Tokyo Olympics: Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony director Kentaro Kobayashi fired for past comments on Holocaust

On the eve of the big kickoff to the Tokyo Olympics, the director of the opening ceremony, Kentaro Kobayashi, has been sacked after being accused of making a joke about the holocaust in a comedy act in 1998.  The joke which made fun of painful historical facts surfaced online.  This is just the latest scandal plaguing the games.

Seiko Hashimoto, Tokyo 2020 President

The Tokyo 2020 president said on Thursday while announcing the show director's dismissal, 

 

"Kentaro Kobayashi, a member of the creative team, the production, and direction team for the olympic and closing ceremonies has been found to have used line in his own performances in the past that made fun of painful historical facts.  In response the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee has decided to dismiss Mr. Kobayashi today," 

 Seiko Hashimoto, Tokyo 2020 President said.

A number of officials in charge of the opening ceremony have also been mired in controversies.  Just days ago, Keigo Oyamada, the composer for the opening ceremony resigned over allegations of bullying disabled children in the past.  In March, Hiroshi Sasaki, the creative director for the Olympics stepped down after suggesting a plus-size Naomi Watanabe played the role of an Olympic in the opening ceremony.  Months before that, the then head of the organizing committee Yoshiro Mori stepped down for sexist comments saying females tend to make meetings drag on because they talk too much.

The Tokyo Olympics Chief says she's aware the series of recent scandals have made some people not want to watch the ceremony anymore with spectators barred from the event. 

"We feel really responsible for this incident.  There have been so many incidents so far and we had to deal with each of them.  We have been kind of reactive to these incidents and I am sure you have that impression too.  We deeply regret them," 

 Tokyo 2020 President Seiko Hashimoto said.

No rest for the Tokyo Olympics as problem after problem strikes.  On Friday, Japan will welcome the world to the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. Unfortunately, the lead-up to the games has been mired in fears caused by the resurgence in Covid-19.  The games already delayed by a year are widely unpopular according to opinion polls in Japan over concern the international event could lead to a jump in Covid-19 cases.  Dozens of infections already confirmed among those linked to the Olympics including athletes. They are now close to 90 cases linked to the games.

Just 22 percent of Japan's population are fully vaccinated leading experts to believe an explosive increase could happen over the coming weeks while the Olympics take place. Across Tokyo, 2,000 new cases reported on Thursday, a six-month high, but Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga says the opening ceremony will go ahead.  Organizers say they will further tighten restrictions for foreigners who traveled to Japan for the games.

Friday's opening ceremony set to go ahead with just 950 people attending including officials and journalists who are expected to catch it live at the stadium.  Competitions will be held with no fans in the stands.  Local media say former prime minister Shinzo Abe who had pushed for Japan to host the games will not be attending.

There is still plenty of uncertainty surrounding what's ahead.  Just this week, the head of the games organizing committee did not rule out a last-minute cancellation of the Olympics if cases spike. 

 A resurgence of the virus coupled with the scandals mean questions remain on whether the games will be as safe as organizers have promised they would be.