ABSTRACT
Tokyo 2020 has been promoted as an event that will bring the nation together and inspire people across the country. It has also been called the “Recovery Games,” referring to its perceived role in contributing to and showcasing the recovery of northeastern Japan after the March 11, 2011 disaster. However, there remains ambivalence and criticism from many outside of Tokyo. This chapter draws from fieldwork and surveys in northeastern Japan to analyze the “voices from the sidelines” regarding the Olympics, and to reflect on what Tokyo 2020 means for citizens whose daily lives are far from the main playing fields.
