you know japan really well. you knowjapan really well. just talk us you know japan really well. just talk us through what the temperatures... are we seeing something much higher than usual? the organisers said it was the perfect climate for the olympics to take place. perfect climate for the olympics to take lace. ., perfect climate for the olympics to take lace. . ., , ., take place. yeah, there have been a lot of criticisms _ take place. yeah, there have been a lot of criticisms of _ take place. yeah, there have been a lot of criticisms of what _ lot of criticisms of what the organisers said ranging from the safety of the plant to the nice temperature in tokyo. i think many people understood all along that was in the full truth. certainly a somebody who has had many a summer in tokyo, it's surprising. the humidity is incredibly oppressive and there are very few events held through july and there are very few events held throuthuly and and there are very few events held through july and august. and there are very few events held throuthuly and august. so, i think those who know

thank that japan is going through. thank ou that japan is going through. thank you forjoining _ that japan is going through. thank you forjoining us _ that japan is going through. thank you forjoining us from _ that japan is going through. thank you forjoining us from tokyo. - that japan is going through. thank you forjoining us from tokyo. well, before we go, little test on our top story. the tokyo olympics as we have been saying committees are pictures of st luke's hospital in missouri which is hosting an olympic celebration of its own, addressing newborn babies in tiny team usa outfits, aren't they cute? they are even awarding medals to these many athletes. that said for newsday, thanks so much forjoining us. hello. up until last saturday, northern ireland hadn't recorded a temperature above 31 degrees, but now it's happened three times in less than a week. once again on thursday afternoon, a new provisional record 31.4 degrees recorded at armagh. and northern ireland is going to be one of the slowest places to cool down over the next few days. this amb

— place in japan? i am very much lookin: place in japan? i am very much looking forward _ place in japan? i am very much looking forward to _ place in japan? i am very much looking forward to it, _ place in japan? i am very much looking forward to it, but - place in japan? i am very muchj looking forward to it, but some people are not. it's a very sensitive moment injapan. people are not. it's a very sensitive moment in japan. and, mieko, in terms _ sensitive moment in japan. and, mieko, in terms of _ sensitive moment in japan. and, mieko, in terms of the _ sensitive moment injapan. and, mieko, in terms of the public opinion, you are a volunteer. you saw the olympics take place, didn't you, back in 1964. foryou, place, didn't you, back in 1964. for you, as a japanese member of the public, do you get a sense that perhaps once the action gets under way that shift, the feelings will shift from the public here? well, ma be. from the public here? well, maybe- the _ from the public here? well, maybe. the 24th _ from the public here? well, maybe.

i managed to grab japan's gold rush. i managed to gmba japan's gold rush. i managed to grab a newspaperfor you. the judo siblings winning their double gold medals for the nation and for their family. as you mentioned, the gold medal for skateboarding went to japan and a first gold in the swimming pool forjapan. we have endurance and outdoor sports in particular and the heat has been a real issue. it has been an issue ever since i was a child, especially playing sport outside. of course it is getting hotter every year because of climate change and that means that schools and teachers have to be extra careful to protect their children. under the scorching sun of tokyo, girls from this high school carry on with their extracurricular activities, but every year, around 3,000 children suffer from heatstroke during activities like this. there have even been deaths in the past. the school's tennis coach has been in the role for 17 years and says the hottest summers mean they have to be extra careful. translation: we measure heat stress index every hour to make | su

place in japan. what can we look forward to?— place in japan. what can we look forwardto? ., ., ., ., forward to? lots to look forward to. we'll see more _ forward to? lots to look forward to. we'll see more swimming, - forward to? lots to look forward to. we'll see more swimming, diving, i we'll see more swimming, diving, cycling, also one of the biggest superstars in sport. someone who has transcended her sport, and that simone biles, looking for yet more gold medals. she has four in the olympics. she is across all competitions in gymnastics, america's most decorated gymnast of all times. she wants to make sure she's the most decorated female olympian gymnast. we're going to see her in the team events and also, we saw naomi osaka make history, lighting the cauldron. she hasn't played since she river drew with the french open. —— withdrew. first match since may. lots of medal hopes on her shoulders.— on her shoulders. there's been a lot said about the _ on her shoulders. there's been a lot said about the diversity _ on her shoulders. there's been a lot said about th

rupert wingfield hayes, bbc news, ichinomiya, japan. that was lovely, you've got a real sense of the patient people have for surfing but i got distracted by the typhoon. how big an impact this have? well, there was real concern a couple of days ago because it looked like this typhoon no eight, they numbered them in japan, it looked like it was heading straight towards tokyo in real concern it would cause massive disruption to the events. it is disrupting the surfing. the good news is as of this morning, it looks like it's taken a sharp turn north, currently about 300 nautical miles, the centre of it, but it's quite a big storm, 300 nautical miles off the coast and moving towards where i am that it's expect it over the rest of the day to track further north up the coast here and will actually miss tokyo. heavy rain, quite a lot of wind already, but tokyo is not going to take a direct hit. an places further west are going to get hit but fingers crossed, the olympics is going to be missed by the storm. we look forward to the actual sport.

i that japan is now in the fourth state of emergency?— state of emergency? i have to sa , not state of emergency? i have to say. not much _ state of emergency? i have to say, not much has _ state of emergency? i have to say, not much has changed i state of emergency? i have to i say, not much has changed since the fourth state of emergency was declared. as you can probably see behind me, a lot of commuters are getting to the office and also last night after 8pm which is when restaurants and bars are asked to close but many of them remained open, loosely because —— mostly because of the money the government promised and financial support but it's taking way too long especially for smaller businesses to see that money to stay afloat and because it is not a strict lot down with no penalty people haven't really been obliging and if you ask people on the street you would say, you can't exactly go ahead with the olympics despite the strong public opposition and asking us to stay at home, i think it is fair to say that a lot of people feel a bit fed up by the f

it's not bein: strategy in japan ben? it's not being very — strategy in japan ben? it's not being very effective _ strategy in japan ben? it's not being very effective is - strategy in japan ben? it's not being very effective is the - strategy in japan ben? it's not. being very effective is the short answer. it does feel a little unfair that there is not enough jobs to go around and yet young people are encouraged to get vaccinated. that's primarily the reaction among young people. if you want us to get vaccinated, make them available. as for people not obliging to the governments request to stay at home and going out, i don't think that's just young people either. we've been reporting outside every day and i've seen every age group from the young to the old. and that's mainly because of what we've been talking about, this is the fourth date of emergency, people are fed up and there is no urgency about it any more. in the very fact that the tokyo olympics are taking place in the city, that's just sending the wrong message to the japanese public that maybe they can j

osaka, from tennis, and of course very famous not only in japan but outside as well. in her home town or home country, she is a bit of a polarising figure, some people love her as the face of the new generation of japanese athletes, being biracial, ofjapanese athletes, being biracial, very outspoken of japanese athletes, being biracial, very outspoken about political issues as well, unlike japanese athletes who until now has been expected by society to remain rather apolitical. not necessarily because of her background but because of her background but because she does not live here or speak much japanese and others feel that it is a strange choice that she represents japan as she lit the olympic cauldron but it's fair to say that everyone will be watching that game. in judo we have a brother and sister in judo who are hoping for double gold and they are hoping to win double gold for the family and that would be really remarkable.- that would be really remarkable. ., ., , remarkable. that would be amazing- _ remarkable. that would be amazing. we _ remarkable. that wou

the campaign to make the contraceptive pill available in japan. and an imperial wedding that broke with tradition. but first we head back to 1964, ahead of the first 0lympic games here in tokyo when the fastest train the world had ever seen was launched. the shinkansen, or bullet train, ran between tokyo and osaka and reached a top speed of 210 kilometres an hour. witness history spoke to one of the train�*s first drivers. it looks like a bullet, this super express that thrusts aside all existing ideas on train speed. it runs on rail links a mile long on which it has reached 150 miles an hour on a trial run. even then it was not flat out. translation: nobody had ever gone that fast, - maybe on a plane taking off but no one had ever experienced it on land. it was just incredible, i can't explain it. well, when i got a job at japan railways, it was sort of a dream come true because before that, i did not really have a job so once i started working there, ifelt like it meant i could become part of society. after a few years, the president ofjapan r

they got a gold in i nation of japan? they got a gold in the judeo, nation of japan? they got a gold in the judeo. that _ nation of japan? they got a gold in the judeo, that has _ nation of japan? they got a gold in the judeo, that has just _ nation of japan? they got a gold in the judeo, that hasjust happened, thejudeo, that has just happened, butjust before that the thejudeo, that has just happened, but just before that the athlete that will go down in sporting history injapan with the home nation's first medal of these games was soon tonna kai, who won a silver in thejudeo, in the under 48 kilograms cast, but this is the —— that was funa tonaki. and she may have lost the final to kosovo's athlete, but her silver will be celebrated. she is 25 and also won silver at another competition earlier this year. those two medals forjapan, gold and silver, in the judo, really some comfort for the king of gymnastics as well, when the stories today, "king" kohei uchimura, who fell off the bar earlier on, failing to qualify for the gymnastics final, making up for that disapp

for teaching here in the mountains of northern japan-— teaching here in the mountains of northern japan. for me it was like a dream come _ northern japan. for me it was like a dream come true _ northern japan. for me it was like a dream come true to _ northern japan. for me it was like a dream come true to come - northern japan. for me it was like a dream come true to come here - northern japan. for me it was like a dream come true to come here in i northern japan. for me it was like a i dream come true to come here in the place that i already love and to work with teaching gymnastics. that was my childhood. this is my passion. was my childhood. this is my assion. , ., , was my childhood. this is my assion. , ., ., , passion. five years ago, she invited the bulgarian _ passion. five years ago, she invited the bulgarian women's _ passion. five years ago, she invited the bulgarian women's gymnastics. the bulgarian women's gymnastics team to make this place their 0lympic hometown. but that was before covid—19. hotel manager shows me the route the bulgarian team will now have to take to g

<' ., , japan? i think overwhelmingly, chose a great _ japan? i think overwhelmingly, chose a great deal _ japan? i think overwhelmingly, chose a great deal of _ japan? i think overwhelmingly, chose a great deal of maturityl chose a great deal of maturity from simone biles to recognise the situation she was in and to be able to step back from it in order to protect yourself. simone biles is this superstar gymnast, in the sport she is highly and widely regarded and also outside of sporting circles, lots of people all over the world know who she is. and usually when you see her competing, she competes with an effervescence, energy, big smile on herface and it has been a little bit apparent she has been struggling at these 0lympic has been struggling at these olympic games. we had seen her in qualifying a couple of days ago and she was a little bit tense, the smile was not as big on herface, there was tense, the smile was not as big on her face, there was some uncharacteristic errors from her, she did not speak to the media afterwards and she then

., ., japan? yeah, for me, those discussions _ japan? yeah, for me, those discussions about _ japan? yeah, for me, those discussions about whether i japan? yeah, for me, those i discussions about whether the olympics should be moved to a 0lympics should be moved to a different country or city, i feel why that was not taken into consideration more since we're at this point where's tokyo is in a state of emergency, ijust feel like it's not going to be 0lympic state of emergency, ijust feel like it's not going to be olympic games that people can enjoy in the right way. the people of tokyo won't be able to enjoy it either. it's just a very strange thing because this is meant to be the sporting spectacle. ijust think meant to be the sporting spectacle. i just think it's meant to be the sporting spectacle. ijust think it's really meant to be the sporting spectacle. i just think it's really sad. meant to be the sporting spectacle. ijust think it's really sad. a lot of it comes with money and a lot of it with the sponsorships, but ijust feel lik

the build—up has been fraught, but japan still wants to showjoy. and just like in 2012, there was tradition. these figures are daiku, traditional carpenters who sing as they chisel. tokyo were last host for the games in 1964, when trees were planted. the wood's being used for these olympic rings. and so, more than 200 nations converged on a city in a state of emergency. all in masks, the british team for the night was trimmed down. just 22 of them marched, led by moe sbihi and hannah mills, a rower and a sailor. this games is a year late. the ioc�*s called it the light at the end of a tunnel. the pandemic forced us apart. this separation made this tunnel so dark. but today, wherever in the world you may be, we are united in sharing this moment together. over four hours, there was fun and, too, the sense of an olympics as a tv event. it's showtime. but tokyo's showpiece has come with the world still in a pandemic. for the next 16 days, they want sport to be the focus. joe lynskey, bbc news. chair of uk sport and five time olympic medallist dame ka

rupert wingfield—hayes, bbc news, in yamagata, northern japan. a teenager is to become the youngest person to fly to space when he joins jeff bezos on the first human flight launched by his company, blue origin on 20 july. oliver daemen, who just turned 18, willjoin 82—year—old wally funk, who will become the oldest ever person in space, on the new shepard rocket. orwe go, if or we go, if you are in the northern hemisphere and wanting to go swimming, you may want to give one siberian like a mess. it is mighty chilly, where international swimmers plunge into icy waters, with temperatures as low as four celsius. maybe not for me! see you soon. hello there. our sunshine that we see believe it or not is linked to the extreme weather we've seen across other parts of europe. the flooding in germany, for example. it's linked by the jet stream. this is the pattern that we've seen. a very undulating jet stream. it means slow moving weather. we've had low pressure bringing the rain across europe. that low pressure will move eastwards. eventually taking

but we — against japan in full confidence. but we are aware we are coming up against— but we are aware we are coming up againsta— but we are aware we are coming up against a really good side. tiers; against a really good side. very tactical players. _ against a really good side. very tactical players, a _ against a really good side. very tactical players, a very - against a really good side. very tactical players, a very strong opponent. _ tactical players, a very strong opponent. and _ tactical players, a very strong opponent. and i_ tactical players, a very strong opponent, and i expect - tactical players, a very strong opponent, and i expect them| tactical players, a very strong . opponent, and i expect them to tactical players, a very strong - opponent, and i expect them to come out a _ opponent, and i expect them to come out a lot— opponent, and i expect them to come out a lot stronger _ opponent, and i expect them to come out a lot stronger than _ opponent, and i expect them to come out a lot stronger than in _ opp

we also had one of the flag bearers representing japan. i was talking to my japanese colleagues this morning is at saying tokyo was trying to show off the female governor as well as the header of, japan has long been criticised for the wider gender graph. whether or not —— gap. whether or not this representation injapan worried is —— —— whether it will lead to changes injapanese society, thatis to changes injapanese society, that is something i would be personally interested to look out for but definitely tokyo putting on that show for you and outside ofjapan as putting on that show for you and outside of japan as well. mariko, finally, the action is under way at last. so many events going on all over the place. two other key names that the japanese public will be looking out for? == the japanese public will be looking out for?— the japanese public will be looking out for? -- who are the key names- _ looking out for? -- who are the key names. we _ looking out for? -- who are the key names. we have _ looking out for? -- who ar

and as japan struggles _ were afraid. and as japan struggles to _ were afraid. and as japan struggles to host - were afraid. and as japan struggles to host tokyo l were afraid. and as japan - struggles to host tokyo 2020 we have a special report on the small towns trying to keep the olympics excitement burning. hello and welcome. the sheer scale of the flooding disaster that's hit western germany and parts of belgium and the netherlands is only now becoming clear. at least 70 people are believed to have died and many others have lost their homes. the german chancellor angela merkel called it a catastrophe and linked the events in the region to climate change. our europe correspondentjenny hill reports from one of the worst hit areas in western germany. there was, many here told us, no warning. homes destroyed, lives lost, in a matter of minutes. the water ripped up the roads, tossed cars aside like toys. we met margaretta just as she arrived back in the village of schuld. she and herfamily fled last night. "at the very last minute," she says, "a fireman got us o

and mariko, lots of people on for everyone outside japan. and mariko, lots of people know about the big names, but who else should we also be looking out for that levels will be getting behind? well, today we will be watching for ikee, this were diagnosed with leukaemia two years ago. she inspired many when she managed to qualify for this again. should the game — qualify for this again. should the game is _ qualify for this again. should the game is not _ qualify for this again. should the game is not have - qualify for this again. should the game is not have been i the game is not have been postponed from last year she probably would not have made it. but this year she made it. a lot of excitement around how she would perform, but also this weekend we will be watching forjudo, as well, there is a brother and sister hoping for double medals for the family, so a lot of excitement about them as well. great stuff, mariko oi from the olympic stadium in the centre of the city. we're down at tokyo bay. there is action to my right hand side where

for months, we've heard that japan doesn't want the games, that people are afraid. it didn't look like it tonight. the contrast between what's going on inside the olympic stadium tonight and what's going on outside in tokyo could not be more stark. because of covid, because of the state of emergency, the stadium seats are empty, and yet here we are right outside, tens of thousands of people gathered in public squares and public parks to try and glimpse a bit of the action. and if you go in the streets round here, the restaurants are all full, life is going on as normal. there's some pretty strange logic going on here. translation: i am sure the government is - taking measures to prevent the spread of the virus by separating the athletes from the public, so i'm not worried. for some, these scenes show the ban on olympic spectators is unnecessary, but with covid cases in tokyo climbing rapidly, others will say this demonstrates exactly why the spectator ban is needed. rupert wingfield—hayes, bbc news, tokyo. looking at the scenes in tokyo for the men's road race whi

japan's second seed, naomi 0saka, cruised into the next round. the world number one is out of the men's golf tournament, too — but that's before a ball has even been hit. spain'sjohn rahm and the american bryson dechambeu have both tested positive for covid—i9 and have been forced to withdraw. rahm tested positive less than two months ago, too. when he had a six—shot lead after the third round of the memorial tournament in ohio. they both returned positive pcr tests from the open at royal st george's last week. neither had yet travelled to tokyo. adam peaty is safely through to the final of the men's 100 meter breastroke. he topped the time sheets to remain on course to become the first british swimmer to retain an olympic title. but the headlines on day two in the pool were saved for 18—year—old ahmed hafnaoui. the tunisian was the slowest qualifier for the men's 400 meter freestyle final, so that meant he was in the outside lane. but a brilliant swim saw him take a shock gold — tunisia's fifth ever gold at the games. and there was a

pre—covid, japan was originally expecting around 35 million visitors in 2020. but now only vaccinated athletes and officials can attend the tokyo games this year. that number has been massively reduced. and with a capacity of the olympic village limited, many of tokyo's hotels are playing host to athletes and sports support staff from all over the world with strict sanitising protocols, regular testing and in some cases, curfews and other restrictions now in place. this hotel was not allowed to tell me which teams would be staying here but they were willing to show me some of the adjustments they had made to ensure that their sporting guests have a happy and healthy stay. in addition to ensuring the hotel is covid secure, the carpenters here have also been busy at work in readiness for some extra tall special guests. we had requests for larger beds so these are wooden bases for the extension and we will have 12 of them. so i can assume you will have some very tall athletes staying? you are correct. the normal size bed is two metres so we're extending it by 30 c

there's been a lot said about the diversity of japan's - about the diversity of japan's athletes, but i want to go back to one aspect of these olympics that is causing a lot of problems for the athletes — and that's the keep. specifically the tennis players have been talking about this. it'll be interesting to hear what osaka has to say about it on sunday, because i'm shortly asked about it, novak djokovic didn't hold back on his criticism of having to play through these conditions. the rolled number two also wants the schedule changed because of the sweltering conditions —— world number two. djokovic claims they are playing in the toughest conditions he's ever experienced. all four grand slams in the same yearan all four grand slams in the same year an olympic gold — this matters to him, he says he can't understand why the schedule starts at the time it does, he wants it pushed back later in the day, saying all courts have got lights on them. daniel medvedev calling these conditions a joke — that humidity making it feel worse. these are not the only athletes i have mentione

the hosts, japan, also won their second gold, in the pool. while the tunisian teenager, ahmed hafnaoui, stunned the field to win the men's 400 metre freestyle gold. thousands of people in the western united states are spending the weekend in evacuation centers, as wildfires continue to burn across the region. more than 80 large wildfires in 13 us states have burnt around 1.3 million acres in recent weeks. thousands of people have marched through the streets of the hungarian capital budapest, to mark the largest gay pride gathering in the country's history. it comes after viktor orban's right—wing government pushed through a law banning the portrayal of homosexual or transgender content to people under—18. now on bbc news, the travel show�*s in tokyo, host city of the olympic and paralympic games, to find out how its hotels are dealing with the influx of athletes and trainers from all over the world. this week on the travel show: outrunning covid at the olympic games. the big names rocking central park this summer. siberia's mystery blas

the campaign to make the contraceptive pill available in japan. and an imperial wedding that broke with tradition. but first we head back to 1964, ahead of the first olympic games here in tokyo when the fastest train the world had ever seen was launched. the shinkansen, or bullet train, ran between tokyo and osaka and reached a top speed of 210 kilometres an hour. witness history spoke to one of the train's first drivers. it looks like a bullet, this super express that thrusts aside all existing ideas on train speed. it runs on rail links a mile long on which it has reached 150 miles an hour on a trial run. even then it was not flat out. translation: nobody had ever gone that fast, - maybe on a plane taking off but no one had ever experienced it on land. it was just incredible, i can't explain it. well, when i got a job at japan railways, it was sort of a dream come true because before that, i did not really have a job so once i started working there, ifelt like it meant i could become part of society. after a few years, the president ofjapan rail

but it was in the judo where the host nation — japan — won its first medals. mariko oi has the details. well, japan winning its first gold medal and naohisa takato giving a very emotional interviewjust now, following funa tonaki, also ofjudo, winning silver and according to the japanese olympic committee her silver medal was the 500th medal for team japan in olympic history, so quite an exciting moment for her as well. a bit of disappointment in gymnastics with kohei uchimura not qualifying for the finals, but a lot of people will be watching rikako ikee in swimming. of course, she was diagnosed with leukaemia two years ago. she inspired many by qualifying for this year's olympic games. and let's not forget japan's women's football team, nadeshiko, up against team gb as well. and i think it is fair to say that the japanese government officials have been hoping that once the games are under way and once japanese athletes start winning medals, as we saw this evening, the public opinion may start to change. of course, we have been reporting strong public oppositi

~h. , , , changes that japan is going throu~h. , ,, ., through. despite all the controversy _ through. despite all the controversy we - through. despite all the controversy we have - through. despite all the i controversy we have seen through. despite all the - controversy we have seen some change and i have to say, that picture of you in your kimono as a young child, so cute. when you get back, you will have to show me that kimono. thank you so much. before we go, a twist on our top story — the tokyo olympics. st luke's hospital in missouri is hosting an olympics celebration of its own, dressing newborn babies in tiny team usa outfits. they're even awarding medals to the mini �*athletes'. it goes without saying that each is a gold—medal winner, of course, with a few perfect ten scores. can't imagine explaining silver to any parent. certainly i am not that competitive! that's all for now. thank you for watching. the heatwave is coming to an end, it may not feel like it right away because it's been so hot for so long. and in northern ireland

what was the reaction in japan? on. what was the reaction in ja an? . , japan? there were cheers everywhere _ japan? there were cheers everywhere from - japan? there were cheers l everywhere from minnesota japan? there were cheers - everywhere from minnesota over to here in tokyo. simone biles was one of the loudest and most vocal supporters of sunisa lee in the gymnastics arena as she was bidding to win that gold medal in the absence, of course, of simone biles. it was interesting. sunisa lee said she had not ever really considered or expected that she would win gold and with the events that have unfolded she found herself in the situation where she was the best chance for the usa to win this medal. remember they have won this eventin remember they have won this event in every edition since 2004 so they have a long and storied history. she was feeling the pressure in the buildup to it she spoke to her teammates and to biles. she got advice from them and was able to perform ever so well to go on to win the gold medal there. just a word on brazil's rebecca andrej

to go to japan-— to go to japan. the games this ear will to go to japan. the games this year will be — to go to japan. the games this year will be different. - to go to japan. the games this year will be different. while i year will be different. while there will be no fans there will be plenty of sporting drama. i don't think there is any doubt about that. stay with us here, coming up in a moment, president biden along with dozens of western elders criticised china overy major cyber attack earlier in the year. —— criticised china over a major cyber attack. see you coming down the ladder now. that's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. a catastrophic engine fire is being blamed tonight for the first crash in the 30 year history of concorde, the world's only supersonic airliner. it was one of the most vivid symbols of the violence and hatred to that tore apart the state of yugoslavia. but now a decade later, it has been painstakingly rebuilt and opens again today. there's been a 50% decrease in sp

�* ., japan, today? indeed. at the moment, we are watching _ japan, today? indeed. at the moment, we are watching the _ japan, today? indeed. at the moment, we are watching the brother _ japan, today? indeed. at the moment, we are watching the brother and - we are watching the brother and sister have been four double gold medals this evening. the system made it to the final. a matter of gold or silver and we are waiting for her brother to compete in the semifinal. we had the exciting moment with the first ever olympic gold medal for skateboarding given to yuto horigome. we went on the streets to see how people felt. translation: i used to do skateboarding l and i knew horigome, so congratulations to him for winning the gold medal. especially in this heat. and hopefully this will make the sport more popular. translation: it's a proud moment forjapan, especially given - this is the first gold medal for skateboarding at the olympics. translation: i wasn't too excited | about the olympics, because of allj |the scandals but it does make mej happy to see good performance

it's the work of a group of artists in japan. translation: our pro'ect is about connecting i different countries. i'm really excited about the games. i've watched every olympic since i was a little girl and i'm so happy thatjapan is hosting it. first, they research the history and the meaning of a country's flag. for example, the mexican flag has an eagle perched on a cactus eating a snake — so they've incorporated all those elements in the mexican samurai. sometimes, they hold polls on twitter asking people to vote for the most iconic symbol or object from a country. the designs are really sophisticated. just look at the details. maple leafs for canada, a sherlock holmes monocle for the uk, and of coursejapan — in a traditional kimono. translation: samurais | because we want everyone to get to know traditional japanese culture. and we drew them as anime characters because anime is famous all over the world. with the designs they're creating, the artists hope that people injapan and around the world will get excited about the

thank you forjoining me here in japan's capital, tokyo _ hello. thank you forjoining me here in japan's capital, tokyo for- hello. thank you forjoining me here in japan's capital, tokyo for this - injapan�*s capital, tokyo for this special edition of witness history, celebrating five extraordinary moments injapanese history as told to us by people where they are. coming up, the trees that survived the atomic bombing in hiroshima and stand as beacons of hope. the campaign to make the contraceptive pill available injapan. and an imperial wedding that broke with tradition. but first we head back to 1964, ahead of the first olympic games here in tokyo when the faster strain the world had ever seen was launched. the bullet train ran between tokyo and osaka and reached a top speed of 210 kilometres an hour. witness history spoke to one of the train�*s first drivers. it of the train's first drivers. it looks like a bullet, this super express. it runs on rail links a mile long on which it has reached 150 miles an hour on a trial run. even then it was

in ethics, also another disappointment for japan. known as the king, here injapan. buta japan. known as the king, here injapan. but a lot of excitement by the first gold medal, takato naohisa. an emotional expression in ever newspapers here. he had a disappointment in the rear games when he got bronze stop —— rio. buti games when he got bronze stop —— rio. but i could sense that sport headlines are now starting to headline the newspapers which is exactly what the government was hoping for because we have been talking about all the controversy and scandals but now sporting headlines now overtaking. now sporting headlines now overtaking-— now sporting headlines now overtakina. ~ ., , ., , overtaking. who should we be lookin: overtaking. who should we be looking out — overtaking. who should we be looking out for _ overtaking. who should we be looking out for on _ overtaking. who should we be looking out for on day - overtaking. who should we be looking out for on day two - overtaking. who should we be looking out for on day two of. looking out for on day two of the jap

to canned japan at show— coming to fruition. to canned japan at show itself off? japan could not have 40 _ at show itself off? japan could not have 40 million tourists they had planned — have 40 million tourists they had planned to have for the olympics coming _ planned to have for the olympics coming into the country. i mean japan _ coming into the country. i mean japan is — coming into the country. i mean japan is still currently closed to foreigners visiting the country. economically it is an absolute disasten _ economically it is an absolute disaster. the population ofjapan has nothing from the games, they cannot— has nothing from the games, they cannot watch them, they are really afraid _ cannot watch them, they are really afraid of— cannot watch them, they are really afraid of the athletes being brought in. afraid of the athletes being brought in the _ afraid of the athletes being brought in. the anti—olympic protest has gained _ in. the anti—olympic protest has gained traction. yeah, so that it is unfortunate — gained traction. yeah, so that i

a wonderful win for the hosts, japan, in that. there was also a big win for them in the pool, as yui ohashi won gold in the women's 400 metres individual medley. there was also a great win for tunisia, as 18—year—old ahmed hafnaoui won gold for them. that was the first gold of the games and just their fifth olympic gold in total. and then the australia women smashed the world record to claim victory in the 4 x 100 metres freestyle. elsewhere, we have had the surfing taking place today with the heats in that, that's one of the other new sports here. but we have had some big shocks in the tennis, as the world number one, ash barty, is out of that in the opening round. remember, she came in as wimbledon champion here. the organisers at that event have also been forced to put in the extreme heat policy, which allows them to monitor the health and safety of the players in the court in the very high temperatures in tokyo. one other news line we have had today as we deal with covid—19 cases linked to these games sincejuly the 1st h

— sport, and i'm excited to go to japan it— sport, and i'm excited to go to japan. it will be a good event. hopefully we get some good waves, — hopefully we get some good waves, you know and we will make — waves, you know and we will make the _ waves, you know and we will make the best of it. i know that— make the best of it. i know that we're not going to have people — that we're not going to have people on the beach there, not many, — people on the beach there, not many, know, like we used to but, — many, know, like we used to but. yeah. _ many, know, like we used to but, yeah, i know everyone will be on _ but, yeah, i know everyone will be on the — but, yeah, i know everyone will be on the internetjust rooting for us — be on the internetjust rooting for us and _ be on the internetjust rooting for us and yeah, appreciating all the — for us and yeah, appreciating all the love and support they give, — all the love and support they give, they give us. surfing is really— give, they give us. surfing is really an_ give, they give us. surfing is rea

where although the opening ceremony is still two days away, the action has got underway with hosts japan kicking things off in softball. and the billionaires space race heats up as amazon founderjeff bezos launches to the edge of the cosmos — taking him on an emotional high. oh my god! my expectations were high and they were dramatically exceeded. welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe his words could hardly be more timely. the us climate envoy, john kerry, has delivered an impassioned warning about the risks of climate change — and the urgency of acting now. speaking in london as floods devastate parts of europe and china, and heatwaves and wildfires sweep across north america, mr kerry warned that the world cannot wait for the pandemic to end to tackle climate change. the climate crisis, my friends, is the test of our times. and while some may still believe it is unfolding in slow motion, no. this test is now as acute and as existential as any previous one. the irony should not be lost on us that it is young people around the world who are calling on adults t

does _ like he said itjust so he and japan does not — like he said itjust so he and japan does not get accused of forging ahead _ does not get accused of forging ahead with the games despite the risk of— ahead with the games despite the risk of this becoming a super spreader— risk of this becoming a super spreader event. and they have been quite _ spreader event. and they have been quite a _ spreader event. and they have been quite a lot— spreader event. and they have been quite a lot of criticism injapan that— quite a lot of criticism injapan that those officials and politicians say one _ that those officials and politicians say one thing to foreign immediate and its— say one thing to foreign immediate and it's a _ say one thing to foreign immediate and it's a big flood in different to japanese — and it's a big flood in different to japanese media and the public because — japanese media and the public because they seem to think what foreiqn _ because they seem to think what foreign media want to hear it different— foreign media want to hear it different to what the jap

rupert wingfield hayes, bbc news, ichinomiya, japan. you can reach me on twitter — i'm @ ben m boulos. plenty more at the olympics and the other news we have covered on the website and on the bbc news app whenever you wanted. the headlines in the business news in just a few minutes, don't go away. hello. the forecast for the next few days is looking quite turbulent and at times very wet indeed, with some torrential, heavy, thundery downpours, albeit with some sunny spells in between. now, let's take a look at the recent satellite picture because you can see all of these areas of cloud just rotating around, circulating on top of the uk, and this pattern continues with low pressure firmly in charge. close to the centre of the low, particularly, we are going to see some really intense downpours and thunderstorms popping up during tuesday. so, some cloud and some showery rain from the word go across western and southern parts, a bit more sunshine further east. but through the day, the showers will pop up quite widely, and some of them wil

japan can't show itself off. japan couldn't have a0 million tourists that they had planned to have for the olympics coming into the country. japan is still completely closed to foreigners visiting the country. economically, it is an absolute disaster. the population of japan has nothing from the games, they can't watch them. they are really afraid of the virus being brought in. the anti—olympic protest has gained traction. and that is unfortunate. everything else, we will have to wait but these big dreams don't come true. more on the flooding in china. tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from the region of henan in china as officials confirmed that at least 33 people have died. they include a dozen commuters in the zhengzhou who were caught on the city's underground, as the carriages filled with water. zhengzhou had a year's worth of rain in three days — and more is forecast. robin brant is there. the rain has stopped for now, but some of the roads are still like rivers — evidence of how overwhe

here is our correspondent rupert wingfield—hayes in japan. this is the pacific coast of japan, about an hour and a half drive east of tokyo. this place is called ichinomiya, and it's really popular with the local surfers. you can see today the waves are pretty lively. that's because we've got a typhoon living in. when you think of surfing coming probably think of the north shore of hawaii or the gold coast of australia or maybe bali, notjapan. but actually surfing is really, really popular here injapan. it's estimated around 2 millionjapanese regularly get on a surfboard. this group of young surfers left home in tokyo before 4am this morning in order to be in the water before six a:m. the waves here are best early in the morning, before it gets too windy. this beach isjust two km from where the olympic surfing competition is being held. so how do they feel about not being able to go along and watch? translation: it does not feel right not to be able to go and watch - ourselves. other people may say it's not fair to have spectators at surfing

is going — some changes that japan is going through. —— benin. thank you very much forjoining us, a wonderful report and just on a whole range of emotions that i think everyone is feeling about these olympic games and to let you know, opening ceremony is hours away, there has been action already, the rowing venue is over to my right hand side and there have been some heat in that today, along with some artery and shooting and equestrian and i know i will be back a little later on where we can focus more on the spot, sam. sarah, we will see _ more on the spot, sam. sarah, we will see you _ more on the spot, sam. sarah, we will see you then. _ more on the spot, sam. sarah, | we will see you then. thank you for that. we will see you then. thank you forthat. —— we will see you then. thank you for that. —— focus on the sport. let�*s get some of the day�*s other news. the united states has accused china of "stonewalling" an international investigation into the origins of covid—19. the white house said china�*s reluctance to allow the wo

as you heard, some people voicing concerns about those overseas athletes and staff arriving into japan, but can you actually see behind me, i nearly forgot, tokyo is now under the state of emergency, and this is not a strict lockdown, there is no penalty, evenif lockdown, there is no penalty, even if you don't follow the rules, but when the state of emergency was first declared backin emergency was first declared back in april last year, people are getting a bit tired of it, and i can also sense that a lot of people who were against the olympic games, they are now just starting to give up, the games were going to go ahead of regardless of how they feel about it and they are just hoping it goes smoothly and safely with no rising covid cases, but we are seeing covid cases, but we are seeing covid cases inside the village but also in the japanese capital, we are seeing an increasing number of covid—i9 cases as well, so definitely not a good start. thank you very much, we're down here in the south of tokyo, this is tokyo bay, a lot of the events will be around here, the olympic village i