Where’s the buzz?

Asian Games - Aichi-Nagoya 2026 - Previews - Nagoya, Japan - September 18, 2026 A play equipment featuring Asian Games mascot Honohon is installed at the One Asia World fan zone at Hisaya-Odori Park in Nagoya REUTERS/Issei Kato TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

NAGOYA: Five years after the Tokyo Olympics unfolded to empty stadiums, the Asian Games offer Japan another chance to throw open the gates to fans and enjoy a major multi-sport event with a proper atmosphere.

But a day before today’s opening ceremony in Nagoya, the mood was decidedly low-key among some locals.