The Japan Olympic Committee has given Sapporo the green light to enter the dialogue stage of the 2030 Winter Games bid process with the International Olympic ...Itlookslikeyou'reusinganadblocker.Toenjoyourcontent,pleaseincludeTheJapanTimesonyourad-blocker'slistofapprovedsites.Thankyouforsupportingourjournalism.MENUSearchNewsOpinionLifeCommunityCultureSportsCityGuideSupportSearchSearchRugbySoccerSumoBaseballBasketballFigureSkatingTennisMoreSportsOlympicsColumnsMultimediaNewsNationalWorldBusinessAsiaPacificReferenceColumnsMultimediaOpinionEditorialsCommentaryCartoonsLifeTravelDigitalFood&DrinkEnvironmentStyle&DesignLanguageLifestylePeopleColumnsMultimediaCommunityVoicesIssuesOurLivesEventlistingsHow-tosColumnsCultureFilmMusicArtStageEventsFestivalsBooksTVColumnsMultimediaSportsRugbyBaseballSoccerBasketballSumoFigureSkatingTennisMoreSportsColumnsMultimediaCityGuideRestaurantsPlacesSupportAboutusFaqsTOPICSAlpineskiingBiathlonBobsledCross-countryskiingCurlingFigureskatingFreestyleskiingIcehockeyLugeNordiccombinedSkeletonSkijumpingSnowboardingSpeedskatingDailywrap-upMedalstandingsJapaneseAthletesProfilesMaryHarveysaidtheIOC,whichawardedthegames,couldplayanessentialroleinupholdingbasichumanrights.WHAT’STRENDINGEDITORS’PICKS'CurryPolice':AproblematicmusicvideoleadstoaproblematicbacklashAdo'sdefianthitisacoming-of-agemomentforJapan'sVocaloidcultureSugaextendsJapan'sCOVID-19stateofemergencytoJune20SomeCOVID-19measuresmayremainevenafterJapanliftsemergencyCOVID-19newsupdates100yearsafterTulsaracemassacre,AfricanAmericansstillfeeloutcastOsakatoldtospeaktomediaorriskexpulsionfromFrenchOpenJapan'notinthemood'forleaders'summitwithSouthKoreaatG7Flexibleapproach:JapanmunicipalitiesgetOKtovaccinatemorethanjustolderpeopleForsomeofJapan'slonelyworkers,COVID-19bringsahomecomingSupportourjournalismStayinginformedduringtimesofuncertaintyiscrucial,whichiswhyTheJapanTimesisprovidingfreeaccesstoselectstoriesaboutthecoronaviruspandemic.Pleaseconsidersubscribingtodayandsupportoureffortstodelive