Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister, Yoshihide Suga, and Tokyo Governor, Yuriko Koike, reportedly committed a “major faux pas” at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics on the 23rd, Japanese local media reported.

His Majesty the Emperor, honorary president of the Tokyo Olympics, stood up to declare the Games open, but Suga and Koike sitting in line with His Majesty, remained seated, a very serious and embarrassing breach of protocol. Negative public reaction was quick to follow, Tokyo Sports’ newspaper reported.

Broadcast nationwide, the scene elicited criticism of the two with many calling them “disrespectful,” according to the paper.  “It was suggested that the reason the two had remained seated was that the preceding speech by IOC Chairman Bach was too long and made them drowsy so they did not realize it was time to stand and be attentive to the His Majesty’s speech, but that excuse is finding little sympathy with the public.”