The Tokyo Olympic torch relay started in Fukushima Prefecture on the morning of the 25th.
The Tokyo Olympics, whose philosophy is the "Reconstruction Olympics."
After the Great East Japan Earthquake, the torch relay started J-Village, which became a base for work toward the convergence of the nuclear accident and decommissioning.
It was also relayed in areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and the nuclear accident, such as Tomioka Town, which has a "difficult-to-return area" where access is still severely restricted.
Approximately 10,000 runners will participate in the Tokyo Olympic Torch Relay, which will tour 47 prefectures from the 25th to the 121st.
The departure ceremony was held from 9 am on the 25th at "J Village" in Fukushima Prefecture, which was located in the area affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and the nuclear accident and was once the base for work toward the settlement of the accident and decommissioning.
The government has positioned this Olympics as a "reconstruction Olympics," but Prime Minister Suga was absent because he "comprehensively considered the schedule of the Diet."
After the torch with a cherry blossom motif was lit at the ceremony, 16 members of the Japan national team "Nadeshiko Japan" who won the 2011 Soccer Women's World Cup, led by Azusa Iwashimizu, who has a torch. I started running as the first torchbearer and the torch relay started.
The holy fire was taken over from "Nadeshiko Japan" by Asato Owada, a first-year and second runner at Futaba Mirai Gakuen High School, which develops human resources to support recovery from the earthquake and the nuclear accident. Areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and the nuclear accident, such as Tomioka Town and Katsurao Village, which have restricted "difficult-to-return areas," were also relayed.
On the 25th of the first day, about 100 runners will run in 10 municipalities in Fukushima prefecture.
One year after the first postponement in history, the infection with the new coronavirus has not subsided, and there are voices questioning the holding of the tournament, so it is important to be able to safely hold events around the country for about four months. It is an issue.
Start from "J Village"
J Village, which straddles Naraha Town and Hirono Town in Fukushima Prefecture, was established in 1997 as Japan's first national training center for soccer, and was popular with many fans as a "sacred place for soccer". Since it is about 20 km from the Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, it became a base for work toward the settlement of the nuclear accident and decommissioning after the Great East Japan Earthquake 10 years ago.
Iron plates were laid on the turf pitch to serve as workers' offices, lodgings, and material storage areas. Immediately after the accident, many workers headed from J-Village to the first nuclear power plant every day for convergence work.
After decontamination work and restoration work of the facility, we resumed operations in July 2018, seven years and four months after the nuclear accident, and regained our original role.
“Thoughts for reconstruction”
Prior to the ceremony, J-Village, which was the venue for the departure ceremony, thanked Fukushima Prefecture for its support from home and abroad, which has been 10 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake and the nuclear accident. The local traditional culture was shown in an attempt to disseminate it.
In addition, colorful flowers such as cherry blossoms and peaches produced in the disaster areas of Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima were displayed on the stage to express gratitude for the reconstruction assistance from around the world.
Before the torch departed, elementary and junior high school students in Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture, sang "Hana wa Saku" with a desire for reconstruction.
Mikio Date, one of the comedians "Sandwichman" who is the official ambassador of the torch relay, said, "The disaster area in Tohoku will also be visited by the torch relay. There are actually some places that we cannot do. I would like you to take a look at those places honestly. With gratitude to people all over the world, we would like to run in the disaster area. "
The torch starts after 9:40 am.
Governor Uchibori of Fukushima Prefecture said, "I am happy to see that Nadeshiko Japan will start from J-Village, which is a symbol of reconstruction, 10 years after the earthquake and the nuclear accident. Fukushima Prefecture is still in the process of reconstruction, and it will take a long time. I would like to put a message on the Holy Fire that we will do our best together to overcome the difficulties toward reconstruction, and then connect to it. I said.
Governor Koike of Tokyo, who attended the departure ceremony of the torch relay, told reporters at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, "In the form of completely taking measures against corona, basically only the people concerned were unattended, but at various events in Fukushima it was very difficult. I hope that everyone will be aware of the "Reconstruction Olympics and Paralympics" once again as the light of hope runs around Fukushima and the disaster-stricken areas. "
In Naraha Town
After the grand start, a torchbearer ran on Route 6 running north and south through the center of Naraha Town, Fukushima Prefecture.
Naraha Town was instructed to evacuate almost the entire area due to the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station of Tokyo Electric Power Company 10 years ago, and the rural scenery spreading along the route of the Holy Fire Relay is temporarily a decontamination waste called a flexible container bag. It has been transformed into a temporary storage place for black bags filled with.
After the evacuation order was lifted six years ago, new commercial facilities and public housing were built, and it is now a place of relaxation for residents who have returned to the town.
On the 25th, many residents came out along the road while taking measures against infection, applauding and watching the torch relay.
A woman in her thirties, who returned to her home in the town about half a year ago with her family, said, "I had a hard time evacuating, but I'm glad I could see the torch relay locally."
A mother in her 60s said, "At first, I didn't think I could go back to life in town. Now, I'd be happy if it was widely communicated that we were able to help each other and live well."
In Hirono Town
In Hirono Town, Fukushima Prefecture, the prefectural middle and high school integrated school "Futaba Mirai Gakuen", which was created with the aim of developing human resources who will be responsible for recovery from the earthquake and the nuclear accident, became the starting point for the Holy Fire Relay.
Local residents and elementary school students gathered along the road, and town officials and police officers wore masks and called on them to line up at intervals.
Then, at 11:16 am, the departure time, runners started running from the grounds of the school building, and the gathered people waved the flag and saw off.
A 38-year-old father who visited from the town with three parents said, "I think the mood of the Olympic Games has dropped due to the corona disaster. The nuclear accident has not been resolved even after 10 years, and many people are still evacuating. I want people in Japan and overseas to understand the current situation correctly. I want them to know that there are not only bright stories but also dark areas. "
Yumiko Nishimoto (67), who ran in her hometown of Hirono, has been planting cherry trees with her children in the disaster area after the Great East Japan Earthquake and the nuclear accident.
Mr. Nishimoto, who finished the torch relay, said, "The cherry blossoms were blooming in the air as if we were pleased with our running. Even 10 years after the earthquake, the reconstruction is still in the middle of the road, but the children are looking forward to it. I was impressed that the torch relay that I had been doing was completed and I finally made one wish. "
In Iwaki City
In front of JR Iwaki Station in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture, which became the course of the torch relay, many people gathered along the road about an hour before the runners passed.
The people who gathered wore masks, but there were places where it was too crowded to keep a distance from the neighbors, and police officers and torch relay staff said, "Do not yell or jump, and follow the rules. Please protect and support us. "
A woman in her 70s who lives in the city said, "I had a business nearby and I wanted to see it because it was the right time. I think there are pros and cons to the Olympics, but the tournament was held and I was fine. I would be happy if you could get it. "
In addition, a man in his 40s who lives in the city said, "I wanted to convey the reconstruction of Fukushima to the whole country, so I supported the runners. Although there were many people, everyone was following the rules, so the crowd was not so worrisome. It was. "
Shizu-chan (42) of the comedy combination Nankai Candy's who appeared in the movie "Hula Girl" released in 2006 set in a hot spring resort facility in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture, ran in Iwaki City with a holy fire.
Shizuka said, "I ran because there was no problem with the schedule. Thank you for running in Iwaki City. There are many dark stories due to the corona terrible, and it is fun while everyone is living with pain. I ran with the hope that I could tell you that. If there is anything I can do to help, I would like you to call Iwaki City again. "
"Sakura-colored Harisen" in Tomioka Town
In Tomioka Town, where there is a famous cherry blossom spot "Yonomori District" that represents Hamadori in Fukushima Prefecture, banners and cherry-colored Harisen devised by the staff of the government office were distributed to liven up the torch relay, and the residents along the road cheered. Instead of sending it, I struck it with my hand to support it.
In Tomioka Town, the starting point of the torch relay is in front of JR Tomioka Station, and at 1:27 pm, the departure time was a banner with the cherry blossoms in full bloom in the "Night Forest".
Akiyuki Shimada, a first-year junior high school student, started running while many residents watched, and his grandmother, Seiko (75), cheered with Harisen and a handmade fan.
In Tomioka Town, we tried to express our gratitude for the reconstruction support through the torch relay and set up a board at the goal point to appeal to see the cherry blossoms in the "Night Forest", but depending on the town, the Games Organizing Committee Therefore, it was regarded as a "promotional activity carried out by piggybacking", and it was stopped.
On the other hand, the residents were cheering by shaking and tapping the Harisen because they were allowed to use the Harisen and banners by hand on the condition that they were limited to the roadside.
A 59-year-old man evacuating from Okuma Town to Iwaki City put up a banner to convey a message of gratitude to the people of the world. Thanks to a lot of support from us. I don't feel like the Olympics itself, but I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude. "