Fukushima residents express their understanding about the cancellation of the Olympic torch relay.
RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT VIDEO SHOWS: FUKUSHIMA RESIDENTS SPEAKING OUTSIDE FUKUSHIMA STATION ABOUT THEIR REACTION TO THE OLYMPICS TORCH RELAY CANCELLATION, BUS PARKING, EXTERIOR OF STATION, PEDESTRIANS WALKING OUTSIDE STATION SHOWS: FUKUSHIMA, JAPAN (MARCH 26, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1.
EXTERIOR OF FUKUSHIMA STATION 2.
BUS PARKING 3.
(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 31-YEAR-OLD HOUSEWIFE, MAI SAKATA, SAYING: "To be honest, it's a little unfortunate.
I was looking forward to the torch relay, but with the coronavirus, I think the (Olympics) postponement was the correct move in order to make people feel safe." 4.
ENTRANCE OF FUKUSHIMA STATION 5.
(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 16-YEAR-OLD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, YU KURASHIGE, SAYING: "I think the torch relay is something that's really important for Japan but this time cancellation was unavoidable.
The most important thing is everyone's safety, so it was unavoidable." 6.
PEDESTRIANS WALKING TOWARDS FUKUSHIMA STATION 7.
(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 20-YEAR-OLD STUDENT, NAO NITTA, SAYING: "The Olympics were delayed, so there's really a feeling of sadness.
I'm 20 this year and I thought this would be a memory to mark that, but it's gone away so I'm sad." 8.
PEOPLE OUTSIDE FUKUSHIMA STAT ION 9.
(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 36-YEAR-OLD SUPERMARKET CLERK, ADACHI, SAYING: "I can only say it's unfortunate, there's nothing we can do.
But with the world in this kind of situation it can't be helped.
Personally I wanted to see the torch relay so it's unfortunate.
I've given up." 10.
PEOPLE OUTSIDE FUKUSHIMA STATION 11.
(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TRAVEL BUSINESS WORKER, KUMIKO SAITO, SAYING: "It's better in a situation where everyone can have fun than one where people are feeling uneasy.
I think of it as a delay, not a cancellation, so I hope the relay will start in circumstances where people can enjoy themselves.
I will look forward to it until it starts." 12.
SIDEWALK OUTSIDE FUKUSHIMA STATION 13.
TEMPERATURE GAUGE OUTSIDE STATION 14.
FLOWER DISPLAY OUTSIDE STATION 15.
PEOPLE TAKING SELFIE STORY: Fukushima residents expressed their understanding about the cancellation of Olympic torch relay though still felt sadness on Wednesday (March 26) after they had been looking forward to seeing it begin from their home prefecture.
The relay had been set to begin today, but was scrapped after the International Olympic Committee postponed the 2020 Olympics by a year because of the coronavirus epidemic.
Fukushima was hard hit by the 2011 earthquake and nuclear disaster and so was chosen as the starting point for the torch relay as a symbol of the "Recovery Games," as the Japanese government has called these Olympics.
Tokyo 2020 organisers have said the flame will remain in Fukushima prefecture for now but it is undecided where it will be stored or if it will be available for public viewing.
(Production: Christopher Gallagher)
Residents in Japan's Fukushima are saddened by the cancellation of the Olympic torch relay, which was supposed to begin in..