Postponed Tokyo Olympic Games: July 24, 2020

 It was originally planned that Tokyo Olympic Games start Friday, July 24, 2020.

The schedule was postponed about a year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Olympic Games are not a major topic for many people for now.

 Many people in Tokyo spent quiet days today. People stayed in their homes or had minimum necessary visits to secure daily necessities. Many people worked at home. Trains were vacant. Roads were less crowded.

It was late March that IOC decided to postpone the Games. The Japanese government as well as the Tokyo Metropolitan government stress that they do not change the plan to host the Games in July 2021.

Japanese people have cold eyes. Majority think that the Games will not be held or the Games should be cancelled, according to opinion polls.

The flags, posters and signs have not been renewed.

The flags of “Tokyo 2020”, not “Tokyo 2021” flap in many shopping and residential areas. (See also the 2nd photo from the top)

 

Taxis have Tokyo Olympic Games logos in their bodies.

 

The Tokyo 2020 sign stands in Ginza’s main street. (The photo was taken in March 2020)

 

The Japan National Stadium, the planned main stadium of the Games, opened November 2019. (The left photo was taken in Oct. 2019. The top photo was taken from Shinjuku's skyscraper this week)

It was used for some sports events from December 2019 to March 2020. Now, it is not usually used.

The Baji Park (Equestrian Park) plans to host equestrian games. (See the third photo)  

I do not know the situation in July 2021. I just post the photos in July 2020 for record.

 

 

 

 

 

Shinjuku under the corona outbreak: July 20, 2020

 

About six months have passed since the outbreak of the coronavirus in Japan in late January.

The numbers of the confirmed cases as well as victims are relatively low, like some other Asian countries, if we compare the numbers with ones in the U.S. and European countries. The confirmed cases as of July 20 are 25276 while the number of victims is about 1000 (The numbers are about 3.8 million and 140 thousand, respectively, in the U.S.)

Still, the infection is increasing again especially in Tokyo. The daily report of new infection reached 200 in April, decreased to 2-30 level in late May, increased again in the beginning of July and reached 293 on July 17.

Wearing masks and keeping social distances have become common among people.

Shinjuku is one of the busiest shopping areas in Japan.

It is reported that more than total 3.5 million people used Shinjuku Station (JR, Odakyu, Keio and subway) every day before the corona outbreak. It became almost empty in April, when the country declared emergency and asked people not to go out.

The station was not empty today. However, there were not many people. (See also the top, second and 4th photos)

 

The bus terminal near the railroad station was almost empty.

 

I found few people walking in the Shinjuku Street, one of the main streets in the area.

 

Many corona infection cases are found among the guests as well as the hosts and hostess of drinking bars, cabaret clubs (Japanese style hostess bar) and Karaoke bars.

 

There are many such places in Shinjuku’s Kabukicho area. (See also the 3rd photo)

 

I carefully walked the streets in the area in the daytime. I found many Karaoke bars and other bars, restaurants were open. Still there were few people walking in the streets.