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More and more voices are calling for postponement or cancellation of the games.

The Tokyo Olympics, repeatedly delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, are scheduled to finally run in just a few short months. However, as Japan continues to wrestle with the virus and vaccination efforts, more and more confusing rules and provisos have been put in place in an increasingly complicated effort to keep the games as pandemic-compliant as possible while still running them. It’s gotten to the point where a large portion of the Japanese population, about 60-80% according to recent opinion polls, would prefer the games just be scrapped altogether so the country can focus on more important things. The latest voice in the opposition to the games is none other than one of Japan’s most prominent news outlets.

Asahi Shimbun, one of Japan’s most popular and significant newspapers, not to mention the second-largest circulating newspaper in the entire world, published an editorial today with a rather concise title: “We Demand PM Suga Decide Cancellation.”

“Distrust and backlash against the reckless national government, Tokyo government and stakeholders in the Olympics are nothing but escalating,” the editorial reads. “We demand Prime Minister Suga to calmly evaluate the circumstances and decide the cancellation of the summer event.”

“Despite its overgrown size and excessive commercialism and many other problems, the Olympics have been supported because of empathy for its ideals. … But what is the reality now?” the editorial asked.

Major newspaper & official sponsor of Tokyo #Olympics calls for cancelation. Asahi Shimbun writes scathing editorial, asking what's the point of Olympics if it's against the will of people & threatening health. Does this pave the way for other sponsors to speak out? @EarlyStart pic.twitter.com/VFMFDL140r

— Selina Wang (@selinawangtv) May 26, 2021

Currently, no foreign spectators will be permitted to attend the Tokyo Olympics, and the organizers have not yet decided whether or not any spectators will be allowed, period. As for the athletes, the WHO has ruled that allowing the 15,000 Olympic athletes into the country to compete should be safe, but many countries have expressed doubts and concerns, with several imposing travel advisories and restrictions to Japan.