Many Japanese celebrities have no burning desire to be involved in torch relay

This is weird because I have no burning desire to see any Japanese celebrities included in it either.

It should be for locals, especially kids, and also sports stars from each prefecture.

It should be for locals, especially kids, and also sports stars from each prefecture.

It is kind of like game shows or quiz shows on TV in Japan, I want to watch regular, everyday citizens play them not comedians then get an instant replay 3-5 of their facial expressions.

It is clear many of them are doing it as a form of protect themselves against the negative image they would get by participating, but just by being able to recognize the games are now a huge image risk for them I cannot help seeing them in a little bit more positive light.

How long before Johnny's drags out some washed-up SMAP member or other has-been?

These games are cursed. Nobody apart from Dentsu wants to hold them, attend them, or be involved in any way. I have to say that initially I was quite excited about them early last year. But now, it's just an economic, pr, and public health debacle.

If only some larger nations would announce that they are not sending teams as happened last year, we could put this Games our of our collective misery.

"Many Japanese celebrities have no burning desire to be involved in torch relay"

Because it's ridiculous?

Many Japanese citizens (80%) have no interest in holding the Olympics at all. As mentioned above, this is just to line the pockets of Dentsu and NTT.

Looks like the spectator turnout is about 20% of what I would expect to see.

Oh wait, that would match the 80% that could care less about these Olympics.

Tokyo 2020/2021 Olympics:

Debacle pure and simple and justly deserved.

How shockingly not surprising!

Celebrities better yet their agencies are trying to protect their brand image!

early in Ichikawa Kon's marvellous and moving film of the '64 Olympics, the torch is shown making it's way eastwards, from Greece, through neighbouring countries, then flown into Japan. here, it is carried through Hiroshima, through throngs of people: young, old, everyone, faces showing everything from joy to wonder to puzzlement.

I'm no fan of the Olympics or other bread-and-circuses extravaganzas, but I can't watch that without thinking what an amazingly meaningful moment in history that must have been for most Japanese people, less than 20 years after the end of War.

there are probably people alive now who were there, in Hiroshima, in Tōkyō, in 1964. and I can't help but wonder how those people view the current.... pitiful..... farce.

Many Japanese celebrities have no burning desire to be involved in torch relay,

These so called celebrities will follow without question the contractual requirement of there agencies!

There future careers could depend on it.

Celebrities fearing Coronavirus?! Don't buy it! No way! Masks are rarely seen on TV shows with social distancing being redefined by Japan standards.

Very sad! Everyone seems to be jumping on the bandwagon and condemning the Olympics and Mori. They are followers without thought and myopic, forgetting the negative longer term impact to Japan.

Sorry not interested in 2020 Dentsu games. Wonder which country drops out first ?

Well Done to those celebrities as opposed to the self seeking runners , seeking their moments glory participating in this farce. Today the news was raving on how the recovery of Fukushima is being showcased and sure enough pulled out some glory seeking Fukushima resident runners praising the victory. Imagine where Fukushima would be if the money wasted on the Olympics had gone on the recovery, but these runners don’t care and think they are now blessed having run in this farce relay.

Cool. The Covid-19 Games on a downward slide to oblivion.

Australian news today were supporting the games today with their news of the relay suggesting it would improve the 20% public support. No mention of the 400 virus cases every day in Tokyo and almost 2000 daily in Japan. If any city in Australia had those numbers they would be all locked down for months, restricted to their homes and most businesses closed. They have recently done this over 10 - 20 cases in a week . Imagine what they would do with 400 daily. Yet holding the Olympics is fine by them. Hypocrites!

No problem foreign spectators are banned since Australians are NOT allowed to travel overseas though I am sure, athletes, officials and guest will be granted special permission to go, but I wonder who will pay for their two week quarantine on their return.

Total Hypocrites,

These Olympic games (should they happen) will go down as the most boring, least enthusiastic, and worst timely planned games in history.

WHO is the actual writer or, such 'written by committee' :

From the article - "many (celebrities) pouring cold water on the traditional pre-Olympics celebration."

Why are the author(s) blaming them for the lack of enthusiasm? No one of any real character wants to be remembered forever for being associated with this debacle.

Atsushi Tamura of London Boots was smart to use the Mori mess as his 'get out of jail card'.

Any normal person with common sense will not want to join the Olympics in any way.

The fire in most people's eyes has already flickered out. These Games are going to be the Fosbury Flop Olympics with Taro Q Public footing the bill.

It's an embarrassment for the nation as a whole. The whole situation has become so convoluted. It's high time they cancel this event and rethink their options, if any remain.

The Olympics is a sports event and NOT the Oscars.

No one cares if the so called stars show up.

what a farce this whole thing is. The famous person has no mask but all the cops who are also jogging with the celebrity are wearing masks.

such parody usually cost money to see.

Doe anyone still watch TV these days?

Doe anyone still watch TV these days?

No, especially J-TV.

"Many have politely declined," that's sooooooo Japanese.

Does anyone think that the Olympic event should have just skipped to avoid surge? I can understand the importance to participate from an athlete's view and to uphold the 124 years tradition, but is it really necessary?

Look, i get that not everyone is thrill about the Olympic because of recent events, but it's gonna happen no matter what. Because there are still a lot of people which are still looking forward for it. And many volunteers had given up a lot of their time for this. Not to mention countless people who made their living on it also depend on it. Like small business owners who make the Olympic t-shirt, snacks,flags, mugs etc. And then you have the billions of spending of infrastructures and technology. Also countless companies had wasted a lot of cash by sponsoring the events. The Olympics is gonna happen and we should be positive about it instead being so negative. At least they aren't gonna abandon something that was so costly and also because people shouldn't have that "a lot of recent bad luck so we should abadon ship" mentality.

There are many athletes who want to still do it and you yourself can always watch it on the tv so i don't see the problem with them dong the Olympic. Is not like we can just not use the expensive stuff that were already created anyway.

One thing for sure is whether the Olympic this year is gonna be a success or not, Japan will probably never waste money again on these Olympics in the future. This will be a hard lesson for many. Not many countries want to host them anyway.

Personally for me, considering how much bad luck i had in 2020, i at least want to enjoy myself this year by watching some of these Olympic games.

Atsushi Tamura of London Boots was smart to use the Mori mess as his 'get out of jail card'.

As the story says, he'd already pulled out before the real "Mori mess", which was the sexist comments. Tamura pulled out about two weeks earlier when Mori said the Games would go ahead "regardless of the Covid-19 situation". Tamura is on a morning show and explained that he objected to Mori placing the Olympics above the pandemic. He also said Mori's "stars can just run through paddies if there is a risk of them drawing a crowd" comment was stupid, but it didn't trigger his decision. "Paddies" here is intended to mean "the middle of nowhere".

The Kon Ichikawa film about the 1964 Olympics mentioned above is superb and can be watched online. 1960s Tokyo looks a right dump in the cycling and marathon at the end.

No one noticed the pun in the headline ?

"No Burning Desire" and "Torch"

Nice one Kyodo Press.

One thing for sure is whether the Olympic this year is gonna be a success or not, Japan will probably never waste money again on these Olympics in the future. 

That’s probably for sure is it?

Derek Grebe

Many Japanese citizens (80%) have no interest in holding the Olympics at all.

That's not exactly true. A recent polls shows 63% of Japanese people want Olympic games performed in Japan in one way or another (27% this year, 36% later) and the number has increased compared to a January result.

https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASP3P7HJ8P3MUZPS002.html

Alex

Does anyone think that the Olympic event should have just skipped to avoid surge?

According to the recent polls, there are about 33% who wish to cancel Olympics as opposed to 27% who wish to see the games performed this year. There are about 36% who wish to postpone it to later time.

Meanwhile, with limited spectators, many sports events have been performed in recent months. Sumo wrestling tournament, National Highschool Baseball tournament, National Figure Skate contest, Korea-Japan friendly succor game, etc. Music concerts are also performed. Babymetal, for example, performed eight live concerts in last few months in Budokan, which is one of Olympic game venunes.

And nobody is complaining.

A total lockdown is not supported by many Japanese people.

David Shawn Kanda:

It's high time they cancel this event...

Why?

We had Australian Open recently with limited spectators. It was great and many people enjoyed. Likewise, Baseball games are being played in US and Japan now. And many other games are also played worldwide with or without spectators. Nobody is complaining.

Why can't Olympic games played likewise?

That's fine they don't want to partake in the torch rally. I would gladly take their place. Personally, I don't see much risk. Riding a train is much more risky.

Fair enough, considering the source “...don't see much risk.”@CrashTestDummy 5:08am