The Japanese Olympic team was given a rousing send-off in Tokyo on Friday by a large and enthusiastic crowd of mostly children as the athletes enjoyed a moment in the spotlight together before the 2024 Paris Games, which begin later this month.
The Japanese delegation participated in an inauguration ceremony at Yoyogi National Stadium early in the afternoon before moving to Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium for a send-off party, during which each of Japan’s teams marched into the arena to the cheers of the crowd.
“Three years ago, we held the send-off party online,” said Japanese Olympic Committee Secretary-General Mitsugi Ogata, who will lead the Japanese delegation in Paris. “We are really grateful to be sent off so warmly today. We are looking forward to Paris.”
The two ceremonies were held in a much more scaled down and disconnected fashion before the postponed 2020 Tokyo Games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than an arena full of cheering fans, the athletes participated in an online event for the send-off ceremony, apart from each other and their supporters.
Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko attended Friday’s inauguration ceremony, where the Japanese team was formed and Japan’s flag bearers for the opening ceremony, fencer Misaki Emura and breaker Shigekix, whose real name is Shigeyuki Nakarai, received the Japanese flag from Ogata.
The send-off party represented a complete shift in mood from the formal inauguration ceremony.
Former tennis star Shuzo Matsuoka roused the crowd along with 2000 Sydney Olympic women’s marathon gold medalist Naoko Takahashi, and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida offered his support in a taped message.
“This is the first time in eight years we will have an Olympics with fans,” Kishida said in his remarks, referring to the Tokyo Games being devoid of supporters in the stands due to restrictions in place because of COVID-19. “I hope you can take the wishes of those watching in Japan and around the world who are hoping for Japan's success and turn it into power.”
Three years after hosting the Tokyo Olympics, Japan is preparing to send almost 400 athletes to the Games in the French capital, which would represent the largest Japanese delegation for an overseas Olympics. The current mark is 339, set at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing. Most of the Japanese contingent participated in the two ceremonies on Friday.
“I’m really glad I made it this far,” Emura said. “The competition has not even started yet, and I already have tears in my eyes.”
Shigekix will also be bringing more attention to breaking, which is making its Olympic debut, during the opening ceremony in France. Japan will send four breakers — two men and two women — to the Games.
Japan had its best-ever showing at a Summer Games three years ago in Tokyo with 27 gold medals and 58 overall. The Japanese Olympic Committee is hoping for another strong showing, with a target of 20 gold medals in the Paris. That would represent Japan’s best showing overseas, surpassing the 16 gold medals the team won at the 2004 Games in Athens.
“I have been through a lot of hard times and pain, but after hearing all of your cheers today, I’m really grateful for your support,” said Emura, one of the favorites to win gold in the women’s sabre event at the Paris Games.
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