IOC President Thomas Bach, center, is seen walking around the Ginza area in Tokyo's Chuo Ward, while being surrounded by guards, in this photo provided by a reader.

       Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato is seen during a press conference at the prime minister's office on Aug. 10, 2021. (Mainichi/Kan Takeuchi)

       TOKYO -- The Japanese government does not regard International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach's stroll in Tokyo's Ginza district on Aug. 9 -- the day after the Tokyo Olympics' final day -- as a problem, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said during an Aug. 10 press conference.

       Regarding COVID-19 countermeasures, Kato explained that "the range of activities for individuals affiliated with the Games is limited for 14 days after arrival in the country, and a ban on using public transportation among other rules are specified in the Tokyo 2020 Playbooks." He went on to say that "on the other hand, those who have been in Japan for 15 days or more are not subject to those rules."

       Kato claimed that restrictions on movement do not apply to Bach, who entered Japan on July 8. In response to the question "Is it not deemed as a nonessential and nonurgent outing?" the top government spokesperson indicated that decisions for going out were left to the discretion of each party, saying, "We have each individual make appropriate decisions based on the situation."

       Crowds gathered in the Ginza shopping district when IOC President Bach visited the area on Aug. 9. According to a woman in her 40s who saw Bach, he was wearing a polo shirt and walking along Ginza's Chuo-dori street at a bit past 4 p.m. while being surrounded by guards. Police cars and Games-affiliated vehicles were parked on a nearby road. Bach also apparently stopped to pose for photos with passersby that approached him, and raised his hand when pedestrians called out to him.

       The woman commented, "He seemed relieved that the Olympics were over. There were various happenings, but he fulfilled his role, so I'd like to say 'well done'. I hope he returns home with a good impression of Japan." Meanwhile, there were also voices on Twitter expressing anger and calling Bach's outing "nonessential and nonurgent."

       During the Aug. 10 press conference, Kato emphasized once more that "The Olympics are not a direct cause of the current spread in infections." He stated that of the about 43,000 Games-affiliated people that entered the country from overseas, a total of 151 individuals were confirmed with new cases of COVID-19, with four of them hospitalized. He also said, "In the capital, the nighttime populations recorded (at entertainment districts and other locations) during the Olympics decreased."

       Regarding the claim that holding the Games has led to public complacency toward the coronavirus, Kato avoided making a clear statement and said, "It's difficult to speak about people's awareness. I believe there are various views."

       (Japanese original by Soon Lee, Political News Department, and Asako Takeuchi, Tokyo City News Department)

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