The Tokyo Olympic torch relay started in Kochi Prefecture on the 19th, and started in Kochi City on the morning of the 19th.
Before the start of the relay, a departure ceremony was held in front of the statue of Ryoma Sakamoto at the tourist attraction "Katsurahama Park" in Kochi City after 7:30 am.
At the ceremony, a sixth grader at the local Urado Elementary School said, "Like the torch is connected, people's hopes for peace will be united, and the Tokyo Olympics will be the hopes of people suffering from corona and disasters around the world. I will do my best to support you. "
Then, the torch of Wakako Shimazaki, a talent from Kochi prefecture who was the first runner, was lit by a torch, and the relay started at 7:47 am.
Mr. Shimazaki, who finished running, said, "The torch has arrived in Kochi, and I'm really excited that the Olympics are about to begin. I want to get excited from Kochi prefecture."
After that, in Ino, a carp streamer swimming in the Niyodo River greeted the torch.
In Ino Town, which is known as a paper producing area, we hold an event every year to swim the Niyodo River during the Golden Week holidays with carp streamers made of special paper that does not tear even when wet.
A relay was held in which the torchbearer boarded the ship from the temporary "pier" on the riverbank and went around the river where carp streamers swim while riding.
From the afternoon, we will travel around the western part of the prefecture and reach the goal of the first day in Sukumo City.