Asian Games tour diary: Notes from a city too polite to say no

Day 0: Upon arrival in Nagoya, the reporter receives a media kit and is reminded of the Covid-19 testing rituals from the Tokyo Olympics. The kit now includes earthquake and tsunami safety guidance, as well as pain masks for neck, shoulder, and leg pain. Nagoya is situated in the Nankai region, which is considered particularly vulnerable to a magnitude 8-9 Nankai Trough earthquake in the next 30 years.

Day 1: The reporter struggles to navigate Nagoya Station, which is filled with trains, towers, roads, and people moving in every direction. At the Tokai-dori stop, a bus driver thanks each passenger individually before boarding, despite the small number of passengers. The reporter gets lost on the way back to their apartment, eventually finding a uniformed woman who confirms their destination.

Day 3: The reporter takes an early morning bus to a rural area of Toyota City, where they walk to the shooting range venue. The area is surrounded by dense forests, and the road is quiet. The weather changes from drizzling to a beautiful rainbow appearing across the hills as the reporter arrives at the venue.

Day 4: The reporter finds the last chocolate cookie at the main media center and engages in a friendly race with another journalist for it. They reach the cookie at the same time, and the Malaysian journalist insists on giving it to the Indian reporter, who accepts graciously.