Olympic flame lighting ceremony held in Olympia

Mar 13, 2020 | News On Japan

Mar 13, 2020 (NHK) - The Olympic flame has been lit in Olympia, southern Greece, marking the start of the Tokyo 2020 Games torch relay.

A ceremony to light the flame began in the birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games on Thursday around 11:30 a.m. local time.

Among those attending were International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach and an official from the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Women in ancient Greek costumes used a concave mirror to focus sunlight and ignite the Olympic flame at the ruins of the Temple of Hera.

The flame was then passed to a torch shaped like a cherry blossom for the Tokyo Games.

Greek Olympic shooting gold medalist Anna Korakaki carried the flame as the first runner in the torch relay starting at the ancient stadium.

Japan's Mizuki Noguchi, who won a gold medal in the women's marathon at the Athens Olympics in 2004, received the flame and ran for 200 meters as the second torch bearer.

The flame is to travel around Greece for eight days before being passed to the host city in Athens on March 19 and arriving in Japan the next day.

The flame is to travel across Japan for four months starting in Fukushima Prefecture on March 26.

Japan Faces Economic Fallout From Nvidia Leadership Crisis

The resignation of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on November 12 following allegations involving a woman suspected of links to Chinese intelligence has raised concerns in Japan over the potential impact on semiconductor investment, financial markets and the yen, as uncertainty surrounding the American AI chipmaker threatens to disrupt the global technology industry.

Major Earthquake Could Strike Japan at Any Time

Japan launched a new national disaster management agency on November 2nd to strengthen its response to major emergencies, just days before a powerful earthquake struck Aichi Prefecture, injuring 24 people and renewing concerns over the possibility of a catastrophic Nankai Trough earthquake.

Russia Calls JT Takeover a Countermeasure Against Sanctions

Russia's Foreign Ministry on November 11 defended the government's unilateral decision to place the local subsidiary of Japan Tobacco (JT) under the management of a Russian company, describing the move as a countermeasure against what it called Japan's "blatantly hostile actions."

Touch-Free Ticket Gates Coming to Tokyo's Yamanote Line

East Japan Railway (JR East) announced on November 10th that it will introduce touch-free ticket gates at 40 stations, including every station on Tokyo's Yamanote Line, from spring 2028, allowing passengers using Mobile Suica to pass through without taking their smartphones out of their pockets or bags.

Japan Unveils Guidelines for Children's Internet Use

Japan's Children and Families Agency unveiled its first national guidelines on November 10th for parental involvement in children's internet use, dividing those aged 0 to 18 into six developmental stages as the government considers tighter regulations on social media platforms to protect young people from online bullying, exploitation, and other growing risks.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Osaka Gang Membership Falls From 10,000 to 1,000

An anti-organized crime convention was held in Osaka City, bringing together police, government officials, and business representatives to reaffirm their commitment to eliminating organized crime groups, as authorities warned that shrinking yakuza organizations are increasingly cooperating with loosely organized criminal networks involved in fraud and robbery.

Two Kabukicho Bars Raided Over Tourist Scam

Tokyo police have raided two establishments in Shinjuku's Kabukicho entertainment district suspected of repeatedly overcharging customers brought in by foreign street touts, with investigators believing the businesses were targeting international tourists visiting Japan.

Woman Admits Forcing Housemate to Sew Lips Shut

A 50-year-old woman accused of forcing her housemate to sew her own lips shut with a needle and thread admitted all charges at her first court hearing on November 11th, as prosecutors played disturbing audio recordings of the threats used to coerce the victim during an incident in Koga, Ibaraki Prefecture, in June 2026.

13 Men Sucked Into 26-Year-Old Woman's Romance Scam

A 26-year-old woman from Nagoya has been arrested on suspicion of defrauding men by encouraging them to develop romantic feelings for her before repeatedly requesting money, with 13 men reporting losses totaling approximately 30 million yen in a scheme resembling the notorious "Itadaki Joshi" romance fraud case.

Rare Coca-Cola Bench Stolen From Chiba Shop

A rare red Coca-Cola bench was stolen from outside a prepared-food shop in Nagareyama, Chiba Prefecture, in the early hours of October 24th, with the owner suspecting the thieves intended to resell the collectible item to enthusiasts after similar benches were found listed online for as much as 180,000 yen.

Emperor Presents Grand Cordon to Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda

Emperor Naruhito presented prestigious Grand Cordon decorations to Toyota Motor Chairman Akio Toyoda and other recipients of Japan's autumn honors at a ceremony held at the Imperial Palace on November 10th, recognizing their longstanding contributions to the country and society.

Yakuza Arrested for Eighth Time Over Cambodia Scam

A 26-year-old yakuza member suspected of sending young women he met in Tokyo's Kabukicho entertainment district to Cambodia to work as telephone scammers has been arrested for the eighth time, this time on suspicion of conspiring with two women to defraud a man in his 30s of 9.5 million yen.

Chinese National Arrested Over Fake Mobile Base Station in Tokyo

A 31-year-old Chinese national has been arrested in Tokyo on suspicion of operating an illegal mobile phone base station that forced more than 10,000 smartphones onto a 2G network in less than two hours, allowing phishing messages to be sent to unsuspecting users in busy shopping districts including Ginza, Shinjuku and Shibuya.

< 2 3 4 5 >