What the Japanese Think of the Olympics

<p>After last year’s postponement, both the International Olympic Committee and the Japanese government are determined that the Tokyo Games will take place this summer.</p><p>But the public in Japan appears unconvinced: About 85 percent of people say they fear that the Olympics will cause a rebound of the virus in the country.</p><p>Will the sense of discontent fade as the Games begin?</p><p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/motoko-rich?smid=pc-thedaily">Motoko Rich</a>, the Tokyo bureau chief for The New York Times.</p><p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily">Sign up here</a> to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline">subscribe to our newsletter</a>. </p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/21/sports/olympics/tokyo-olympics-happening-why.html">Why haven’t the Tokyo Games been canceled</a>? The answer lies in billions of dollars, years of work and thousands of athletes who can’t wait any longer.</li><li>Japan’s latest outbreak is receding and vaccinations are slowly picking up, but health experts warn that<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/17/world/asia/tokyo-olympics-state-of-emergency.html"> the government must remain vigilant</a>.</li></ul><p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily">nytimes.com/thedaily</a></p><p>Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.</p>