But even though there are more than 470 days until the opening of the Olympics in the summer of 2021, the Tokyo Games organizing committee is finding it hard to be optimistic as it begins to rework six years of preparation.
The organizers and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach agreed on Monday to hold the Tokyo Olympics between July 23 and Aug. 8, 2021, followed by the Paralympics from Aug. 24 to Sept. 5.
Games organizing committee President Yoshiro Mori told a press conference in Tokyo upon announcing the new schedule that selecting a new date was "key" to begin sorting out the logistical details and would allow organizers to "speed up our preparations."
As the Tokyo Olympics were originally set to open on July 24 this year, organizers were in the late stages of preparations before the global spread of the pneumonia-causing virus, which first broke out in China late last year, started gathering pace.
News On Japan - Nov 26
Panicked passengers on a Shinkansen bullet train were evacuated at a central Japan station on Friday night, after a plastic bag containing suspicious liquid was found onboard.
Reuters - Nov 26
Japan detected the first case of highly pathogenic H5-type bird flu this season at a poultry farm in the south of the country, public broadcaster NHK reported on Saturday.
News On Japan - Nov 25
Inui Street, the famed autumn walk within the Imperial Palace in central Tokyo, opened to the public from Saturday.
News On Japan - Nov 25
Tofukuji Temple, home to 2,000 maple trees and renowned as one of Kyoto's premier autumn hotspots, features the Tsutenkyo Bridge, and the breathtaking 'sea of autumn leaves'.
News On Japan - Nov 24
The amount of undeclared income by wealthy people in Japan has reached a record high of 98 billion yen, among the worst offenders being scrap gold wholesalers, breeders and yakiniku restaurants, the National Tax Agency announced on Friday.
Total Film - Nov 24
After hitting the big screen in its native Japan on November 3, Godzilla Minus One is about to make its way overseas – and it's a hit with international critics.
News On Japan - Nov 23
Russians continue to be the worst offenders among cars with foreign diplomatic number plates when it comes to not paying off parking fines in Japan.
News On Japan - Nov 23
As Kyoto's autumn foliage reaches its peak, swarms of tourists have converged on the ancient capital, captivated by stunning displays like Wednesday evening's illumination at Kiyomizu Temple.