Aus the dream. The sumo wrestler Takakeisho had actually wanted to move up to the top class of yokozuna in the New Year’s tournament of the Japanese Sumo Association. The chances were good. In November Takakeisho won his second Kaiser Cup. Another tournament victory in a row promised the promotion to yokozuna. However, after a series of defeats, the 24-year-old Takakeisho withdrew from the tournament this week. Allegedly an injury to the ankle is to blame.
Patrick Welter
Correspondent for business and politics in Japan, based in Tokyo.
The sumo tournament, which lasts until the weekend, is one highlight poorer. The competition had already started under bad omens, in the middle of the coronavirus emergency in Tokyo. Yokozuna Hakuho, the undisputed star of sumo with 44 titles, signed off with a coronavirus infection. It was not the first viral infection among heavy men who cannot practice social distance in training and competition. A sumo wrestler died of Covid-19 last year. There were now infections in four training stables. They withdrew their athletes from the competition. 16 wrestlers from the two highest divisions were already out before the tournament.
Third wave of coronavirus
The fact that the tournament is taking place in the middle of the virus emergency in Tokyo is surprising from the perspective of the West, which is used to sharp lockdowns. Japan is currently also experiencing high levels of infections in the third wave of coronavirus. In total, the country has almost 350,000 infected people and around 4,800 deaths from Covid. The Japanese are concerned about the numbers, but that is still not much compared to the West. In the sumo arena, the number of visitors is limited to 5,000 a day. This is in line with the government’s recommendations. The fans wear masks, applause instead of cheers is the order of the day. The Olympic boxing tournament is to take place in the sumo arena in summer. The wrestling tournament is also a kind of blueprint of what the Tokyo Olympics might look like.
But with the global increase in the number of infections, the discussion begins again as to whether the games should be canceled. Voices for and against ripple through the media. Dick Pound, the longest-serving member of the International Olympic Committee, says no one can be certain that the Games will take place. The head of the British Olympic team, Mark England, on the other hand, is extremely certain that the summer games will take place. In Japan, Reform Minister Taro Kono showed realism and told Reuters news agency that anything is possible. “We have to do our best to prepare for the games. But it can go in this or that direction. “
The official line of government is a little different. The games are taking place and the preparations are going full steam ahead, in the words of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. As if to underline this, the Olympic mascots Miraitowa and Someity sit in the entrance hall of the Prime Minister’s office and look over Suga’s shoulder during press statements. “We are not discussing a cancellation,” said the head of the National Organizing Committee, Toshiro Muto, this week.
The Japanese doubt
But the Japanese have doubts. Only 16 percent want the games to take place as planned, shows a survey by the television channel NHK. 38 percent want a rejection, 39 percent want another postponement. But IOC President Thomas Bach and the President of the National Organizing Committee, Yoshiro Mori, have strictly excluded them. A second postponement would put the Olympic family and sponsors in trouble, as the Winter Games in Beijing are due to take place in 2022.
From a Japanese point of view, it is too early to make a decision on whether to cancel or postpone. The daily infection numbers in Japan are already falling somewhat thanks to the virus emergency in Tokyo and other prefectures. The vaccinations, which are starting globally, could reduce the risk of Covid by the summer. In 2020, the games were postponed shortly before the planned start of the torch relay in March. This date could also be the day of truth this year.
The government doesn’t want to talk about it yet. Japan has invested billions in the games and wants to see a return. The Olympic Games shortly before the parliamentary elections in autumn would not be detrimental to Suga either, as his popularity is falling drastically due to the corona wave.
Lots of open questions
But many questions are still open. The number of participants, but not athletes, should be less than usual. The athletes’ stay in the Olympic Village will be shortened to reduce the risk of infection. Therefore, only about 6000 athletes came to the opening ceremony instead of the usual more than 10,000, reported the newspaper “Yomiuri”. Nothing has been decided, it says from the national preparatory committee. The Canadian Pound brought up the idea that athletes should preferably be vaccinated against the coronavirus in order to secure the games. But IOC President Bach had ruled out compulsory vaccinations for athletes in November. The Japanese government does not want to start vaccinating the population until the end of February. But she wants to make the games so safe that they can take place without vaccinations.
Above all, it is unclear how many and which tourists are allowed to travel to the sports festival. A lot depends on it: the community experience of the games, the advertising effect for Japan and the boost for tourism. Since April last year, Japan has largely closed its borders to foreigners and recently suspended the few exceptions. But there shouldn’t be Olympic Games without spectators. The decision is getting closer: “In February to March we have to make a very difficult decision,” said Mori.
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