Japan’s Emperor Naruhito officially declares the 20th Asian Games open in Nagoya as the Games’ opening ceremony takes place. The ceremony includes the participation of Empress Masako and other members of Japan’s imperial family.
Reports also note the presence of senior officials from Asian and international sports governance. These include Olympic Council of Asia president Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani and International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry. Xinhua coverage similarly describes the arrival of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako ahead of the ceremony in Nagoya.
The Asian Games are scheduled to run from September 19 to October 4, 2026. While one outlet emphasizes the ceremony’s spectacle and the formal opening declaration, the other focuses on the lead-up and arrival of the imperial couple, with both confirming the same opening event and key attendees.
