Asian Games 2026 / Emperor, Empress Attend Opening Ceremony with Crown Prince, Crown Princess
NAGOYA — The Emperor and Empress attended the opening ceremony of the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 together with Crown Prince Akishino, who serves as honorary president of the Games, and Crown Princess Kiko, in the capital of Aichi Prefecture on Saturday.
The Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 officially kicked off on Saturday with an impressive opening ceremony held at the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya. The Japanese delegation led the ceremony, with two flag bearers, wrestler Akari Fujinami and BMX rider Rimu Nakamura, marching ahead. The games officially commenced on Sunday, with swimming being one of the events where Japan had set its sights on achieving numerous medals.
At the opening ceremony, which began at 6 p.m., a visual presentation showcased a beam of light shining down on Aichi. Following this, a countdown initiated, culminating in an eruption of cheers from the gathering crowd. Immediately after, the lights surrounding a heart-shaped stage were illuminated simultaneously. Accompanied by lively music, dazzling laser beams enveloped the venue.
As drones shaped like wings traversed the sky, approximately 250 dancers performed repeatedly in various formations, aiming to highlight the unity of diverse hearts and pulses among the attendees.
To conclude the ceremony, the dancers formed a shape spelling out the word "WELCOME" to extend this message to both athletes and spectators. The torch relay, involving around 1,000 participants, reached its climax when past Olympic Games gold medalists, Koji Murofushi and his father Shigenobu, jointly lit the cauldron. Murofushi had won a gold medal in the men’s hammer throw at the Athens Olympics, while his father had won five consecutive Asian Games titles in the same event.
The delegation from Nepal, who had recently suffered extensive damage from mudslides in the region bordering China in August, also participated in the ceremony. They entered the venue wearing black jackets, waving their national flag or their hands, and responded to the cheers with smiles. During the 16-day Games, it is expected that 136 Nepali athletes will compete in 22 sports, including kabaddi, cricket, and volleyball.
Special attention will be given to the women's karate event, where Nepal won a silver medal at the previous Asian Games.
Written by urgent.news from The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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