"Imagine One Asia"... Grand Opening Ceremony for the Aichi–Nagoya Asian Games

Shin Yu-bin and Kim Dong-yong lead the Korean team as 16th to enter the stadium
Kabuki and Karakuri highlight the stage, with Nagoya Castle making an appearance
Japan hosts Asian Games for the third time, competitions run through October 4

The grand opening ceremony of the 20th Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games took place on September 19, 2026, at the Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium in Nagoya, Japan.

The ceremony was attended by Kirsty Coventry, Chair of the International Olympic Committee (IOC); Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA); and Hideaki Ohmura, Governor of Aichi Prefecture and Chair of the Organizing Committee. Representing the Korean government, Choi Hwi-Young, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, was also present at the venue.

This marks the third time in history and the first time in 32 years that the Summer Asian Games are being held in Japan, following the Tokyo Games in 1958 and the Hiroshima Games in 1994. This year’s competition, running through October 4, features participation from around 10,000 athletes, representing 45 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) under the OCA, as well as a refugee team. They will compete for 469 gold medals across 43 sports and 71 sub-categories. The official slogan, “Imagine One Asia,” emphasizes the unity and solidarity of Asia.

A performance is taking place at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games held on the 19th at Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium in Nagoya, Japan. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

A performance is taking place at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games held on the 19th at Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya, Japan. Photo by Yonhap News

The opening ceremony was directed by Yuki-hiko Tsutsumi, a Nagoya-born producer. After Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako were seated as guests of honor, the event began with a performance titled “Resonating Heartbeat.”

Japanese violinist Taro Hakase performed a solo on a heart-shaped stage symbolizing the heart and love, joined by 240 local citizens in colorful ponchos, expressing a warm welcome. At the end of the performance, the participants assembled to form the seven letters spelling “WELCOME.”

Next, Keiko Toda, a voice actress and actress from Nagoya, sang the Japanese national anthem while the flag was raised. The athletes' parade proceeded in English alphabetical order, with Afghanistan entering first. South Korea, categorized as “Korea,” marched in 16th place, between Kazakhstan and Kuwait.

On the 19th, the Korean delegation entered the track and field stadium at Mizuho Park in Nagoya, Japan, during the opening ceremony of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Shin Yubin, table tennis star, and Kim Dongyong, rowing athlete, led the Korean delegation as flag bearers. As the Korean athletes entered, Minister Choi Hwi-Young and Yoo Seungmin, President of the Korea Sports & Olympic Committee, were seen cheering from the stands on camera.

The North Korean team entered eighth, and the host nation Japan marched in last, as the 46th delegation, following the OCA Refugee Team, which entered 45th.

Following the welcoming speech by Hideaki Ohmura, Governor of Aichi Prefecture, and a response from Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the OCA, Emperor Naruhito declared the Games officially open. The OCA flag was subsequently raised, and representatives of athletes and judges took their oaths.

At the opening ceremony of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games held on the 19th at Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium in Nagoya, Japan, the official mascot of the event, Honohon, is performing the main show. Photo by Yonhap News

A celebratory performance themed “Heartbeat” followed. Actors from the Nakamuraya family, one of the most prominent kabuki families in Japan, appeared on stage. Kabuki, which originated in the early 17th century during the Edo period, was designated as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008. Three kabuki actors performed in midair suspended by wires, captivating the audience, while around 30 dancers delivered a spectacular routine against a backdrop of a Nagoya Castle replica.

This was followed by an entertaining and lively performance by dancers using “karakuri,” traditional Japanese mechanized puppets. The show concluded with the event’s official mascot, Honohon, joining children on stage for the finale.

Next was the torch lighting ceremony. Akari Fujinami, gold medalist in women’s wrestling at the 2024 Paris Olympics, carried the torch into the stadium. The flame was passed in sequence to Kosuke Kitajima (swimming), winner of four Olympic gold medals; Koji Ito (Athletics); and Ayaka Takahashi (badminton).

At the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games opening ceremony held on the 19th at the Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium in Nagoya, Japan, Koji Murofushi, a medalist in hammer throw at the 2004 Athens Olympics, and his father Shigenobu Murofushi are carrying the final torch. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The final torchbearers were the Murofushi family. Koji Murofushi, 2004 Athens Olympic gold medalist in hammer throw, received the torch from Takahashi, then ascended the stage with his father, Shigenobu Murofushi, to ignite the cauldron together. Shigenobu Murofushi is a legendary athlete who won the men's hammer throw at the Asian Games five consecutive times.

After the torch lighting, Taro Hakase and other performers returned to the stage for a dazzling closing performance to conclude the ceremony.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.