Photo/Illutration Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and his wife, Mariko, meet Jill Biden, the U.S. first lady, on July 22 at the State Guest House. (Pool)

The COVID-19 pandemic dampened Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s plan to use the start of the Tokyo Olympics to discuss foreign affairs with leaders from around the world.

A week before the July 23 Opening Ceremony, high-ranking Foreign Ministry officials projected about 30 national leaders would visit Japan for the Olympics, but the number was about half of that estimate.

In the end, Suga met with only 11 leaders of other nations or international organizations, in addition to Jill Biden, the U.S. first lady.

Suga did manage to explain his long-pushed concept of a free and open Indo-Pacific region in talks with a number of leaders.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, were among those who met with Suga on July 22 and 24.

“We were able to share the view of the importance for a free and open international order with some nations that we normally do not meet at such forums as the Group of 7 and Group of 20,” a high-ranking Foreign Ministry official said.

Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi also met with the heads of three nations and international organizations on July 23.

In his meeting with Tedros, Motegi pointed out the importance of conducting a thorough investigation into the cause of the novel coronavirus pandemic. China has steadfastly refused to allow the WHO to conduct another investigation.

The pandemic, particularly the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant, was likely the reason that only 15 leaders of nations and international organizations came to Japan for the Opening Ceremony, a considerably smaller number than in past Olympics.

Among those who decided not to come was South Korean President Moon Jae-in, whom Suga has yet to meet in person.

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