Head of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic organizing committee Hashimoto Seiko has expressed a determination to ensure that athletes at the upcoming Games feel buoyed up despite the absence of spectators.
A recent surge in the number of coronavirus infections in the Tokyo area has prompted a decision to bar spectators from most of the competitions in the Tokyo Olympics. The Games are to start in two weeks.
The torch relay for the Tokyo Olympics will kick off in the Japanese capital on Friday for the last leg of its journey, with an unusual format.
The relay was originally scheduled to take place on public roads. But all Tokyo municipalities except for the islands decided to reorganize the event into lighting ceremonies to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Japan's minister for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games has announced that no spectators will be allowed at Olympic venues in Tokyo and the three surrounding prefectures of Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa.
Marukawa Tamayo spoke to reporters on Thursday after a five-party meeting between the Japanese government, the games' organizing committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the International Olympic and Paralympic committees.
With the Tokyo Games just two weeks away, officials have decided to hold Olympic events in the capital without any fans in the stands.
Representatives from the Games' organizing committee, the Japanese government, the Tokyo Metropolitan government and the International Olympic and Paralympic committees made the decision on Thursday evening.
Officials preparing for the Tokyo Summer Olympics are holding talks on Thursday to decide how many spectators, if any, will be allowed in the stands at venues.
The five-way talks will involve top officials from the Games' organizing committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Japanese government, and the International Olympic and Paralympic committees.
Japan's health minister is encouraging people to watch the upcoming Tokyo Olympics at home.
Tamura Norihisa is also urging the public to avoid the higher risk of coronavirus infection involved in watching the games at sports bars or restaurants that serve alcohol.
Japan has officially inaugurated its team of athletes for the Tokyo Olympics, scheduled to open on July 23.
A ceremony was held in Tokyo on Tuesday afternoon.
Organizers of the Tokyo Olympics have postponed announcing the results of a lottery to determine which ticketholders can attend the opening and closing ceremonies as well as some matches for seven sporting events.
The decision to postpone the announcement of the lottery winners until Saturday comes as there is speculation that a spectator cap could be further lowered. The announcement was originally set for Tuesday.
Tennis star Osaka Naomi says she is now getting ready to play in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, and her Japanese citizenship is a big motivation.
In an email exchange with NHK, Osaka says she is preparing herself little by little so she can be at the top of her game for the Olympics.
Japanese telecom giant Nippon Telegraph and Telephone aims to offer a unique viewing experience for spectators at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. It will tap high-speed 5G networks to transmit dynamic live images, working with partners Intel and NTT Docomo.
Footage of sailing competitions shot with 4K cameras mounted on drones and boats will be livestreamed to a large screen that spans 50 meters.
A member of Serbia's Olympic rowing team has tested positive for the coronavirus after arriving at Tokyo's Haneda Airport.
The team is the second delegation with a confirmed case of the virus after two members of Uganda's team tested positive in Japan last month.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has conducted a security check of the Olympic athletes' village, with about three weeks to go before the opening of the Tokyo Games. It was part of efforts to enhance security measures ahead of the Games.
The Olympics and Paralympics will be held at 43 venues, mainly in Tokyo. Police officers as well as private security personnel will be posted at and around the competition venues.
Many foreign Olympic teams are arriving in Japan ahead of the start of the Tokyo Games on July 23.
Japan's government says about 400 members of Olympic teams from 18 countries and territories are expected to arrive in the country from Thursday to Sunday.
The Japanese Olympic Committee has named sprinter Yamagata Ryota captain of Team Japan for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. Table tennis player Ishikawa Kasumi has been named vice-captain.
The JOC announced the appointments on Thursday.