tokyo 2020 olympics

Emperor to attend Tokyo Olympic opening ceremony

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The Olympic Charter stipulates that the host country's head of state proclaims the games open.

certainly been an eye-opener for me, these Olympics, as I had had no idea that the IOC is in a position to tell nations what to do/how to behave.... wonder what their secret is.

13 ( +16 / -3 )

Wonder if they will make the Emperor wear a mask?

10 ( +12 / -2 )

certainly been an eye-opener for me, these Olympics, as I had had no idea that the IOC is in a position to tell nations what to do/how to behave.... wonder what their secret is.

It's no secret.... money!

9 ( +11 / -2 )

Japanese imperial really depend on government in lot of things these days. For example for female succession decision https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/01/05/national/japan-imperial-succession-women-study/

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Poor soul, after expressing his concerns (& suspected ‘opposition’), now paraded out in the IOCLDPJOC’s last, desperate efforts to garner any support from the Japanese people.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

Shameful to subject The People’s beacon of hope in crises’ to possible, worldwide ridicule, all to further the IOCLDPJOC’s ‘NEED for GREED’ .

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Despite the best efforts to ignore, disavow, revise and/or eradicate ‘past history’, this kind of ‘alleged‘ puppetry by the real ‘dominant-forces-in-control’ of a country, harkens back to events of over 70 years ago.

It will be interesting to read & contrast the different depictions of these current events in future books from both here and abroad.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

The emperor’s words subject to the IOC’s prior approval? That might anger nationalists here. I thought the honor of hosting the Olympics was given to the hosting city, not the country.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

I wonder if the emperor has been told the complexity of the current situtation.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Good luck to him. Good luck to everyone. I do not appreciate the contemptful increase in highway fees and reserved Olympic lanes. I am now anti-Olympics.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

YubaruToday  07:01 am JST

....but.... the country wasn't going to get rich off the Lympix even before the current débacle, and now. and anyway, to be able to stipulate that an emperor do your bidding? have to say I'm surprised.... hence my prior comment.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

I hope he says, in he most formal Japanese possible, “OK, let’s get this over with”.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Games-linked Covid cases continue to rise in a city rising in indignation at the Olympics taking place, Tokyo 2020 chief Toshiro Muto said he was prepared to discuss a last-minute cancellation. Muto’s stunning intervention, hours after IOC Bach admitted he feared the Games would not be able to take place, came as Tokyo suffered another two Olympic health and safety revelations. The first is elevated levels of the deadly E-coli bacteria in the Tokyo Bay waters where the triathlon and open water swimming events are to be held. Area residents have complained about the sewage smell, and with moreheavy rain forecast for next week which could see further leakage into the Bay. Additional attention came as Korean team chiefs said they planned to screen food from Fukushima Prefecture, scene of the 2011 nuclear disaster, claiming it might have been contaminated by radioactive Cesium. But it was Muto’s comments which were the most eye-opening, after yet more Covid chaos in and around the Olympic Village.

And the beat goes on........

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Maybe he'll echo, "We must endure the unendurable."

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

I wonder who twisted who's arm to make to have the emperor paraded for that trainwreck of a show, as I would doubt:....

Unlike the queen of England the Emperor of Japan does not have a choice. He is only a symbol and he has to do what he is told to do by the government. The answer to who twisted his arm is Prime minister Suga

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Against his knowledge, against his feelings, against noblesse obligation… Personally, I will be of course a bit disappointed, if he really goes there and shows support. He hasn’t already, he still can find a way to avoid showing up there. Many here say, he has no other choice and is only a state symbol with weak power, but that’s not true. Especially in his position he has always a choice.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Sven AsaiToday  01:43 pm JST

Against his knowledge, against his feelings, against noblesse obligation… Personally, I will be of course a bit disappointed, if he really goes there and shows support. He hasn’t already, he still can find a way to avoid showing up there. Many here say, he has no other choice and is only a state symbol with weak power, but that’s not true. Especially in his position he has always a choice.

I don't agree with how the government have handled the preparation for this during the covid era (vaccine distribution particularly). Japan was offered to delay until 2022, but opted for 2021 and so here we are.

However now is the time for the Emperor to stand up and represent Japan to the whole world.

We need to remember that Japan requested and pushed hard to be chosen to host these games (it was the 2nd bid after failing for 2016).

Now it's the chance for Japan to deliver on their promises.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

@Sven Asai

Perhaps you should read this:

It Says The Emperor is the symbol of Japan and of the unity of the people, performs the following acts in matters of state, with the advice and approval of the Cabinet.... performance of ceremonial functions

http://japan.kantei.go.jp/constitution_and_government_of_japan/fundamental_e.html

In other words it is part of the Emperors duties so he doesn't have the right to refuse.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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