Japan’s five leading national daily newspapers are all either official partners or official supporters of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, which means they are ultimately invested in their success.
Coverage of the official activities leading up to July’s opening ceremony began with the torch relay on March 25 in Fukushima Prefecture, and Tokyo Shimbun, which does not have a partnership deal, arguably provided the most thorough coverage.
With guidelines still in place to restrict spectator numbers along the relay course due to the pandemic, the event posed its own peculiar set of problems, including what the newspaper cited as the questionable taste of the flashy vehicles provided by sponsors. Tokyo Shimbun also took issue with the loud music blaring from speakers and a DJ who didn’t wear a mask. According to reporter Ryo Harada, local spectators were also critical of the festival atmosphere.