Tokyo Olympic Torch Relay 2020

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics is to be held soon!
The biggest highlight of the Olympics opening ceremony is the torch relay —but do you know when and how the torch is going to reach the New National Stadium, where the Olympics will be held?
The torch relay carries the hopes and dreams of not only the torchbearers, but of all the people around the globe.

The video we'll introduce this time is “Tokyo Olympic Torch Relay 2020 Concept Movie（東京2020オリンピック聖火リレー コンセプト映像）” created by “Tokyo 2020”.
This article will introduce the history, route, schedule and meaning behind the Relay Torch alongside the video.

The Route and Schedule of the Tokyo Olympic Torch Relay 2020

Source :YouTube screenshot

The torch of the Tokyo Olympic Torch Relay 2020 will be passed on by 10,000 torchbearers chosen from applicants all across Japan and handed to the final torchbearer at the Olympic Opening Ceremony held at the Olympic Stadium (National Stadium) on Friday, July 24th, 2020. Then, the Olympic Cauldron will be lit at the Lighting Ceremony.

After that, the torch will be passed on from the Olympics to the Paralympics.
The 2020 Tokyo Olympic “Flame of Recovery” Exhibition will be held in March 2020 in the order of Iwate Prefecture (岩手県, Iwateken), Fukushima Prefecture (福島県, Fukushimaken), and then lastly Ibaraki Prefecture (茨城県, Ibarakiken).
Please check the Olympic Torch Relay Schedule Official Website for more details on the schedule and map of the relay.

What is the Torch Relay? What are the Flame Lighting and Torch Handover ceremonies?

Photo：Torch Relay

The Torch Relay begins with the Flame Lighting Ceremony, where the rays of the sun are collected to kindle the flame at Olympia, the birthplace of the Ancient Olympic Games.

After that, the Torch Handover Ceremony will be held in Athens, the heart of Greece, and will be passed on to this year’s host, Japan. The flame will go on a Torch Relay across Greece, then be sent by airmail to a Self Defense Force base in Miyagi Prefecture (宮城県, Miyagiken).
From there, the flame will first pass through the Tohoku Region (東北地方, Tohokuchiho) and then all across Japan, to finally arrive at Tokyo after passing through Saitama Prefecture (埼玉県, Saitamaken) and Kanagawa Prefecture (神奈川県, Kanagawaken).

“Hope Lights Our Way”

Source :YouTube screenshot

You can observe the reactions of the people who held the torch that will actually be used in the relay from 0:49 in the video.

You can see the joyful expressions of people all across Japan!
Some ask “Is this real?”, some exclaim “Wow!”, and others pretend to run the Torch Relay holding the torch.

Many Celebrities and Comedians Will Take Part in the Tokyo Olympic Torch Relay 2020

Source :YouTube screenshot

As you can see in the video, in order to make the Tokyo Olympic Torch Relay 2020 as exciting as possible, Olympic Judo Gold Medalist Tadahiro Nomura (1:10 in the video), Paralympian Aki Taguchi (3:06 in the video), popular actress Satomi Ishihara (3:15 in the video), and comedian Sandwich Man (2:45 in the video) are the official ambassadors and will participate in events held by the Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to get everyone in the Olympic spirit.

Although it isn’t mentioned in the video, in addition, actress Haruka Ayase and actor Masaki Suda are to participate in the Torch Relay as torchbearers.

Summary of the Tokyo Olympic Torch Relay 2020

The video is edited in a way where the smiles of the people who touched the torch that will be used in the Tokyo Olympic Torch Relay 2020 are passed on like a relay.
It's funny how the official ambassadors sometimes appear among ordinary people in the video.

The flame of the Tokyo Olympic Torch Relay 2020, as the Flame of Recovery, will illuminate the Olympics, Paralympics, and all countries that participate.

【Official Website】Tokyo Olympic Torch Relay 2020 – Tokyo 2020
https://tokyo2020.org/en/

【Official Website】JAPAN SPORTS COUNCIL
https://www.jpnsport.go.jp/corp/english/tabid/382/Default.aspx