Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and visiting International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach agreed during a meeting on Monday to work closely to ensure the success of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, which were postponed to next summer due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Suga and Bach also confirmed their desire to hold the Tokyo Games with spectators.
"As proof of humanity's victory over the virus, we are determined to realize the Games as the Reconstruction Olympics and Paralympics to send the world a message of our recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake," Suga said at the beginning of their meeting at the Prime Minister's Office.
Suga also pledged to "make every effort to make the Games safe and secure."
In response, Bach expressed his gratitude for the prime minister's strong determination to ensure the Games are held next year, adding the IOC is "fully sharing your commitment."
The IOC president also stated his hope that the Tokyo Games can serve as a symbol of unity and solidarity for humankind.
During the meeting, Suga informed Bach that preparations for the Games are steadily moving ahead, citing the launch of a system this month which exempts foreign athletes and officials visiting Japan for international sports events from the required 14-day period of quarantine.
It is likely that Suga also brought up the fact that, in regard to allowing spectators, Japan's pro baseball league and other sporting events resumed with fans in attendance, and that arrangements are being made to allow in fans coming from overseas.
As a specific measure, the government is considering allowing entry into the country only foreign visitors already in possession of event tickets, while looking into setting an upper limit on the number of such spectators in line with domestic regulations for large-scale events.
However, the virus has surged again in Europe and the United States, and infection cases have also been on the rise in Japan. The government plans to make a final decision regarding spectators next spring based on an assessment of the virus situation in Japan and abroad.
Bach arrived in Japan on Sunday, and this was their first meeting in person since Suga took office in September. The meeting was also attended by Seiko Hashimoto, the minister in charge of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.
On Monday afternoon, Bach was to meet former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Suga's predecessor who made the decision to postpone the Tokyo Olympics.
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