People gather at an Olympic Games countdown clock in front of JR Tokyo Station just past 8 p.m. on July 22, 2021, to see the number of days left turn to zero. A large group of masked people began to assemble at the countdown clock more than an hour before to take photos and videos of the moment it hit zero days. One 31-year-old woman on her way home from a shopping trip told the Mainichi Shimbun, "There have been a lot of problems (with the games), but it's hit me that they're finally starting. I'll watch the events on TV at home." The opening ceremony is at 8 p.m. on July 23.

       (Japanese original by Kenji Noro, Digital News Center)

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