Most Japanese oppose Tokyo Games this year -poll

A majority of Japanese people are opposed to holding the Tokyo Olympic Games this year, due to concerns over the global health crisis.

That’s according to a Yomiuri daily poll released on Wednesday.

The Tokyo Games were already postponed last year and rescheduled for this July.

While 70 percent of those surveyed said they were at least “somewhat interested” in the Summer Games, Yomiuri found that 58 percent were against holding the event this year.

If the Games were to go on, over 90 percent said the crowd should be kept to a minimum or not allowed at all.

The poll was conducted between mid-January through February, when much of the country remained under a state of emergency.

A Reuters poll last month showed nearly two-thirds of Japanese companies also oppose holding the Games this year, a shift from the last survey which showed most in favor.

As for now, Greater Tokyo remains in a state of emergency, with restrictions on gathering, business hours and foreign travel into the country.

Local media reported earlier this week that those restrictions are likely to extend two weeks longer than expected.