Yuriko Koike
Ginkgo trees are seen at an area known as Jingu Gaien Friday, May 12, 2023, in Tokyo. Building new sports facilities is at the heart of a disputed plan to makeover one of Tokyo most beloved park areas. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike is at the center of controversy, as she was in promoting the recent Tokyo Olympics. The redevelopment of the park area known as Jingu Gaien raises questions about who decides how public space is to be used. (AP Photo/Stephen Wade)
Dispute centered around redevelopment of historic Tokyo park, iconic stadiums

By Stephen Wade May. 17, 2023 01:23 AM EDT

The Meiji Jingu baseball stadium is seen Tuesday, April 11, 2023, in Tokyo. The historic baseball stadium in Tokyo where Babe Ruth played could be demolished, part of a disputed redevelopment plan harshly criticized by environmentalists. (AP Photo/Stephen Wade)
Tokyo plan likened to putting 'skyscrapers' in Central Park

By Stephen Wade Apr. 28, 2023 01:16 AM EDT

Antti Pihlakoski, evaluation panel chairman of the World Athletics (WA), center left, and Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, surrounded by other WA members, pose for a photo before their talk in Tokyo, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. Council member Nawal El Moutawakel, back, from left, Vice President Ximena Restrepo and Director of Competitions & Events Jakob Larsen join the photo session. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Tokyo a candidate for track and field world championships

By Stephen Wade May. 25, 2022 12:44 AM EDT

People gather near the National Stadium in Tokyo as Blue Impulse of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force practice ahead of the 2020 Summer Paralympics, Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021.(Ryosuke UematsuKyodo News via AP)
Tokyo Paralympics press ahead to allow students to attend

By Stephen Wade And Mari Yamaguchi Aug. 22, 2021 05:22 AM EDT

Andrew Parson IPC President speaks remotely 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

An office worker carries a plastic bag as people stand before a pedestrian crossing 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

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)
Japan to widen virus emergency after record spike amid Games

By Mari Yamaguchi Jul. 30, 2021 03:06 AM EDT

Runners compete in a heat of the 4 x 400-meter mixed relay at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 30, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Olympics Latest: US mixed relay team reinstated after appeal

Jul. 29, 2021 09:25 PM EDT

People wearing face masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus walk on a street 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

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

FILE - In this July 8, 2021, file photo, Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga speaks during a news conference at his official residence in Tokyo. The Tokyo Olympics are going ahead despite opposition from many quarters inside Japan. The Japanese medical community is largely against it. (Nicolas Datiche/Pool Photo via AP, File)
Olympics, pandemic and politics: There's no separating them

By Stephen Wade Jul. 21, 2021 04:37 AM EDT

ADDS RESTRICTION: ONE TIME USE ONLY, EDITORIAL USE ONLY - IOC President Thomas Bach, right, meets with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, second from left, during a welcome party for Bach and IOC officials at Akasaka Palace, Japanese state guest house, in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, July 18, 2021.(Courtesy of Tokyo 2020 via AP)
Under-fire Olympic composer steps down over past bullying

By Yuri Kageyama And Mari Yamaguchi Jul. 19, 2021 07:39 AM EDT

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach offers flowers to Hiroshima Memorial Cenotaph during his visit Friday, July 16, 2021, in Hiroshima, western Japan. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool)
IOC's Bach gets mixed reaction in one-day visit to Hiroshima

By Haruka Nuga And Mari Yamaguchi Jul. 16, 2021 02:33 AM EDT

People wearing face masks walk across an intersection in Tokyo on Thursday, July 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Cases surge to 6-month high in Tokyo a week before Olympics

By Mari Yamaguchi Jul. 15, 2021 06:07 AM EDT

A police officer stands at empty race track after the unveiling ceremony for Olympic Flame of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic torch relay at Komazawa Olympic Park, which was initially built for the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games, Friday, July 9, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Holding Tokyo Olympics in pandemic shreds consensus in Japan

By Stephen Wade Jul. 09, 2021 11:32 AM EDT

Tokyo 2020 president Seiko Hashimoto looks on after the five-party meeting in Tokyo, Thursday, July 8, 2021. (Behrouz Mehri/Pool Photo via AP)
Japan bans fans at Tokyo-area Olympics venues due to virus

By Mari Yamaguchi And Stephen Wade Jul. 08, 2021 02:11 AM EDT

In this May 11, 2021, file photo, athletes compete in the men's 400-meter T20 race during an athletics test event for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Games at National Stadium in Tokyo. The pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics are shaping up as a TV-only event with few fans — if any — being allowed when they open in just over two weeks. Japan's Asahi newspaper, citing multiple unidentified government sources, says the opening ceremony will be limited only to VIP guests. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama, File)
Olympics likely to open during COVID 'state of emergency'

By Mari Yamaguchi And Stephen Wade Jul. 07, 2021 09:19 AM EDT

In this July 1, 2021, file photo, men cycle along the wall installed to close off a park being prepared for the Olympics and Paralympics Games in Tokyo. The pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics are shaping up as a TV-only event with few fans — if any — being allowed when they open in just over two weeks. Japan's Asahi newspaper, citing multiple unidentified government sources, says the opening ceremony will be limited only to VIP guests. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, File)
Tokyo Olympics shaping up as TV-only event with few fans

By Stephen Wade And Kantaro Komiya Jul. 06, 2021 01:44 AM EDT