Tokyo Olympics: ‘Japanese only’ signs spark outrage as sponsors count cost of spectator ban and Covid-19 state of emergency

Akasaka Excel Hotel Tokyu apologises and removes signs after uproar on social media, citing a misunderstanding over coronavirus safety measures

Meanwhile, a new state of emergency and a ban on spectators have hit sponsors already questioning whether association with the increasingly controversial event could hit their brands

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Japanese athletes compete in front of empty seats at the National Stadium in a test event for the 2020 Olympic Games. Photo: AP

Published: 5:30pm, 12 Jul 2021Updated: 5:49pm, 12 Jul 2021

A Tokyo hotel has apologised and removed signs saying “Japanese only” and “foreigners only” from elevators after the Covid-19 precaution sparked outrage on social media ahead of the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Tokyo entered a state of emergency on Monday amid concerns that an influx of tens of thousands of athletes and officials during the July 23-August 8 Games will spread the coronavirus, cases of which are rising in the Japanese capital.

Akasaka Excel Hotel Tokyu in downtown Tokyo put up the signs on Friday in response to guidance from Tokyo 2020 organisers to ensure the movements of guests related to the Games were separated from others staying at the hotel, a hotel official said on Monday.

The official insisted there was no intention to discriminate against foreigners.

“We tried to make it easy to understand but ended up causing misunderstanding,” the official said. He said the signs were removed on Sunday morning and the hotel was now discussing with its headquarters what expression to use instead.

The signs triggered harsh criticism on social media, where they have been likened to apartheid and segregation.

While Japan has not seen the explosive outbreaks seen elsewhere in the world it has recorded more than 815,440 cases and nearly 15,000 deaths. Tokyo alone recorded 614 new cases on Sunday, up 96 from one week previously and the 22nd straight day of week-on-week gains. There have been a total of 181,638 cases reported in the city to date, with authorities warning that the more virulent Delta variant of the virus is rapidly becoming the dominant strain and, by August, will account for nearly all cases in Tokyo.

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