As summer comes to a close and our Olympians come home along with their medals, a sense of national pride ruminates in the humid streets of Tokyo. With 45 total medals, people are buzzing with talk of their favorite moments from the Paris Olympics.
From the boldness of judo to the speed of table tennis, there were many episodes where Japanese athletes excelled. JAPAN Forward revisited Yoyogi Park to capture Tokyoites' overall impression of the Summer Games and their anticipation for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Here are some of their responses:
Outstanding Athletes
The Olympics puts sportsmanship at the forefront, and this year's athletes did not disappoint.
Many Japanese athletes stood out. Yet for Michiyuki Itokawa, one athlete in particular stole his heart. "Also, [gold medalist] Haruka Kitaguchi's javelin throw was wonderful. It was truly amazing," he beamed. "I want to have a smile like that. It's incredible. I'm a fan of that kind of athleticism. It shows on her face, so much emotion. She's the pride of Japan," he beamed even more.
"The Japan men's table tennis team's final match," said Serika Otake. "I watched that match the entire time. I quite like table tennis. I've only ever played it casually, but watching it gives you a bit of a thrill. It's powerful," Otake added.
Four-Legged Olympians Noticed, Too
It was not only the human competitors that seemed to shine in the spotlight this year. As Shuna Kanauchi pointed out: "Everything was amazing, but the equestrians stood out. I wasn't expecting a Japanese person would win and I felt like it was a rush of excitement," she said, speaking of Japan’s bronze medal-winning achievement in the eventing team competition. "During the Tokyo Olympics, I heard there were incidents where horses acted up. I was wondering if they would be okay this time. But everyone behaved well."
Her comment left us wondering if perhaps the horses were also feeling the pressure in the 2021 Olympics.
"The events that really left a big impression on me were climbing, fencing, and skateboarding," Saaya Nakamura explains. "Skateboarding was such a rush because leading up to the move can be so thrilling and then when they land it, the tension is released. It was so cool," she said.
Viewing as a Community
Sports have a unique ability to unite people. And during the Olympics, even the most casual viewers find themselves captivated by the commotion. The overwhelming sense of national pride in the air was vividly mirrored in Tokyo's vibrant spirit this season.
Otake came to the park for an adorable picnic. In our interview, she recalled an episode from her summer camp.
"I was watching this year's Olympics quite casually. But there was one instance where I was in my training camp and the TV happened to be playing a final round table tennis match. My classmates started getting really riled up and it was so fun to watch it with everyone."
A Different Culture in the Opening Ceremony
Many of us enjoy the Olympics as a sports event and for its festivity. On this, Itokawa made an insightful observation about the opening ceremony.
"The opening ceremony was particularly memorable. It was different from Japan's style and, regardless of whether it was good or bad, it incorporated elements entirely different from Japanese culture." He explained what he meant further. "As a Japanese person, I felt like such a stage wouldn't be created by Japanese people," he admitted.
As the Olympics are an international event it is not only a time for national pride but also an opportunity to be exposed to other rich and diverse cultures. Itokawa further expanded on his observation of cultural differences in comments about the fencing competition.
"Fencing left a big impression on me. It was interesting to watch as when I think of France or Europe, I think of knights, but Japan had bushi (samurai warriors). When I was watching, I felt like I could experience the differences within their fighting styles," he concluded.
Anticipation for the Next Olympics
As the excitement over Paris 2024 fades, anticipation for the 2028 LA Olympics builds. People are eager to see both familiar and new faces on the Olympic podiums. With some events being added and others removed, there's a great deal of excitement surrounding both traditional and emerging sports.
Though the 2024 Olympics provided plenty of entertainment, some viewers were already looking ahead for four years. Anticipating events that weren't on the Paris Olympics agenda, as Kosuke Kimura puts it, "I am really looking forward to the next Summer Olympics. I used to play baseball and I felt it was unfortunate that they didn't have baseball this year. So I will be looking forward to watching it in the US Olympics."
He and his friend Hiyori Kimura were enjoying some cold beverages in the park. Hiyori agreed, stating, "I'm also particularly looking forward to baseball since it's exciting and very popular in Japan. And if there's volleyball, volleyball is always thrilling, I hope it'll be exciting and powerful too."
'Always Olympics' Essential Sports
Of course, some sports events are essential for Olympic viewing, as Itokawa passionately remarks. "I think track and field is always something I tune into. It's the most sensational part of the Olympics. Even this year, I stayed up late half dozing off to watch it. So, I'll definitely be looking forward to it in 2028."
Other sports such as climbing, which was introduced in the 2020 Olympics are steadily gaining their position as a staple in Olympic viewing.
As Nakamura states, "There were a handful of new categories this year, but I'm looking forward to watching climbing. It's so cool. I also want Japanese athletes to do well in both men's and women's gymnastics."
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Author: Natasha Takahashi
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