Japanese Doctors Say, "Tokyo Olympics Must Be Canceled"

On the 9th, Japanese citizens opposing the Tokyo Olympics held a protest around the National Stadium in Shinjuku, Tokyo, where the Olympic athletics test event took place, holding signs. [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Amid public opposition to the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics in Japan reaching 83% due to the spread of COVID-19, voices from the Japanese medical community calling for the cancellation of the Olympics are also increasing.

Naoto Ueyama, chairman of the Japan National Doctors' Union, held a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan (FCCJ) on the 27th and argued that the Tokyo Olympics should not be held this summer.

Chairman Ueyama stated that if the Tokyo Olympics proceed as scheduled, "the possibility of a completely new variant virus emerging cannot be denied," and if such a situation occurs, "the Tokyo Olympics will be criticized as the most foolish event that gave birth to the 'Tokyo Olympic variant virus.'" He strongly criticized this.

He also emphasized the current COVID-19 response situation in Japan, pointing out that Japan ranks at the bottom among major countries in vaccination rates and is 35th out of 36 OECD countries in PCR testing performance, stating, "Holding the Olympics in such a country is very irresponsible to the athletes and poses a great threat to the Japanese people."

Chairman Ueyama also stressed that despite many Japanese citizens not wanting the Olympics to be held, a significant number of Japanese people feel anger over statements by International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials such as 'sacrifices are necessary to realize the Olympics.'

The Japan National Doctors' Union also urged Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to make a decision to cancel the Tokyo Olympics during a press conference on the 13th.

Meanwhile, Kenji Shibuya, director of the Fukushima Vaccination Medical Center and former senior advisor to the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), also diagnosed that Japan is currently not in a situation to hold the Olympics due to COVID-19.

In an interview with the Tokyo Shimbun on the 27th, Director Shibuya said, "COVID-19 has not been suppressed domestically in Japan, and medical services are almost at full capacity," adding, "It is difficult to respond to any further spread of infection."

Regarding the Japanese government's plan to vaccinate participating athletes and strictly restrict their movement to suppress the spread of infection, he pointed out, "Except for developed countries, vaccination is not progressing well in many countries, and some Olympic entrants are unvaccinated."

Director Shibuya further added that the Japanese government and others have not engaged in scientific and constructive discussions about what conditions must be met to hold the Olympics.