can not see this.
Don
There is a saying "Just because your born in a stable, does not make you a horse"! Naomi has spent "minimal! time in Japan and her residence has been in the US since early childhood ! I think there could have and should nave been a better choice of a "true" Japanese sports hero to light the torch like Kaori Icho or Kohei Uchimura.
Droll Quarry
Good PR for the brand.
Tanekuma77
One need only read the yahoo comments section to see what the most Japanese feel about her being selected.
And to get a real taste of how a lot of Japanese feel about what I means to be Japanese.
Also, I agree with those here who state that Osaka has made no comment whatsoever about racial injustice and the like in the country she holds a passport.
This whole idea was most likely hatched to try to take attention away from the recent scandals that have been making the rounds in international media.
gbpjpy
"because Osaka is a superstar", and since the games are global event, I suspect this is why she was given the honour. The games are being held against the wishes the majority Japanese people but are a global event. I can't think any other Japanese superstar that would have this global recognition.
gbpjpy
And btw, good for her
smartacus
It was pretty obvious Osaka was going to light the cauldron when they announced earlier in the day that her tennis match on Saturday had been rescheduled for Sunday.
Personally, I have no problem with Osaka, as many people who post on JT seem to, but I would have chosen swimmer Rikako Ikee.
Jim
Hope she uses this platform offered to her now as a fresh start to bring attention to many issues in Japan as she has been so vocal about BLM etc?
Albert DeFilippo
Has nothing to do with her being "black" or a "success".
She should focus on her success as a tennis pro and be the leader of keeping sports about sports not about political issues in her native country.
Kumagaijin
Naomi Osaka is a polarizing figure because she isn't 'pure Japanese' nor did she grow up here or speak much of the language. She also talks about the taboo subject of mental health and social injustice. But thats exactly why she was chosen. Reminds me of Mohammed Ali lightning the torch at the Atlanta Games in 1996. Probably not too many JT posters are even aware of that.
tooheysnew
Very disappointing selection.
There were so many more worthy people who were deserving of this honour.
and able to speak the language
snowymountainhell
Agree @smartacus 7:43a: Rikako Ikee would have been a more poignant choice given her ongoing recovery but, the pressure for upcoming swimming performance is probably a bit overwhelming for her right now. However, You did get Your suggestion last night: at least 1 doctor & 1 nurse were running the torch a few steps in the stadium:
Blacklabel
very poor choice for many of the already discussed reasons.
Guess they had to do something to placate the advertisers and push the social justice rock up the hill.
gogogo
Didn't watch, actively avoiding anything to do with these Olympics. Yet I understand I am posting here :)
michaelqtodd
Excellent choice. Naomi Osaka is a fantastic representative of Japan.
How many other Japanese athletes have been prepared to speak out about racial injustice? How any have won 3 tennis grand slams as well and are likely to win several more? Emotional intelligence and sporting ability to burn.
ian
As expected, even though they don't want to, people are watching the Olympics.
What happened to boycotting the Olympics lol
Dee
Let the negative comments pour in on Naomi Osaka. They won't have any impact. I'm all for letting negative people vent. Perhaps then they can focus on the positive aspects of life.
itsonlyrocknroll
I have to admit to find the opening ceremony sad, depressing, sorrowful event.
Another PR win for Naomi Osaka, mercifully without a mask.
We managed an hour then sloped off to the Izakaya
OssanAmerica
BFD. Naomi Osaka chose to become a Japanese citizen back in 2019. Time spent in a country is not a prerequisite.
itsonlyrocknroll
Naomi Osaka, is a globally recognizable tennis icon. Whatever one feels about her political views.
The decision that Osaka lights the fuse makes sound logical financial sense. Grin and bear it
GdTokyo
Is it racism driving the consistently negative comments? Is it that she speaks her mind? Is it the fact that she speaks out on systemic racism? Or maybe their just jealous. Is
Tanekuma77
@GdTokyo
You said:
Is it racism driving the consistently negative comments? Is it that she speaks her mind? Is it the fact that she speaks out on systemic racism? Or maybe their just jealous.
For one, I think it’s because she only “speaks her mind” or “speaks out” about things in countries where she doesn’t even hold a passport.
Can you point me to any instance where she has had any criticism at all about Japan or Japanese society?
please enlighten me. Thanks in advance.
Tanekuma77
The first part was a quote. Everything below that is my comment. Apologies.
itsonlyrocknroll
I think one can comment politely without resorting to being rude or personal. The not racism, that is life. Whether public or private.
Naomi Osaka is without doubt a gifted tennis professional.
I also suspect Naomi Osaka leverages that platform to pursue a political agenda, that is my only criticism.
theResident
I said it would go ahead and I said you'd all watch. Then, funnily enough you all criticize it! Funny lives a lot of you lead.
Press around the world loved it... Try and find a bad review. Struck the right balance in these challenging times. Yes, I think Osaka was chosen for highlighting both racial injustice AND opening up about her own mental health struggles. Good on her.
O'Brien
Naomi Osaka is an inspiration to the children of Japan.
I hope seeing her light the flame lights up their pure, innocent faces.
Even if there's an absolutely colossal spike in cases as a result of these games, it will be worth it if the children learn to follow their dreams.
Superhero
Japanese go crazy on this topic on yahou
Richard Gallagher
Cool. But, doesn't deflect from the fact, the Games should have been cancelled.
Tamarama
Congratulations to Naomi Osaka. I will personally be rooting for the Japanese surfers on their home turf as well.
theResident
Pull the other one @zichi. It was on NHK as you well know. They even streamed it online in Japanese and English for free.
isoducky
Osaka being the last torchbearer, the western media portrayal of justification, and the decision of how to present the games just highlights the tension between Tokyo and the IOC.
Personally I think Osaka was under qualified for the role and, if that clip of her exiting the stage last night is any indication, she may be persona non grata among certain members of her Olympic delegation.
I hope she win, just to justify her status.
shogun36
I missed the first half of the show, but saw the latter half.
I noticed they included a lot of children in the show.
I couldn’t hear the audio, because of circumstances, but I understand many of them were from Fukushima and some were orphans?
Which I thought was a really nice gesture and showing who the future of Japan is.
But I also found it ironic, seeing as how little attention Japan and the government show towards Fukushima when the world isn’t watching.
Same with the children. Japan is definitely not a nation that praises the youth all that much and in fact abuses them in many ways. Which is the real Japan.
While many focused on Osaka, the real highlight was seeing the smiles on the children’s faces.
I kinda wished they did more to support the innocence of Japan, not the corrupt and money hungry adults.
Alfie Noakes
I'd be fascinated to know how the decision to select her to light the "sacred fire" was made, and when. Very much when. Who were the other candidates and who was involved in making the final decision? Why wasn't someone with a greater Olympic connection chosen? Inquiring minds would like to know.
I heard months ago that Ichiro had been approached. He obviously turned it down......
Fighto!
Good on you, Naomi! There simply was no one else it was going to be!
The fact that it seems to have upset quite a few people online means she was a brilliant choice.
A breath of fresh air, showcasing multicultural Japan, along with Hachimura carrying the flag.
Fighto!
My sentiments exactly.
Fighto!
Well, it's always tempting to peek through your fingers when a slow trainwreck is happening before your eyes.
paddletime
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