Former Olympic swimmer Aya Terakawa, center, waves as she carries the torch during the first day of the Osaka round at a former Expo site in Suita, north of Osaka, on Tuesday. The relay was held at the former Expo park, instead of public streets, to keep spectators away due to the surge in coronavirus cases in Osaka. Photo: AP/Hiro Komae
tokyo 2020 olympics

Olympic torchbearers run through empty Osaka park as virus surge tops 1,000

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Osaka at 1000 while Tokyo only at 510. Why has this balance shifted so much?

9 ( +12 / -3 )

Looks like a street running through the front of the park...so what was with no street running with the torch in Osaka? Another lie? Dang it!

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

Even if Tokyo did as many tests as Osaka, the results would be the same. Testing asymptomatic people is a waste of resources and time. I sound like a broken record, but until people here can understand, I will keep posting how stats are evolved.

-24 ( +4 / -28 )

@Kyakusenbi, asymptomatic people can still spread the virus so it's not a waste to test them. I think the above photo of torch bearers running in an empty park in circles says everything we need to know about whether it's safe to hold the Olympics.

17 ( +21 / -4 )

Of the respondents, 49.3 percent said the relay should be canceled in areas experiencing severe coronavirus infection numbers and 35.9 percent said it should be called off entirely.

Well, Japan is not a democracy

12 ( +16 / -4 )

At least there is social distancing going on....at last! (it won’t continue though)

3 ( +6 / -3 )

I don't care about the ceremony. I just want to see the atheletes compete.

-23 ( +3 / -26 )

That image, along with stubbornly insisting that the games go ahead = Sad, pointless and a complete waste of time.

No sane and compassionate person wants the Olympics.

Far more important issues to address.

24 ( +28 / -4 )

@klausdorth

The capacity of novel coronavirus testing in Tokyo will be increased to about 65,000 per day by early December, Gov. Yuriko Koike said Friday, October 20, 2020.

To be fair she said she was planning to increase the ability to test up to 65,000 people not that they were actually going to test that many people.

That's how I read it unfortunately.

:(

12 ( +13 / -1 )

This is surreal. Thousands will die but they are running around with a torch in no mans land.

mind blowing

19 ( +23 / -4 )

The number of tests in Tokyo are suppressed because of the Olympics, 

Here come the conspiracy theories again.

-28 ( +4 / -32 )

When is Japan going to accept that it is running on borrowed time? Time paid out in the blood of innocent people.

Stop this nonsense already.

15 ( +20 / -5 )

I’m not really feeling the triumph of the human spirit. I’m not sure those in Fukushima are feeling healing waves of energy and great inspiration either.

14 ( +17 / -3 )

I drive around the greater Tokyo area for at least 4 hours a day. It definitely doesnt look like a vibrant city with people eargerly waiting for the Olympic event of their lifetime.

It had this whole atmosphere back in 2019 (and even earlier) but right now the only things that remind you there is an Olympic on the way are the Tokyo 2020 posters on gov buildings, the Seiko countdown panel in front of Tokyo Station and the small electronic messages shown on the top of Tokyo Skytree, apart of that no one is even talking about it anywhere.

17 ( +18 / -1 )

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

This is so stupid.

10 ( +13 / -3 )

She is waving goodbye to the cursed 2020 olympics but does not know it.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Numbers up but deaths are flat.

The media is overhyping as usual for the public that is too lazy to actually research the statistics.

-9 ( +4 / -13 )

Kyakusenbi_Arimasu

Even if Tokyo did as many tests as Osaka, the results would be the same. Testing asymptomatic people is a waste of resources and time. I sound like a broken record, but until people here can understand, I will keep posting how stats are evolved.

There are several people sounding like a broken record, trying to make you understand, over and over again, that:

asymptomatic people can also be carriers of the virus

they can spread it to others, who may then develop serious symptoms and who may end up in hospitals (if there's space, that is )

testing and finding also the asymptomatic people is extremely important, so that these people could then isolate and avoid spreading the virus further
14 ( +16 / -2 )

Who is she waving to?

It's the fourth wave

10 ( +11 / -1 )

The amount of tests in Osaka averages 10000/day for the last week.

One month ago, it was about 5000.

https://covid19-osaka.info/en/

5 ( +6 / -1 )

The Olympics seem pointless when a bar can’t even stay open past 8pm because corona is “so bad”

5 ( +10 / -5 )

The Olympics seem pointless when a bar can’t even stay open past 8pm because corona is “so bad”

You don’t think ‘corona’ is ‘so bad’? Blimey. Please elaborate.

3 ( +9 / -6 )

Taro’s “Face of the Sun”, representing ‘the present’ seems to be turning its nose away from the torch.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

When is Japan going to accept that it is running on borrowed time? Time paid out in the blood of innocent people.

You've been saying this for over a year no doubt. So when exactly will it come true?

-10 ( +1 / -11 )

....This is theatre of the ABSURD!!!

Completely nuts!

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Even if Tokyo did as many tests as Osaka, the results would be the same. Testing healthy people is a waste of resources and time.

The only way to find asymptomatic people is to test everyone and that is very very stupid in my opinion.

If there were a ton of very sick people, would not you think that the hospitals would be overrun into the hallways and parking lots?

It is a simple disease in Japan unlike America where 46% of the population is overweight, and 29% are obese.

-11 ( +1 / -12 )

This Olympic torch relay must reach its goal/objective.

It is imperative for Japan, nationally, the peoples investment, financially.

Most importantly the Government of Japan to honor an contract/agreement.

Well, hang on a minute.

The people will have a say in the outcome.

They will be ultimately footing the bill.

So where is Yuriko Koike?

6 ( +8 / -2 )

I just hope the vaccine is distributed to those who want it faster than what has been the norm here in Japan. Slow, Slow, Slow, Slow, and Slow. Meanwhile, the people who live in Japan are just drinking and eating and sitting next to each other on the train talking and talking. Seems like there is a bit of a disconnect between the Japanese Government and the Citizens. This is getting boring. Time to think of what to do ourselves.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Another pointless event for the upcoming worst Olympics ever.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

japan should have started vaccinating right around mid Dec. or just before Xmass, but it took the Bureaucrats 2.5 month to approve the very same vaccine that was already tested and approved by the SDC and others like England Germany and France, and it was already in peoples arms as early as Dec. the 8th. 2020.

And worse yet , even when the vaccinating started only 1.1 million received it so far slower than any industrial nation.

How much worse will it get before it's over is anyone call!!! LOL.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

The cynic in me wants to say that Osaka is showing more cases now because that is the narrative that is being put forth.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I don’t want to believe that the government can massage the numbers...but, I do!!!

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Yep it IS so bad actually. Who is to blame?

You don’t think ‘corona’ is ‘so bad’? Blimey. Please elaborate.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

The 121-day torch relay, which is set to involve around 10,000 runners, has been held with a number of anti-virus steps in place.

Are there any new Japanese nationals that gave up their first nationality to try to win a medal carry the torch?

Can we get a list of torch carrier names and where they were born? Are all countries and prefectures represented?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

you cannot make this up.

so much ignorance.

human lives are so cheap in Japan.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

This year Japan will be remembered for holding Olympics at the peak of a pandemic and deciding to irradiate the whole of the Northern Pacific Ocean.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Yep it IS so bad actually. Who is to blame?

I think it’s more constructive to focus on solutions.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Osaka officials are discussing what extra measures to take, beyond quasi-emergency measures.

Just waiting to hear that an unprecented closing of bars and restaurants at 19:30,

or even a quasi-unprecedented 19:00!

5 ( +5 / -0 )

I will keep posting how stats are evolved.

Please tell us more how “stats are evolved.”

Like me, I’m sure others are curious to read about this ‘evolution’ process for ‘stats.’

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@Kyakusenbi_Arimasu

Can we get a list of torch carrier names and where they were born? Are all countries and prefectures represented?

NHK have a complete list, with dates, live streaming and video recordings of every leg of the relay.

https://sports.nhk.or.jp/olympic/torch/schedules/10_osaka/

Lots of locals, some ex-athletes, former tarento, some foreigners,

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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