Olympic rings back in Tokyo Bay; a sign of hope in pandemic
The five Olympic rings are back in Tokyo Bay.
They were removed for maintenance four months ago shortly after the Tokyo Olympics were postponed until next year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The rings arrived on Tuesday after a short cruise from nearby Yokohama and are positioned on a barge in the shadow on Tokyo’s Rainbow Bridge.
The rings — painted blue, black, red, green, and yellow — are gigantic. They stand about 15 meters tall and 33 meters in length — about 50 feet tall and 100 feet in length.
The rings will be lighted at night and herald the coming of the Tokyo Olympics, which are to open on July 23, 2021, followed by the Paralympics on Aug. 24.
The rings made their first appearance early in 2020, just a few months before the Olympics were postponed late in March.
The reappearance of the rings is the latest sign that organizers and the International Olympic Committee are increasingly confident that 15,400 Olympic and Paralympic athletes can safely enter Japan during the pandemic.
These Olympics are sure to be like no other.
東京オリンピック・パラリンピックの延期で一時撤去されていた巨大なオリンピックシンボルのオブジェが1日に東京・お台場の海に戻ってきました。
午前9時ごろ、船に引かれたオブジェがお台場に到着しました。縦15メートル、横32メートルで重さは69トンあります。オブジェは大会を盛り上げるために1月に設置されましたが、開催が1年延期となり、その間に海の上でさびてしまうことなどから8月にいったん撤去されていました。その後、横浜の工場で約4カ月かけて耐久性を確認したり塗装し直したりして、今月1日朝に約3時間かけて運ばれてきました。夜からライトアップが再開され、閉会式が行われる予定の来年8月8日まで展示されます。
Dec 02
The five Olympic rings are back in Tokyo Bay. (Japan Today)Nov 30
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Sources say the organizing committee of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics now estimates that the extra costs related to the Games’ postponement will come to about 200 billion yen, or 1.9 billion dollars.(NHK)
Nov 30
Race-favorite Almond Eye captured a record ninth turf Grade 1 victory on Sunday in the 40th running of the Japan Cup, her final race before retirement. (Japan Times)Nov 30
The COVID-19 pandemic has turned our lives upside down. Every country had come up with their own restrictions when the pandemic started and things haven’t gone back to normal just yet. (newsonjapan.com)Nov 28
Organizers of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympic have announced new schedules for the Games’ test events.(NHK)
Nov 27
The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks may be in the middle of an epoch-making run in Japanese baseball that could — if other teams can emulate the way they operate on and off the field— cause a shift in the game. (Japan Times)Nov 27
NHK has learned that the Olympic rings will return to Tokyo Bay on December 1, following safety and maintenance checks.(NHK)
Nov 27
The Japanese arm of German automaker Porsche says it will open a Porsche Experience Center in Kisarazu City, Chiba Prefecture, next August.(NHK)
Nov 25
2020 has been a difficult year, a pandemic, lockdowns, and the tragedy attached to a virus that seemingly couldn’t be stopped. (newsonjapan.com)Nov 23
In sumo, Ozeki champion Takakeisho has won the November grand tournament. It is his second victory and the first in the current rank.(NHK)
Nov 23
The SoftBank Hawks built up a big early lead before easing their way to a second straight win in the Japan Series on Sunday, trouncing the Yomiuri Giants 13-2 with three home runs including a seventh-inning grand slam from Alfredo Despaigne. (Kyodo)Nov 21
Teenage shogi sensation Fujii Sota has become the youngest professional shogi player to mark 200 victories.(NHK)
Nov 21
Professional japaneese talented heavyweight MMA fighter and olympic judo champion Satoshi Ishii against czech light heavyweight athlete and RIZIN champion Jiri Prochazka with nickname “Denisa”. Fight took place in Saitama, Japan on December 29, 2015. MMA fight video in HD. (That’s why MMA!)Nov 19
A Japanese official indicated to a visiting group of South Korean lawmakers that it would be possible to invite North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to next summer’s Tokyo Olympics, a South Korean newspaper reported Wednesday, quoting one of the legislators. (Japan Times)Nov 19
The organizers of the postponed Tokyo Olympics may limit competitors’ stays in the athletes’ village and require participants to maintain social distance in order to prevent coronavirus infections, officials said Wednesday. (Kyodo)Nov 19
A significant pair of retirement announcements came in the middle of the ongoing November Grand Sumo Tournament. (Japan Times)Nov 18
The excitement of catching Mahaze [マハゼ/Yellowfin Goby] lures anglers to the brackish waterways winding through the middle of Tokyo. (NHK WORLD-JAPAN)Nov 17
The president of the International Olympic Committee says foreign athletes and visitors to the Tokyo Games next year should be vaccinated for the coronavirus before entering Japan if a vaccine is available.(NHK)
Nov 14
Musashimaru [武蔵丸] was one of the most dominant sumo wrestlers of the 1990’s, becoming only the second foreign-born yokozuna in 1999. Here’s a look back at some of his most memorable bouts. ()
