Details About the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics
Tokyo 2020 Asa-Navi (Morning Navigation) During the Games 8:15am-9:00am (untill the beginning of the live broadcast)
This daily program presents the highlights of the competitions. It shows the daily highlights, the athletes’ profiles, and their thoughts on participating in the Games during the coronavirus pandemic in an easy-to-understand format. It encourages both sports-lovers and those who are not interested in sports to enjoy the broadcasts.
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Daily Highlights During the Games: around 10:30pm (after the live broadcast) -12:00 midnight
This daily program reviews the competition results. It will feature live interviews with medal winners. We will show how the athletes overcome the coronavirus pandemic and present behind-the-scene stories of the competitions.
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games major events live coverage on NHK terrestrial channels
July 21 Wed. Softball Japan vs. Australia 22 Thu. (Holiday)Football Japan vs. South Africa 23 Fri. (Holiday) Opening Ceremony 24 Sat. Judo Women -48 kg Final & Men -60 kg Final 25 Sun. Skateboarding Men’s Street Final Swimming Men’s 400m Individual Medley Final Women’s 400m Individual Medley Final 26 Mon. Skateboarding Women’s Street Final Judo Women -57 kg Final & Men -73 kg Final Artistic Gymnastics Men’s Team Final 27 Tue. Judo Women -63 kg Final & Men -81 kg Final 28 Wed. Judo Women -70 kg Final & Men -90 kg Final 29 Thu. Swimming Men’s 200m Breaststroke Final Artistic Gymnastics Women’s All-Around Final 30 Fri. Table Tennis Men’s Singles Bronze & Gold Medal Matches 31 Sat. Badminton Women’s Doubles Semifinals Men’s Doubles Bronze & Gold Medal Matches Football Men’s Quarterfinal
August 1 Sun. Athletics Men’s 100m Semifinals & Final 2 Mon. Badminton Women’s Doubles Bronze & Gold Medal Matches Wrestling Men’s Greco-Roman 60 kg Final 3 Tue. Table Tennis Women’s Team Semifinals Athletics Men’s 200m Semifinals, Women’s 200m Final 4 Wed. Skateboarding Women’s Park Final Athletics Men’s 200m Final 5 Thus. Table Tennis Women’s Team Bronze & Gold Medal Matches Athletics Men’s 20km Race Walk Final Sport Climbing Men’s Combined Final 6 Fri. Table Tennis Men’s Team Bronze & Gold Medal Matches Football Men’s Bronze Medal Match 7 Sat. Baseball Bronze & Gold Medal Matches Football Men’s Gold Medal Match 8 Sun. Athletics Men’s Marathon Final Closing Ceremony
※Schedule is subject to change due to the results of the Japan team. ※NHK Plus will provide simulcast and catch up services.
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games major events live coverage on NHK BS8K
July 23 Fri. (Holiday)Opening Ceremony 24 Sat. Judo Women -48 kg Final & Men -60 kg Final 25 Sun. Swimming Men's 400m Individual Medley Final Women's 400m Individual Medley Final Judo Women -52 kg Final & Men -66 kg Final 26 Mon. Swimming Men's 100m Breaststroke Final Judo Women -57 kg Final & Men -73 kg Final 27 Tue. Swimming Men's 200m Freestyle Final Judo Women -63 kg Final & Men -81 kg Final 28 Wed. Swimming Men's 200m Butterfly Final Women's 200m Individual Medley Final Judo Women -70 kg Final & Men -90 kg Final 29 Thus. Swimming Men's 200m Breaststroke Final Judo Women -78 kg Final & Men -100 kg Final 30 Fri. Swimming Men's 200m Individual Medley Final Judo Women +78 kg Final & Men +100 kg Final 31 Sat. Judo Mixed Team Final August 1 Sun. Badminton Men's Singles Semifinals Athletics Men's 100m Semifinals & Final 2 Mon. Badminton Women's Doubles Bronze & Gold Medal Matches Badminton Men's Singles Bronze & Gold Medal Matches 3 Tue. Athletics Men's 200m Semifinals Women's 200m Final 4 Wed. Athletics Men's 200m Final 5 Thu. Table Tennis Women's Team Bronze & Gold Medal Matches 6 Fri. Football Women's Gold Medal Match Athletics Men's 4 x 100m Relay Final 7 Sat. Football Men's Gold Medal Match 8 Sun. Volleyball Women's Gold Medal Match Closing Ceremony
※Schedule is subject to change due to the results of the Japan team.
“Let’s Cheer for the World!” Project
As the Japanese use the cheering call “Nippon cha-cha-cha”, the world has some unique ways to cheer people from their own countries and regions. NHK launched the “Let’s Cheer for the World!” project in 2019 and has uploaded more than 200 countries’ and regions’ demonstration movies on its website.
Since this June, NHK has conducted the “Let’s Cheer up. Send your movie!” campaign in Japan. We will introduce some of the collected movies in NHK’s programs and on the website.
“Let’s Cheer for the World!” Project
＜HP＞ https://sports.nhk.or.jp/dream/cheer/
※There are learning materials for home-schooling and classroom lessons on the “NHK for School” website.
https://www.nhk.or.jp/school/cheer/teacher/
Preparations are underway for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. However, with the postponement due to the coronavirus pandemic, the athletes steadily continued training for another year.
Over a lengthy period, NHK has covered the struggles and challenges of the medal hopefuls and will air the NHK Special programs over three nights.
Table Tennis – Mima Ito“No Compromise” Sat., July 17 9:00pm-9:49pm [NHK GTV]
ITO Mima (age 20), a gold medal hopeful in table tennis, had to face the postponement of the Games. As all the international competitions canceled due to the pandemic, Ito lost her motivation. Besides, as society questioned the validity of hosting the Games, Ito felt much inner conflict about competing. We entrusted a video camera to her mother, and the footage she took shows Ito’s usually cheerful real feelings. How has she come to terms with her feelings and be prepared to challenge her fierce opponents from the Chinese team? We featured the athlete’s resolution to challenge the Olympic Games held under the pandemic.
Strongest Japan Badminton Team- Close Coverage of “Kento Momota and FukuHiro (Yuki Fukushima + Sayaka Hirota)” Sun., July 18 9:00pm-9:59pm [NHK GTV]
The Japanese badminton players are considered the best in the world. The best prospects for the gold medals are MOMOTA Kento , currently ranked as men’s singles world number 1, and the women’s doubles pair, FUKUSHIMA Yuki and HIROTA Sayaka (a.k.a. FukuHiro). MOMOTA was banned from competitions just before the Rio 2016 Olympic Games for illegal gambling. During a phase of serious reflection on himself, although MOMOTA aimed to win the Gold in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games for those who have supported him, he injured his eye, an essential organ for athletes, in a traffic accident. He then tested positive for COVID- 19. FUKUSHIMA Yuki also struggled to maintain her motivation as the Games faced headwinds, and even hesitated to compete at international games. How did they overcome those obstacles, and what is their strategy to go and win medals? We cover the athletes aiming to become the best in the sport.
Gymnastics Nippon - Towards a Stunning Comeback during the Pandemic Tue., July 20 10:00pm-10:49pm [NHK GTV]
Many expected the Japanese Men’s Artistic Gymnastics team to “win a bronze medal after China and Russia.” However, a twist of fate postponed the Olympic Games, and currently, there are more chances for the Japanese team to win gold. Still in his teens, HASHIMOTO Daiki, a leading player of the rising generation, has mastered complex techniques in a short time to become the driving force of the team and is named “the talent that surpasses Uchimura.” The cutting-edge technology will reveal the secret of his physical ability. We have covered the behind-the-scenes story of the representative selection process where young and experienced athletes compete to aim for the best.
Internet campaign regarding the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
As it looks increasingly likely that spectating inside the venues will be restricted, NHK will provide a service that allows the audience to feel the excitement of the Games by using the ubiquitous characteristics of digital information.
NHK Plus 【It will be possible to immediately watch simulcast programs without registering an ID】 The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will be the first Games after the launch of this service. As it is not easy to spectate in the venues due to the pandemic, NHK Plus will allow the audience to watch live broadcasts simultaneously on the Internet without registering an ID. It will be possible to watch the competitions and root for the athletes from anywhere with any mobile device in real time. Even if we know about the athletes’ success after the competitions, it will be possible to catch up on it with the “Chasing Playback” feature. The audience will also watch missed programs including commentary and enjoy any related programs in the playlist.
【Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Special Button to enjoy various programs】 In the footer menu of the NHK PLUS app, the “Olympic/Paralympic Special Contents Menu” will be available for a limited time only. The audience can access the special menu by pressing the new “Tokyo 2020 Menu Icon” (see drawing below). From there, they can enjoy various contents related to the Olympic and Paralympic Games such as the “Tokyo 2020 NHK Special Site” or the “daily list of missed programs.”
アプリ TOP イメ
Tokyo 2020 Olympics/Paralympic Games icon
NHK Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Site (Special site) 【Live streaming, flash videos & highlight videos】 We will live stream approximately 3,000 hours of the live footage provided by the Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), including programs with the audio feed from the venues conveying the atmosphere of the competition or with an English commentary. In addition, from NHK’s broadcasts, we will provide “Flash video reports” edited during matches and “Highlight video reports” to enable the viewers to enjoy emotional scenes as many times as they want to watch so that they will never miss any moments they wanted to watch.
【Special featured stories】 We will provide text content such as interviews of athletes who have overcome difficulties such as pandemics and postponement of competitions, as well as topics of interest to our viewers.
【Chatbot】 We will provide a Chatbot service using AI to help the viewers to access a vast amount of information such as the Olympic events, the athletes’ information, broadcast schedule, and more. It will be possible to find out the information in a simple conversation format. This service is already available.
Special Site (Already open prior to the Games) (The Chatbot can already be used by clicking the balloon mark on the bottom right.)
Universal services regarding the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
NHK will provide universal services to bring the excitement of the competitions and the athletes’ success so that everyone with or without impairment can enjoy it.
〇Broadcasting “Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Weekly Universal Highlight (Working Title)” Broadcast schedule: Sun, August 1 at 7:45am-8:45am & Sat, August 7 at 8:15am-9:15am
This weekend highlight program looks back on the exciting competitions and athletes’ achievements in the previous week. Since the Rio 2016, NHK has provided universally accessible programs that everyone can enjoy, with or without visual and hearing impairments, and from children to the elderly. At the Tokyo 2020, we will continue our “Universal Broadcasting” services, further developing our concept.
- For the visually impaired, we will bring more details regarding tactile, olfactory, gustatory, and auditory information in the narration and commentary so that just listening to the programs will allow them to understand the situations better. - For the hearing impaired, we will add sign language and subtitles to what people say in the studio so that everyone will enjoy the information simultaneously. - We will invite guests with visual and/or hearing impairment to create a space where everyone can enjoy our programs inclusively. - By providing these solutions, we will provide programs that anyone can understand more about the information specific to the sports and enjoy the emotions of the Olympic Games.
Performance smooth as silk…
Using expressions that appeal to different senses, we will explain the situations with words that can depict vivid images.
〇Digital 【Live Sign Language CG Animation】 NHK has developed state-of-the-art “Sign Language CG Animation” that automatically generates sign language animation from text information. At theTokyo 2020 Olympic Games we will challenge this technology to provide live reports of the competitions .
By converting the official real-time data to sign language, we will report which athletes scored points, what, and when they did. In addition, with PCs it will be possible to check the rules of the sports. “Sign Language CG Animation” coordinates movements of eyebrows and lips with those of hands, to convey sign language accurately. NHK will provide live sign language commentary with CG animation on the “NHK Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Site” for basketball games and offer a new way to enjoy spectating sports to not only fans with hearing impairment but everyone.
Sign Language Commentary with CG Animation screen (sample)
【Commentary and subtitles using Robots】 With the technology developed by NHK, subtitles and synthesized voice commentary will be automatically added to live streaming on “the NHK Tokyo 2020 Olympic Site” by using official data of competitions. NHK will add this service to ten different sports: Weightlifting, Canoe, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Basketball, Volleyball, Badminton, Beach Volleyball, and Rowing.
Information on universal services (already open prior to the Games) https://sports.nhk.or.jp/olympic/universal/
ARASHI’s AIBA Masaki and SAKURAI Sho to be NHK’s Special Navigator of
Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games
KITAJIMA Kosuke to be NHK’s Athlete Navigator of Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
AIBA Masaki and SAKURAI Sho of ARASHI have been appointed as “NHKʼs Special Navigator of Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games”. Aiba has for five years had interaction with athletes in NHKʼs sports programs, “Sunday Sports” and “Gutto! Sports”. SAKURAI has covered several Olympic Games and has rich experience in reporting about Para-athletes. The two will host NHKʼs Olympic and Paralympic Games broadcasts from NHKʼs special studio to share the excitement of the Games with viewers, present the highlights of the day, and report the achievements of the athletes who overcame the difficulties aiming at the Games.
For the TOKYO 2020 Olympic Games, KITAJIMA Kosuke will be “NHKʼs Athlete Navigator of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games” to represent the athletes. As an Olympian who participated in four Olympic Games and is the only Japanese swimmer to win gold medals in two events at two consecutive Games, KITAJIMA will review athletesʼ performances from the perspective of a top athlete and report highlights of the competitions from NHKʼs special studio and at the venues.
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Broadcast Announcers
Opening Ceremony
TOYOHARA Kenjiro Joined NHK in 1996 Regular programs: Saturday Sports and Sunday Sports Past Olympics Covered: Beijing, London, Rio de Janeiro, and PyeongChang
Opening Ceremony and Live broadcast anchor WAKUDA Mayuko Joined NHK in 2011 Regular program: News Watch 9
Closing Ceremony SAMBE Koshi Joined NHK in 1992 Regular programs: Live coverage of sumo, tennis and other sports competitions Currently working at NHK Osaka Regional Headquarters Past Olympics Covered: Athens, Beijing, London, Rio de Janeiro
Closing Ceremony and Live broadcast anchor
KUWAKO Maho Joined NHK in 2010 Regular program: NHK News Ohayo Nippon (Good Morning Japan) Past Olympics Covered: PyeongChang
Live coverage anchors
The anchors of GTV’s broadcasts: They will present highlights of competitions, athletes to watch, and match results from our Special Studio next to the Olympic Stadium.
ICHIHASHI Tadayuki Joined NHK in 1999 Regular program: Roku Ichi! Fukuoka Fukuoka Regional Past Olympics Covered: PyeongChang Headquarters MUKAI Kazuhiro Joined NHK in 2001 Regular program: Sportscaster in Iba 6 Mito Station SUGIURA Yuki Regular programs: Gyakuten Jinsei (Turning life around) and Eiyutachi no Sentaku Joined NHK in 2006 (Decisions Heros Made) Past Olympics Covered: Sochi, Rio de Janeiro and PyeongChang NINOMIYA Naoki Joined NHK in 2008 Osaka Regional Regular program: News Hotto Kansai Headquarters ITO Umihiko Regular programs: NHK News 7 and Tokoro- Joined NHK in 2009 san! Taihen desuyo (Mr. Tokoro! This is no Joke”) KUWAKO Maho Please refer to the Closing Ceremony section WAKUDA Mayuko Please refer to the Opening Ceremony section HORI Sayuri Regular programs: Close-Up Gendai (Close- Joined NHK in 2013 UpToday) and Haya Uta (Popular Song)
Asa-Navi (Morning Navigation) anchor SUZUKI Naoko Regular program: Asa Ichi Joined NHK in 2004 Past Olympics Covered: London
Daily Highlight anchors MATSUO Tsuyoshi Joined NHK in 1995 Hiroshima Regional Regular program: Okonomi Wide Hiroshima Headquarters TOYOHARA Kenjiro Please refer to the Opening Ceremony section INOUE Asahi Regular programs: Sunday Debate and Human Joined NHK in 2004 Science SOEJIMA Mei Regular programs: Saturday Sports and Joined NHK in 2015 Sunday Sports
Universal Weekly Highlight anchor KUBOTA Yuka Joined NHK in 2005
Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games Broadcast Announcers
Opening Ceremony and Live broadcast anchor SUGIURA Yuki Joined NHK in 2006 Regular programs: Gyakuten Jinsei (Turning life around) and Eiyutachi no Sentaku (Decisions Heros Made)
Opening Ceremony and Live broadcast anchor NAKANO Atsushi Joined NHK in 2006 Regular program: Heart Net TV Past Parlympics Covered: Rio de Janeiro and PyeongChang
Closing Ceremony and Daily Highlights anchor ABE Wataru Joined NHK in 1990 Regular program: News Shibu 5Ji
Closing Ceremony, Live broadcast anchor WAKUDA Mayuko Joined NHK in 2011 Regular program: News Watch 9
Live coverage anchors
The anchors of GTV’s broadcasts: They will present highlights of competitions, athletes to watch, and match results from our Special Studio next to the Olympic Stadium.
ICHIHASHI Tadayuki Joined NHK in 1999 Regular program: Roku Ichi! Fukuoka Fukuoka Regional Headquarters MATSUDA Rinia Regular programs: Shutoken Joho Netadori! Joined NHK in 2002 (Metropolitan information) and Choisu@Byoki ni Natta Toki (Choice@ when you become ill) SUGIURA Yuki Please refer to the Opening Ceremony section SETA Chudai Joined NHK in 2006 Sapporo Regional Regular program:Hotto News Hokkaido Headquarters NAKANO Atsushi Please refer to the Opening Ceremony section WAKUDA Mayuko Please refer to the Closing Ceremony section HORI Sayuri Regular programs: Close-Up Gendai (Close- Joined NHK in 2013 UpToday) and Haya Uta (Popular Song) SOEJIMA Mei Regular programs: Saturday Sports and Sunday Joined NHK in 2015 Sports
Asa-Navi anchors SUZUKI Naoko Joined NHK in 2004 Regular program: Asa Ichi
KAMIJO Noriko Regular programs: Asa Ichi and Choisu@Byoki ni Natta Toki Joined NHK in 2007 (Choice@ when you become ill)
Daily Highlights anchors ABE Wataru Please refer to the Closing Ceremony section TAKETA Shinichi Joined NHK in 1990 Regular programs: News Kin 5Ji and Retto News (News Osaka Regional from Japan Islands) Headquarters KUBOTA Yuka Joined NHK in 2005
AKAKI Nonoka Regular programs: Uta Kon and Nipponjin no Joined NHK in 2013 Onamae (Japanese names)
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games NHK Live Coverage Announcers （Japan Cosortium Live Coverage Announcers）
Name Year joined NHK In Charge Major JC Dispatch On-the-spot telecast UCHIYAMA Toshiya 1986 Football Athens、Beijing、London TAKEBAYASHI Hiroshi 1987 Softball・Athletics Athens、Torino、Vancouver、London、Sochi TOMISAKA Kazuo 1990 Baseball・Athletics・Men's Marathon Salt Lake City、Torino、Beijing、Vancouver、London、Sochi、Rio de Janeiro SAMBE Koshi 1992 Judo・Wrestling Beijing、London TORIUMI Takaki 1992 Tennis・Golf Sydney、Sochi、Rio de Janeiro、PyeongChang SAKANASHI Tetsushi 1994 Badminton・Baseball Beijing、London、Sochi、Rio de Janeiro ITO Keita 1996 Swimming・Golf・Sport Climbing・Baseball Beijing、London、Rio de Janeiro WATANABE Kenji 1996 Table Tennis・3x3Basketball London、Rio de Janeiro SATO Hiroyuki 1997 Archery・Karate Rio de Janeiro SONE Masaru 1997 Football Vancouver、London、Sochi、PyeongChang OSAKA Toshihisa 1998 Weightlifting・Judo Rio de Janeiro OTA Masahide 1998 Swimming・Wrestling London、Rio de Janeiro MATSUNO Yasuhiko 1998 Artistic Gymnastics・Athletics Beijing、London、Rio de Janeiro、PyeongChang MIYATA Takayuki 1998 Table Tennis・Softball Rio de Janeiro SUGIOKA Hideki 1999 Football None TSUKAMOTO Takayuki 1999 Table Tennis・Race Walk Rio de Janeiro、PyeongChang HAYASE Yuichi 1999 Badminton・Diving Rio de Janeiro HOSHINO Keisuke 2000 Artistic Gymnastics・Rythmic Gymnastics None YOKOI Kenkichi 2000 Hockey Rio de Janeiro SAKAI Hiroshi 2001 Fencing・Volleyball None
Name Year joined NHK In Charge Major JC Dispatch On-the-Spot Radio broadcast FUNAOKA Hisatsugu 1999 Artistic Gymnastics・Table Tennis None BETSUI Takayuki 2000 Swimming・Men's Marathon None ASAI Ryoma 2001 Softball・Athletics None SHIMOSAKAI Hideyuki 2001 Football None IIZUKA Yosuke 2002 Baseball None INAGAKI Hideto 2002 Football・Artistic Gymnastics None TSUTSUI Ryotaro 2003 Judo・Baseball None