Photo/Illutration Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Jan. 2, 2020 (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Emperor Naruhito is quite concerned about the current novel coronavirus infection situation in Japan, the head of the Imperial Household Agency said at a news conference on June 24.

“From what I gather, the emperor is concerned about holding the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, for which he serves as honorary president, while people are voicing anxiety over whether it will lead to a spread of infections,” said Yasuhiko Nishimura.

He then urged the organizers and related organizations “to work in cooperation and take all possible infection prevention measures to ensure that a further spread of the virus will not be caused by the Olympic and Paralympic Games, over which the emperor serves as honorary president.”

The Imperial Household Agency head added that he made the comments based on his observation and understanding of the emperor's attitude.

“I think that is what the emperor thinks. But I never heard the emperor directly say such things,” Nishimura said.

At past Olympics held in Japan, the emperor at the time attended the opening ceremony and declared the opening of the Games.

The central government has yet to reveal details of the Tokyo 2020 Opening Ceremony, including the attendance of the emperor.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on June 25 told reporters, "I understand that (Nishimura) expressed his own view."

Article 4 of the Constitution states that the emperor only conducts state acts and bans his involvement in politics.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato came into line with Suga and said that day, "It was (Nishimura) who expressed an opinion of his own, and I do not see a problem in relation with the Constitution."

Hideya Kawanishi, an associate professor of history at Nagoya University, said Nishimura's remarks “definitely reflect the thoughts of the emperor.”

Kawanishi assumes the agency is afraid it “would be unable to obtain understanding from the public if the emperor attends the Opening Ceremony without doing anything when there are various opinions among people about the holding of the Games.”

Kawanishi said Nishimura made the remarks to “show the public that the emperor did something and at the same time tell the Suga administration in an indirect way to take thorough infection control measures.” 

By expressing Nishimura's opinion and not Naruhito’s, the agency avoided making a political issue out of it and a violation of the Constitution, he said.

But Osamu Watanabe, a professor emeritus at Hitotsubashi University who specializes in political science, called Nishimura’s comments “dangerous” and said they “undermine popular sovereignty.”

The public will take Nishimura’s comments as meaning “the emperor holds a negative view on holding the Olympics as is” and that will “embolden the views of opponents of the Olympics,” he said.

Asked about Nishimura's remarks, Toshiro Muto, the CEO of the organizing committee for the Games, on the evening of June 24 reiterated the committee's “safe and secure” mantra, saying, “Our responsibility is to hold a safe and secure (Olympics) where people and Tokyo residents are free from uncertainty. We will do our best to make that happen.”

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