Fretting about COVID, most Japan firms say Olympics should be canceled or postponed

TOKYO — Nearly 70% of Japanese firms want the Tokyo Olympics either canceled or postponed, a Reuters survey found, underscoring concerns that the Games will increase coronavirus infections at a time when the medical system is under heavy strain.��

With just nine weeks to go before the Games, states of emergency have been imposed in much of Japan until the end of the month to counter a spike in infections that has resulted in a shortage of medical staff and hospital beds in some areas.��

The country’s vaccination��program��has also been particularly slow, with just 4% of the population inoculated, the lowest rate among the Group of Seven nations.��

The Corporate Survey, conducted May 6–17, showed 37% of firms were in��favor��of cancellation, while 32% want a postponement.��

In particular, those calling for a cancellation have increased from February when the same questions were asked in the monthly survey. Then, 29% were keen on a cancellation while 36% favored a delay.��

“There’s no way that the Olympics can go ahead under the current circumstances,”��a manager at a metals firm wrote in the survey.��

“Nothing the government does seems to be well-planned. All it appears to be doing is spreading anxiety.”��

The results of the survey are roughly in line with public opinion polls.��

Many Tokyo residents��say,��however, they are conflicted about holding the Games.��

“Variant strains could enter, creating a terrible situation,”��said Keiko Yamamura, a��58-year–old yoga instructor.��“But when I think of the athletes who have worked so hard, I’d like to let them do it.”��

The government and International Olympic Committee have repeatedly said the Games will go ahead. About 70% of the 10,500 athletes due to attend have already qualified.��

If the Games, which have already been postponed by a year, were canceled, a quarter of the firms expect big economic losses. But nearly 60% said economic losses would be limited while another 13% said they expect economic losses to be relatively small.��

The survey, conducted for Reuters by Nikkei Research, canvassed some 480 large and midsize non-financial companies, of which about 230 answered questions on the Olympics. Respondents participate in the survey on condition of anonymity.��—��Tetsushi��Kajimoto/Reuters��