Photo/Illutration A man carrying a backpack with the Olympic emblem takes photos in the Akihabara district of Tokyo. (Takaya Katada)

The “bubble” intended to contain Olympic athletes and related officials to prevent contact with local residents and the spread of the novel coronavirus is now in name only as it is being widely ignored.

Many athletes, having already competed and simply waiting to return home, are taking advantage of this rare opportunity to visit Tokyo by heading to the capital's Akihabara district in Chiyoda Ward to purchase gifts for loved ones and fancy electronics equipment for themselves.

On Aug. 3, three men were spotted emerging from a major electronics outlet wearing accreditation cards hanging from their necks showing they were athletes. They had just purchased cameras at duty free prices. They also took photos of themselves sitting on a sidewalk railing.

The athletes arrived in Japan on July 26 and were scheduled to return home on Aug. 4. They said they caught a taxi from the Olympic Village in the Harumi district to reach Akihabara, a center of modern Japanese popular culture packed with discount stores selling video games, anime, manga, electronics and computer-related goods. 

Under the so-called playbook compiled by the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee, athletes are only allowed to move between the village and the venues for competition or training. They are also required to use dedicated vehicles and avoid public transport.

For those helping with organizing the event and working with media organizations, freedom of movement is only allowed after they have self-isolated for 15 days. Those individuals can use public transportation after that, however.

One of the athletes in Akihabara said he was not well-versed in the playbook and wanted to see some of Tokyo while he was in Japan.

A man in his 50s who said he was a trainer with the Italian delegation was taking a photo of a popular character from the “Dragon Ball” manga at one outlet. He had arrived in Japan two weeks earlier and explained that Dragon Ball was broadcast in Italy and he came to Akihabara because he loved anime.

While he was aware of the playbook, he said it would be stifling to only move between the Olympic village and the venue.

Two Germans who said they worked for a TV network bought keyholders with the Olympics mascot Miraitowa. They arrived in Japan in early July and had also visited the trendy Shibuya and Shinjuku districts.

They complained that the playbook was very restrictive and said they feared some athletes would be affected mentally because they could not leave the Olympic Village to eat out or take a break.

Local Japanese had another “take” on Olympic visitors moving outside the Olympic bubble.

“The number of foreigners is way down from before the pandemic started,” said an employee of an electronics store in Akihabara. “While I do worry about infection, I also welcome foreign visitors spending their money here.”

A 42-year-old employee who commutes to his office in Akihabara said: “It is cruel to not allow them to go anywhere after they have come all the way to Japan, so I think it is only natural that some come here. I also had my own doubts about even holding the Olympics during the pandemic.”

A taxi driver said the bubble was a “pipe dream” and rumors abounded among co-workers that the Olympic Village was a gold mine because many of those affiliated with the Olympics often used taxis for long rides to shop and eat in entertainment districts.

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