Naruhito
Dancers perform during the closing ceremony for the 2020 Paralympics at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Sunday, Sept. 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Paralympic closing marks end of Tokyo's 8-year Olympic saga

By Stephen Wade Sep. 05, 2021 08:31 AM EDT

Dancers perform during the opening ceremony for the 2020 Paralympics at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Paralympics open in empty stadium — just like Olympics

By Stephen Wade Aug. 24, 2021 07:54 AM EDT

FILE - In this July 23, 2021, file photo, anti-Olympic protesters demonstrate near the National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan where the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics is taking place. A lot of Japanese were reluctant or opposed to holding the Olympics during a worsening pandemic. A series of resignations of Olympic-linked officials over sexism, past bullying and Holocaust jokes also hurt the Games' image ahead of the July 23 opening. There were protests on Tokyo streets and on social media. (AP Photo/Kantaro Komiya, File)
Tokyo's Olympic fears give way to acceptance, to a point

By Mari Yamaguchi Aug. 11, 2021 09:16 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 10, 1964, file photo, vapor trails from Japanese Self-Defense Force jets form the Olympic emblem of the five rings above the National Stadium in Tokyo for the official opening of the XVIII Olympiad, first even held in Asia. Every Japanese of a certain age has memories of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Even younger Japanese have connections through parents or aunts and uncles who saved old photos, faded certificates, or recall getting a television for the first time to watch the Games. (AP Photo, File)
From the Emperor on down: Memories of the '64 Tokyo Olympics

By Stephen Wade Jul. 29, 2021 03:34 AM EDT

Japan's Emperor Naruhito declares the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics open

Jul. 23, 2021 10:15 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Japan's Emperor Naruhito declares the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics open. ...

Cecilia Carranza Saroli and Santiago Raul Lange, of Argentina, right, carry their country's flag during the opening ceremony in the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 23, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Tokyo Olympics begin with muted ceremony and empty stadium

By Foster Klug Jul. 23, 2021 02:17 AM EDT

Naomi Osaka carries the Olympic Torch during the opening ceremony in the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 23, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Hannah McKay/Pool Photo via AP)
The Latest: Osaka lights cauldron at Tokyo opening ceremony

Jul. 22, 2021 09:51 PM EDT

U.S. first lady Jill Biden waves upon arrival at Yokota U.S. Air Force Base, outskirts of Tokyo, Thursday, July 22, 2021. Biden represented the U.S. government at the Tokyo Olympics, to attend the opening ceremony of the Games on Friday, July 23. (Kyodo News via AP)
Tokyo new virus cases near 2,000 a day before Olympics open

By Mari Yamaguchi Jul. 22, 2021 06:27 AM EDT

FILE - In this Friday, Aug. 12, 2016 file photo, France's Teddy Riner, left, competes against Japan's Hisayoshi Harasawa for the gold medal during the men's over 100-kg judo competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Judo is coming home at the Tokyo Olympics, and the Japanese team is under a world of pressure. All of Japan’s stars will be tested, and not all are gold medal favorites. The rest of the world has dynamic champions, and the biggest is 6-foot-8 French heavyweight Teddy Riner, who won two Olympic gold medals and went undefeated in 154 consecutive matches for a full decade from 2010 to 2020 until he lost twice last year. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)
The Latest: 3rd Czech athlete tests positive in Tokyo

Jul. 21, 2021 09:45 PM EDT

First lady of the U.S. Jill Biden poses for a photo with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and his wife Mariko in Tokyo, Thursday, July 22, 2021. Biden embarked on her first solo international trip as first lady, leading a U.S. delegation to the Olympic Games in Tokyo, where the coronavirus is surging and COVID-19 infections have climbed to a six-month high. (Kyodo News via AP)
Jill Biden in Tokyo for Olympic Games, meets prime minister

By Mark Thiessen And Darlene Superville Jul. 21, 2021 08:44 AM EDT

FILE - In this March 13, 2015 file photo, Toyota President and CEO Akio Toyoda, left, and IOC President Thomas Bach pose with a signed document during a press conference in Tokyo as Toyota signed on as a worldwide Olympic sponsor in a landmark deal, becoming the first car company to join the IOC's top-tier marketing program. Toyota won't be airing any Olympic-themed advertisements on Japanese TV during the Tokyo Games despite being one of the IOC's top corporate sponsors. The unusual decision by the country's top automaker underlines how polarizing the Games have become in Japan as COVID-19 infections rise ahead of the July 23, 2021, opening ceremony.(AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
Olympic sponsor Toyota pulls Games-related TV ads in Japan

By Yuri Kageyama Jul. 19, 2021 04:02 AM EDT

Tokyo 2020 Olympics Organizing Committee President Seiko Hashimoto leaves a news conference after a meeting with local municipalities working group hosted by the government in Tokyo Wednesday, June 23, 2021, on the day to mark one month to go until the opening of the Olympic Games. (Issei Kato/Pool Photo via AP)
Hashimoto: 'No spectators' still possible for Tokyo Olympics

By Stephen Wade Jun. 25, 2021 06:08 AM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 26, 2020, file photo, Japan's Emperor Naruhito wearing a face mask to protect against the coronavirus attends to formally open an extraordinary Diet session at the upper house of parliament in Tokyo. Naruhito appears to be “extremely worried” about the possibility the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics could trigger the spread of the coronavirus as feared by many people, head of Japanese imperial palace said Thursday, June 24, 2021 with the games coming up in one month. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File)
Palace: Japan emperor 'worried' about Olympics amid pandemic

By Mari Yamaguchi Jun. 24, 2021 08:29 AM EDT

Buddhist monks offer a prayer for victims of the 2011 massive earthquake and tsunami, at a memorial cenotaph near former high school building, background, in Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture, Japan Thursday, March 11, 2021. Thursday marks the 10th anniversary of the massive earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster that struck Japan's northeastern coast. (Yohei Nishimura/Kyodo News via AP)
Still recovering, Japan marks 10 years since tsunami hit

By Mari Yamaguchi Mar. 11, 2021 07:50 AM EST

In this photo provided on Feb. 18, 2021, by the Imperial Household Agency of Japan, Japan's Emperor Naruhito, left, and Empress Masako pose for a photo at Akasaka Palace in Tokyo on Feb. 2, 2021. Naruhito celebrated 61st birthday on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021. (The Imperial Household Agency of Japan via AP)
Japan emperor shows concern to those suffering in pandemic

By Mari Yamaguchi Feb. 22, 2021 11:03 PM EST

Students wearing face masks and maintain social distancing as a precaution against the coronavirus wait to enter the school in Bengaluru, India, Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. The southern state of Karnataka on Friday opened schools for students of grade 10 and 12 after a gap of more than nine months. India has more than 10 million cases of coronavirus, second behind the United States. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
Asia Today: Bangkok shuts schools, entertainment venues

Dec. 31, 2020 10:54 PM EST

In this photo provided by the Imperial Household Agency of Japan, Japan's Emperor Naruhito and his wife Empress Masako, speak for their New Year video message at their Akasaka Estate residence in Tokyo, on Dec. 28, 2020. (The Imperial Household Agency of Japan via AP)
Japan's emperor acknowledges virus hardship in video message

By Yuri Kageyama Dec. 31, 2020 08:27 PM EST

High school students and staff wait in line to receive the coronavirus tests at a makeshift clinic set up on a playground of a school in Sejong, South Korea, Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. South Korea's daily virus tally hovered above 500 for the second straight day, as the country's prime minister urged the public to stay home this weekend to contain a viral resurgence. (Kim Ju-hyung/Yonhap via AP)
Asia Today: South Korea cases stay above 500 for 2nd day

Nov. 26, 2020 09:17 PM EST

Scott Parker, of Parker Field Design, paints a mask wearing message from Missouri Baptist Medical Center, on the north side of their complex on Friday, Nov. 20, 2020, near St. Louis. (Robert Cohen/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)
The Latest: Emperor's New Year greeting cancelled in Japan

By The Associated Press Nov. 26, 2020 02:41 AM EST

Japanese Crown Prince Fumihito, better known as Prince Akishino, leaves the Imperial Palace after being formally declared first in line to succeed the Chrysanthemum Throne during a ceremony Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020 in Tokyo, Japan. (Carl Court/Pool Photo via AP)
Japan emperor's brother proclaimed 1st in line to throne

By Mari Yamaguchi Nov. 08, 2020 12:26 AM EST