The flame arrived in Tokyo at 6am local time on Friday from its last stop in Australia's capital of Canberra. It was carried off the plane by the vice president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games, or BOCOG, Li Binghua. China's ambassador to Japan, Cui Tiankai, and Chiharu Igaya, vice president of the IOC, were at the airport to welcome the Chinese delegation. There was also enormous support from the overseas Chinese community in Japan.
In preparation for the torch relay on Saturday, the flame will be transferred to Nagano, where the Winter Olympic Games were hosted in 1998.
Japan's Olympic officials held a press conference two days ago to formally announce the list of selected torchbearers for the Nagano leg of the relay. 80 people including former Olympic champions, sports celebrities, government officials and representatives from the public sector are set to carry the torch.
In preparation for the torch relay on Saturday, the flame will be transferred to Nagano, where the Winter Olympic Games were hosted in 1998.
Japan's Olympic officials held a press conference two days ago to formally announce the list of selected torchbearers for the Nagano leg of the relay. 80 people including former Olympic champions, sports celebrities, government officials and representatives from the public sector are set to carry the torch.
This is Ai Fukuhara, a well-known table tennis player. She started playing pingpong at the age of three and has won many Japanese national championships. She also spent a long time in China where she received training and has many Chinese fans. Many people see her as a sort of ambassador between the two countries.
Torchbearer Ai Fukuhara said, "I made so many Chinese friends through playing pingpong. I also studied the Chinese language and culture and so I learnt a lot in China."
In addition to preparing for the torch relay, Fukuhara is also practicing for the Olympics.
Torchbearer Ai Fukuhara said, "I grew up with the guidance and help of Chinese coaches. I'm excited to take part in this year's Olympics and I hope the Beijing Games will be a great success."
Some Chinese students studying in Japan have also been selected to be torchbearers.
Torchbearer Zhang Bi said, "I'll have a big smile on my face when I run. I want to show the whole world that Chinese youths are energetic, healthy and have a positive spirit."
As a modern Olympic city, Nagano's torch relay route is intended to reflect the passion and spirit for the Olympics. The flame's journey on this leg will begin at the historic site of the city's Labor and Social Security Center and pass through many stadiums of the 1998 Winter Olympic Games. Organizers say the 18.5-kilometer journey was designed to reflect the annual Marathon commemorating the Olympic movement.
The city of Nagano is also called "the roof of Japan" due to its high altitude. The city is a tourism hotspot in Japan - for its coolness in summer and mountains blanketed in snow for winter ski. Many local residents say the arrival of the Beijing Olympic flame will rekindle memories of the Winter Olympics ten years ago.
In addition to preparing for the torch relay, Fukuhara is also practicing for the Olympics.
Torchbearer Ai Fukuhara said, "I grew up with the guidance and help of Chinese coaches. I'm excited to take part in this year's Olympics and I hope the Beijing Games will be a great success."
Some Chinese students studying in Japan have also been selected to be torchbearers.
Torchbearer Zhang Bi said, "I'll have a big smile on my face when I run. I want to show the whole world that Chinese youths are energetic, healthy and have a positive spirit."
As a modern Olympic city, Nagano's torch relay route is intended to reflect the passion and spirit for the Olympics. The flame's journey on this leg will begin at the historic site of the city's Labor and Social Security Center and pass through many stadiums of the 1998 Winter Olympic Games. Organizers say the 18.5-kilometer journey was designed to reflect the annual Marathon commemorating the Olympic movement.
The city of Nagano is also called "the roof of Japan" due to its high altitude. The city is a tourism hotspot in Japan - for its coolness in summer and mountains blanketed in snow for winter ski. Many local residents say the arrival of the Beijing Olympic flame will rekindle memories of the Winter Olympics ten years ago.
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