"Women Prohibited"… Controversy Over 'No-Women Zone' Set for Tokyo Olympic Torch Relay

200m Section Traveled by Boat
All Passengers Are Male

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] A controversy over gender equality has arisen as some sections of the Tokyo Olympic torch relay route have been designated as women-prohibited courses.

According to a report by Japan's Mainichi on the 2nd, the torch relay will take place in Ehime Prefecture starting from the 6th, but the section at Handashi Handa Canal is limited to men only.

On the approximately 200-meter section of the Handa Canal, runners are scheduled to carry the torch on a boat used during the local traditional festival "Jintoro Matsuri," which has been held since the Edo period (1603?1867), and only men are allowed to pass through this section.

An official in charge of the festival stated that all police officers and journalists boarding the boat during this torch relay are men.

The fact that the boat has traditionally only allowed men to board influenced this decision.

The Handashi official said, "There may be parts that do not align with the Olympic spirit, but that is the nature of the festival."

An official from the Aichi Prefecture Executive Committee said, "We respected the city's opinion that they wanted to showcase the local charm," adding, "Since it is a tradition like sumo, we approved it as it was not considered a big problem."

Experts pointed out that this might indicate a lack of understanding of the Olympic Charter on gender equality, according to the Mainichi newspaper.

Professor Ryota Kyoko of Chukyo University stated, "The fact that no one questioned this decision itself shows a lack of perspective on gender."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.