Prospects for 30 Foreign Heads of State Visiting Japan for Tokyo Olympics

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] It is expected that the number of foreign heads of state visiting Japan during the Tokyo Olympics, which opens on the 23rd, will be around 30.

According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) on the 17th, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs anticipates that about 30 heads of state will visit Japan in line with the Tokyo Olympics, including those coming as representatives of their leaders.

The only confirmed head of state to visit Japan is French President Emmanuel Macron, ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

From the United States, it has been decided that First Lady Jill Biden will visit Japan on behalf of President Joe Biden. Discussions between the two countries are ongoing regarding President Moon Jae-in's attendance at the opening ceremony.

The number of foreign heads of state expected to visit Japan during the Tokyo Olympics is modest compared to about 80 attendees at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Games or the 2012 London Games.

In particular, it falls short of the approximately 40 heads of state who attended the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games in Brazil, which faced political instability and concerns over Zika virus infection.

The Japanese government had prepared for visits from heads of state from over 100 countries and regions until early last year, before the Tokyo Games were postponed by one year due to the impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga plans to hold talks with visiting dignitaries from various countries at the Akasaka State Guest House in Tokyo for three days starting from the 22nd, the day before the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony.

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