There are just six months until the postponed Tokyo Olympics' start on July 23 and the coronavirus pandemic seems to have crushed hopes the event will create a joyous mood in the Japanese capital.

The traditional build-up of expectation is absent due to the ongoing uncertainty caused by the public health crisis, and polling has shown the Japanese public has grown weary of the whole circus, from the cost blow-out to concerns over further virus spread, among other issues.

Olympic test events are scheduled to resume in March and the torch relay will start on March 25 in Fukushima Prefecture while the Japanese government will still likely be asking residents to adhere to virus-quelling public health measures such as avoiding crowded social events.