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The Tokyo Olympic Torch Relay started in Fukushima prefecture as a symbol of the “Reconstruction Olympics” as people are concerned about the new coronavirus infection. On the 25th of the first day, a journalist interviewed along the highway saw a “festival uproar” from a sponsoring vehicle that was more noticeable than the racers. (Ryo Harada)
In the Tokyo Olympics torch relay that started, a convoy of sponsor promotional vehicles racing in front of the torchbearer = 25, Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture
◆ “Zucha, Zucha, Zucha” at high volume
A municipal athletics stadium that sits quietly on a small hill. This is the starting point of the torch relay tour in the city of Iwaki. I went down about 200 meters from the stadium and waited for the torch to arrive by the side of the road.
First, a small car arrived and announced, “A racer will be coming soon. Let’s refrain from shouting and clapping.” When I spoke with Yoshinao Urayama (71), who was on the side of the road, he said: “My second son has been selected as a running partner.”
However, it was a large truck that was coming from behind the forest with loud music like “Zucha, Zucha, Zucha.” The word “Coca-Cola” is printed on the car body painted in bright red. The main sponsor of the relay.
◆ The droplets are about to fall
The vehicle appears to be a promotional modified car called the “Convoy”. A DJ (disc jockey) climbed to the top of the loading dock and yelled into a microphone. “Everyone in Fukushima has waited for a year.” “Let’s dance and have fun.” DJ doesn’t wear a mask. The edge of the road and the distance are close, and it seems that the drops (himatsu) will fall on the spectators. You told us: “Don’t yell.”
The vehicle moves slowly at the speed of a brisk walk. About 10 staff members (wearing masks) perform dances and hand out towels to the audience. Recently, I have not seen any tissue distribution in the city to avoid contact.
◆ “Isn’t this a little different?”
Other major sponsors, Toyota Motor Corporation, Nippon Life Insurance Company and NTT Group’s “Convoy” will follow. Playing songs like “Yuzu” and “EXILE”, the DJ in a mask raises his voice as if he is defeated. It is quite loud with a lot of music and screaming.
Tokyo Olympic Torch Relay held in Ogawara District, Okuma City, Fukushima Prefecture = 25, in Okuma City, Fukushima Prefecture
“Isn’t this a little different?” Mr. Urayama constantly twisted his neck at his side. “I don’t feel like I was at the rebuilding Olympics.” When I heard that, “It’s totally different.
Around 30 police vehicles in total, the torch was visible from the shadow of the vehicle. “Come, I came,” says Urayama. The second son, who was already running with the runner, was approaching about 20 meters ago.
I thanked Mr. Urayama for releasing the camera shutter in a hurry and went down the hill to get ahead of the course. The next point is the midpoint between the stadium and Iwaki station. The residential area has expanded and there are more people than before. In places where the sidewalk is narrow, “density” was created so that neighbors’ shoulders touched each other. The public is also surprised by the advertising car that arrives before the runners.
◆ “Unfinished” sponsor crown measures
Saburo Suzuki (84) from the same city looked a bit far from the road. Looking at the DJ without a mask, he got angry and said, “I told you to take action along the way, but we have not taken any action. I am concerned about the increase in infections in Fukushima.” “When I was living in Tokyo, I saw the 1964 Tokyo Olympic torch relay. There was no such publicity, but it was really exciting,” he told me.
I moved again and looked at the passing of the publicity car and the torch bearer near Iwaki station. Many citizens hope that the power of the Olympics will be transmitted to the affected areas after the Great East Japan Earthquake. When I spoke to Kazuko Kanno (68), who had come on the way, she said that she lost her husband in the earthquake.
“I cried when I saw the torch,” he shuddered. However, when asked about the publicity car, he said: “It feels like a feast. How do you take it? There was no message about rebuilding.”
Large numbers of people gathered to watch the Tokyo Olympics torch relay that started = 25, in Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture.
In exchange for sponsorship, companies are promoting, and even in the last Olympic Games, these types of parades were held in various places. Several voices said it was okay to get excited on the way.
◆ President Morimae “Holidays are not appropriate”
However, President Hashimoto was enthusiastic about the Tokyo tournament, saying, “‘After Corona’ and ‘Con Corona’ will become a legacy. I want to turn it into a movement for social change.” Former President Yoshiro Mori, who resigned his responsibility out of contempt for women, also said that the opening ceremony after the postponement “was not suitable for the festivities as before.”
Wasn’t it a symbol of “commercial Olympics” and “sponsor first” that was seen along the relay road that day? When I was asked at a press conference of the Organizing Committee after the relay, “Is this a production suitable for the Reconstruction Olympics and with a crown?”, I answered flatly. (Ryo Harada)
◆ “The purpose is to support the runners” Main sponsor of the torch relay
The reactions of the sponsoring companies regarding the production of the torch relay are as follows.
Coca-Cola Japan“The purpose of the convoy production is to support the runners. We want the merchandise distribution to be a tribute to the spectators, so we thoroughly disinfect the hands and fingers of the staff. On the 25th, the DJ is sufficiently away from the road. I did not wear a mask because I thought it had been removed, but I have been wearing a mask since 26, emphasizing the tranquility of the roadside. I cannot answer if the criticism has reached this point. ”
Toyota Motor“I wanted to convey the support of the corridors representing the region and the feeling of gratitude for the region where it will be implemented. If criticism comes in the future, I would like to take it as an opinion.”
Japanese life“The purpose of advertising car performance is to help racers. We are making efforts to ensure safe operation by taking comprehensive measures against infectious diseases.”
NTT Group“Confirming with the person in charge”
