Holding Tokyo Olympics in pandemic shreds consensus in Japan

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)

Deputy Executive Director, Marketing & Senior Director of Ticketing of Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee Suzuki Hidenori, left, and Spokesperson of Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee Masa Takaya attend a press conference regarding Olympic and Paralympic Games tickets, Friday, July 9, 2021, in Tokyo. Tokyo Olympic organizers stated yesterday that spectators would be barred from most events at the Games after a new state of emergency was announced in response to a surge in coronavirus cases. The state of emergency will run throughout the Olympic Games and remain in place until August 22. (Yuichi Yamazaki/Pool Photo via AP)

One of people against Olympic Games protests near Komazawa Olympic Park, where the unveiling ceremony for Olympic Flame of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic torch relay is held Friday, July 9, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

A man wearing a face mask walks past the countdown clock for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games near the Shimbashi station, Friday, July 9, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Police officers stand guard at empty seats of the grandstand during the unveiling ceremony for Olympic Flame of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic torch relay at Komazawa Olympic Park, Friday, July 9, 2021, in Tokyo. Komazawa Olympic Park, where the flame unveiling ceremony took place, was used as one of the venues during the previous Tokyo Olympics held in 1964.(AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

This aerial photo shows the National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan Monday, June 21, 2021. Fans will be banned from Tokyo-area stadiums and arenas when the Olympics begin in two weeks, the city’s governor said Thursday after meeting with organizers of the pandemic-postponed games.(Kyodo News via AP)