The Tokyo Olympic torch relay entered the Tokai region on the 3rd, and while measures were taken against the new coronavirus, runners started in Nakatsugawa City, Gifu Prefecture.
The torch relay, which started in Fukushima Prefecture on the 25th of last month, will enter the Tokai region and will visit 11 cities and towns in Gifu Prefecture, which will be the fifth prefecture, for two days on the 3rd and 4th.
On the 3rd, a departure ceremony was held at Magome-juku in Nakatsugawa City, Gifu Prefecture, which retains the remnants of a post town in the Edo period, and local Kabuki was performed.
Then, the torch of Keiko Takeshita, an actor from Nagoya who has a connection with Gifu prefecture, was lit by a torch, and the relay started before 9 am.
When Mr. Takeshita started with a smile, he ran through the cobblestone roads while waving to the people along the road.
Mr. Takeshita, who finished running, said, "I'm relieved. I'm grateful to everyone in Gifu, so I ran with gratitude."
The executive committee of Gifu Prefecture has said that it is possible to interrupt the relay in the event of excessive congestion by thoroughly taking measures against infection with the new coronavirus, and will support it by live broadcasting via the Internet as much as possible. I am calling for you to do so.
The torch relay will travel around Yaotsu Town and Gujo City on the afternoon of the 3rd, arriving in Takayama City.