Yuriko Koike
Antti Pihlakoski, evaluation panel chairman of the World Athletics (WA), center left, and Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, surrounded by other WA members, pose for a photo before their talk in Tokyo, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. Council member Nawal El Moutawakel, back, from left, Vice President Ximena Restrepo and Director of Competitions & Events Jakob Larsen join the photo session. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Tokyo a candidate for track and field world championships

By Stephen Wade May. 25, 2022 12:44 AM EDT

Matt Stutzman, center, of the U.S. answers media questions at a news conference ahead of the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021. (Josh Toth for OIS via AP)
Tokyo Paralympics press ahead to allow students to attend

By Stephen Wade And Mari Yamaguchi Aug. 22, 2021 05:22 AM EDT

Seiko Hashimoto President of Tokyo 2020 speaks during a four-party meeting in Tokyo, Monday, Aug. 16, 2021. All fans will be barred from the Paralympics during the pandemic, just as they were from the recently-completed Tokyo Olympics, organizers said Monday. (Rodrigo Reyes Marin/Pool Photo via AP)
Paralympics follow lead of Olympics: No fans during pandemic

By Stephen Wade Aug. 16, 2021 07:23 AM EDT

A woman wearing a face mask to help protect against the spread of the coronavirus walks under the scorching sun Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan leader's medical adviser urges tougher virus measures

By Mari Yamaguchi Aug. 12, 2021 08:09 AM EDT

People wearing face masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus walk across a shopping alley near Ueno Station in Tokyo Friday, July 30, 2021. Japan is set to expand the coronavirus state of emergency in Tokyo to neighboring areas and the western city of Osaka on Friday in the wake of a record-breaking surge in infections while the capital hosts the Olympics. (AP Photo/Kantaro Komiya)
EXPLAINER: Detailing Japan's new COVID state of emergency

By Yuri Kageyama Jul. 30, 2021 03:25 AM EDT

Michael Andrew, of United States, comes off the pool after swimming in the men's 200-meter individual medley final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 30, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Olympics Latest: US mixed relay team reinstated after appeal

Jul. 29, 2021 09:18 PM EDT

People wearing face masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus walk past extra papers reporting on Japanese gold medalists at Tokyo Olympics, in Tokyo Tuesday, July 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
Tokyo reports record virus cases days after Olympics begin

By Mari Yamaguchi Jul. 27, 2021 08:29 AM EDT

FILE - In this July 13, 2021, file photo, a delivery man pushes a cart full of packages as he passes by a business with Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics posters displayed on the windows in Tokyo. How are we to judge the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics when they wrap up in two weeks? It's a straightforward question but it's difficult to answer. That's because there are many interests involved. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
Tokyo Olympics: A success? A failure? And how to judge?

By Stephen Wade Jul. 26, 2021 02:00 PM EDT

This undated photo released by Tokyo 2020 shows Kentaro Kobayashi, a key director of Tokyo Olympics’ opening ceremony. The Tokyo Olympic organizing committee dismissed the director of the opening ceremony on Thursday, July 22, 2021 because of a Holocaust joke he made during a comedy show in 1998. (©Tokyo 2020 via AP)
Olympic opening ceremony director fired for Holocaust joke

By Mari Yamaguchi Jul. 21, 2021 11:18 PM EDT

FILE - In this June 17, 2021, file photo, President of the Japan Community Health Care Organization Shigeru Omi attends a joint news conference with Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Japan's response to the coronavirus outbreak at Suga's official residence in Tokyo. The Tokyo Olympics are going ahead despite opposition from many quarters inside Japan. The Japanese medical community is largely against it. Omi has said it’s “abnormal” to hold the Olympics during a pandemic. (Issei Kato/Pool Photo via AP)
Olympics, pandemic and politics: There's no separating them

By Stephen Wade Jul. 21, 2021 04:37 AM EDT

ADDS RESTRICTION: ONE TIME USE ONLY, EDITORIAL USE ONLY - IOC President Thomas Bach, right, meets with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, second from left, during a welcome party for Bach and IOC officials at Akasaka Palace, Japanese state guest house, in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, July 18, 2021.(Courtesy of Tokyo 2020 via AP)
Under-fire Olympic composer steps down over past bullying

By Yuri Kageyama And Mari Yamaguchi Jul. 19, 2021 07:39 AM EDT

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach offers flowers to Hiroshima Memorial Cenotaph during his visit Friday, July 16, 2021, in Hiroshima, western Japan. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool)
IOC's Bach gets mixed reaction in one-day visit to Hiroshima

By Haruka Nuga And Mari Yamaguchi Jul. 16, 2021 02:33 AM EDT

A man and a woman wearing face masks visit the rooftop park of a commercial building across from Tokyo Station, right, in Tokyo on Thursday, July 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Cases surge to 6-month high in Tokyo a week before Olympics

By Mari Yamaguchi Jul. 15, 2021 06:07 AM EDT

Deputy Executive Director, Marketing & Senior Director of Ticketing of Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee Suzuki Hidenori, left, and Spokesperson of Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee Masa Takaya attend a press conference regarding Olympic and Paralympic Games tickets, Friday, July 9, 2021, in Tokyo. Tokyo Olympic organizers stated yesterday that spectators would be barred from most events at the Games after a new state of emergency was announced in response to a surge in coronavirus cases. The state of emergency will run throughout the Olympic Games and remain in place until August 22. (Yuichi Yamazaki/Pool Photo via AP)
Holding Tokyo Olympics in pandemic shreds consensus in Japan

By Stephen Wade Jul. 09, 2021 11:32 AM EDT

Tokyo 2020 president Seiko Hashimoto looks on after the five-party meeting in Tokyo, Thursday, July 8, 2021. (Behrouz Mehri/Pool Photo via AP)
Japan bans fans at Tokyo-area Olympics venues due to virus

By Mari Yamaguchi And Stephen Wade Jul. 08, 2021 02:11 AM EDT

People ride escalators with banners to promote the Tokyo Olympics scheduled to open on July 23, in Tokyo, Tuesday, July 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
Olympics likely to open during COVID 'state of emergency'

By Mari Yamaguchi And Stephen Wade Jul. 07, 2021 09:19 AM EDT

In this July 7, 2021, file photo, people wearing face masks ride an escalator with banners to promote the Tokyo Olympics scheduled to open on July 23, in Tokyo. The pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics are shaping up as a TV-only event with few fans — if any — being allowed when they open in just over two weeks. Japan's Asahi newspaper, citing multiple unidentified government sources, says the opening ceremony will be limited only to VIP guests. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File)
Tokyo Olympics shaping up as TV-only event with few fans

By Stephen Wade And Kantaro Komiya Jul. 06, 2021 01:44 AM EDT

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike shows up to support a candidate from her Tomin First party on the Tokyo metropolitan assembly election day in Tokyo on Sunday, July 4, 2021. Voters in Japan's capital are electing the Tokyo city assembly amid worries about health risks during the Olympics, opening in three weeks, as coronavirus cases continue to rise. (Kyodo News via AP)
Tokyo assembly split after vote amid pandemic Olympics fears

By Yuri Kageyama Jul. 03, 2021 10:55 PM EDT

Banners are hung at Main Press Center (MPC) for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Big Site Friday, July 2, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
Some fans. No fans. Tokyo undecided as games open in 3 weeks

By Kantaro Komiya And Stephen Wade Jul. 02, 2021 06:00 AM EDT

FILE - In this file photo dated Thursday June 24, 2021, European Council President Charles Michel, left, greets Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel during an EU summit at the European Council building in Brussels. The government of Luxembourg said Monday June 28, 2021, that Prime Minister Xavier Bettel has tested positive for COVID-19 and is in isolation for 10 days. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys, FILE)
The Latest: Hong Kong to ban flights from UK to curb virus

By The Associated Press Jun. 28, 2021 06:35 AM EDT