Yoshihide Suga
FILE - Japanese then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, center, and former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, right, with other delegates, celebrate after Tokyo was awarded the 2020 Summer Olympic Games, in Buenos Aires, Argentine on Sept. 7, 2013. Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the country’s central figure in landing the 2020 Olympics for Tokyo. Abe died after being shot while campaigning in western Japan on July 8, 2022.. (Kyodo News via AP, File)
Abe impersonated 'Super Mario' to promote Tokyo Olympics

By Stephen Wade Jul. 09, 2022 01:07 AM EDT

Suga Yoshihide, Prime Minister of Japan, remotely addresses the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly in a pre-recorded message, Friday Sept. 24, 2021, at UN headquarters. (Peter Foley/Pool Photo via AP)
Japan's leader says Olympics were 'symbol of global unity'

By Jennifer Peltz Sep. 24, 2021 04:08 PM EDT

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

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

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

Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga delivers a speech during a ceremony at Nagasaki Peace Park in Nagasaki, southern Japan Monday, Aug. 9, 2021. The Japanese city of Nagasaki on Monday marked its 76th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing. (Kyodo News via AP)
Japan's PM thanks people for safe Olympics during pandemic

By Mari Yamaguchi Aug. 09, 2021 03:49 AM EDT

Volunteers wearing face masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus hold a social distancing sign as they gather in-line to watch the final round of the men's golf event at the 2020 Summer Olympics on Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Kawagoe, Japan. Japan is playing host to the Tokyo Olympics. But the capital, as well as other populous areas, are in the middle of a government-declared "state of emergency" to curb surging COVID-19 infections. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
EXPLAINER: What Olympic host Japan’s COVID ‘emergency’ means

By Yuri Kageyama Aug. 05, 2021 12:18 AM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 2, 2021, file photo, a visitor receives a shot of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at the Tokyo Vaccination Center at Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo. In a new government policy that was debated in parliament on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, coronavirus patients with moderate symptoms will isolate at home instead of in hospitals, as new cases surge in Tokyo to record levels during the Olympic Games. (Stanislav Kogiku/Pool Photo via AP)
Japan to limit hospital care as COVID-19 cases hit new high

By Mari Yamaguchi Aug. 04, 2021 05:51 AM EDT

Japanese Coast Guard boats dock in Tokyo Bay outside of the Olympic athletes' village ahead of the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 19, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Outdoor drinking party in athletes village is investigated

By Graham Dunbar Aug. 01, 2021 05:49 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

FILE - In this July 24, 2021, file photo, worker disinfects the seats before judo matches at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
Only Tokyo could pull off these Games? Not everyone agrees

By Foster Klug Jul. 25, 2021 02:29 PM EDT

Funa Tonaki of Japan, left, and Distria Krasniqi of Kosovo compete during their women's -48kg championship judo match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
Olympics Latest: US men get off to fast start in volleyball

Jul. 23, 2021 08:11 PM EDT

FILE - In this July 12, 2021, file commuters wearing face masks walk in a passageway during a rush hour at Shinagawa Station in Tokyo. Tokyo recorded 1,979 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, hitting a new six-month high one day before the Olympics are to begin amid growing worry about the worsening infections during the games. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
In venue fit for head of state, Japan PM seeks Pfizer doses

By Mari Yamaguchi Jul. 23, 2021 02:20 AM EDT

FILE - In this July 17, 2021, file photo, banners with the words "I still have the support of 50 million Korean people," are removed from balconies at the the Olympic athletes' village in Tokyo. South Korea removed the banners that the IOC ruled to be provocative, Seoul said it received an IOC promise that the displaying of the “rising sun” flag would also be banned at stadiums and other Olympic venues. (Jin Sung-chul/Yonhap via AP, File)
EXPLAINER: Why Japan 'rising sun' flag provokes Olympic ire

By Hyung-Jin Kim And Mari Yamaguchi Jul. 22, 2021 08:42 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

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