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To: Danny Tanner
From: I.P. Freely
Subject: The impacts of the 2020 Olympics on Japanese infrastructure
This report will explore the impacts of the 2020 Olympics on the infrastructure of Japanese cities ahead of
the games. Specifically, it will look at the impacts this event is having on language barriers, rental
accommodations for visitors, and transportation in Olympic cities.
Impact on traditional language barriers
Overcoming language barriers in and around Tokyo and the other main Olympic sites has been one of the
main initiatives set out by the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. In the article Destination Development: Trends in
Japan’s Inbound Tourism, Henderson notes that the Japanese Tourism Association has been working to
ensure that information on signs related to emergency procedures have been provided in different
languages. This has also been matched by an attempt to anglicize Japanese road signs, making the names
of streets and cities more recognizable to those travelling to Japan for the games (2017). Aside from
ensuring that signs are more accessible, there has also been a push to educate translators who will assist
visitors navigating Tokyo 2020. Volunteers from various universities around Japan have been a part of
language lessons, which improve translation and interpretation skills, and are centered towards the
English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and Portuguese languages. These have been facilitated and taught by
professionals in the field of translating sporting events and broadcasts (Kikuchi, 2017). Japan have also
been pushing tech start-ups and technology-based institutions to develop translation tools, either apps or
devices, to help overcome daily translation articles. Telecom operator, NTT D°CoMo developed an app
called JSpeak, which is designed specifically for hospitality employees who may have difficulty
translating for their guests. Other technologies like this are emerging, and starting to reduce technology
costs overall (Craft, 2016). This massive infrastructural undertaking has touched on multiple social
sectors, from education to business, and is currently helping to break down communication barriers ahead
of 2020.
Impact on rental accommodation
The impact of preparation for Tokyo 2020 can also be seen in the hospitality sector. While 20 million
tourists visited Japan in 2017, Japan has set a goal of 40 million people in 2020. As the traditional
accommodation is not yet equipped to meet this influx, the government has uncharacteristically loosened
their regulations surrounding the sharing economy (Can share, won’t share; Airbnb and Uber in Japan,
2018). Heuclin notes that companies like Airbnb are hoping that this will equate to an increase in their
foothold in Japan (a country which has historically opposed it), although there is still much confusion as
to what impacts this will actually have. For now, the government has set a cap on the number of days
which an accommodation can be rented out, which sits at 180 days per year. As well, all rental units must
be registered with the government, which may have unforeseen impacts on how the sharing economy can
operate (2018). There have also been developments in the traditional accommodation sector, which has
seen developments in and around Tokyo built over the past five years. These are typically state of the art
facilities, and some of them occupy pre-existing buildings such as the Otemachi Tower in Tokyo station,
or the Hotel Gracery, which has built in Godzilla themed rooms to appeal to those with pop culture
sensibilities (Southan, 2016). While tension still exists between the sharing economy and the traditional
hospitality economy, there seems to be some willingness to work with more experimental markets by the
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Japanese government. At the same time, Japan is working to have enough hotels for the many tourists
who will come around the time of the games.
Transportation in Olympic cities
The Tokyo 2020 planning team has outlined key transportation goals for the Olympic games. This is
defined by the following features (n.d.):

 28 of 33 Tokyo venues have been built within 8km of the Olympic village, and served by a
network of public transport.
 The development of 607 km of specific lanes and ‘Olympic Priority Routes’ which will connect
key venues of the games.
 Automated traffic control via a specifically developed ITS system.
 Shuttle bus and park-ride services which will help keep traffic in downtown centers to a
minimum.
The plan set out by Tokyo 2020 also gives special focus to the development of the ‘Tokyo Port Seaside
Road’ in order to give visitors a more scenic view of the city. This document also outlines specific
environmental measures to be taken. Ring roads around major cities, as well as the Metropolitan
Expressway Harumi Route, will cut down on inner city traffic and reduce emissions as a result. While
this is tenuous, it seems feasible if the roads contribute to cutting travel time according to plan. Japanese
media has also been pushing issues related to transportation and the Olympics. As 2020 marks Google’s
target year for the commercialization of self-driving cars, many are fixated on the idea of using the games
to show off Japan’s tech savvy, and implement self-driving cars as shuttles for athletes both to and from
events (Greimel & Nelson, 2015). While some of these initiatives are still in the works of being
completed, Japan seems committed to upholding measures to ensure that traffic is cut down in city
centers, and that individuals have ease of access to the various venues of the 2020 Olympics.
Summary
It is apparent that Japan’s commitment to overcoming language barriers, improving accommodation
options, and improving transportation routes is important from perspectives of both common sense and
national pride. As Tokyo 2020 moves closer, it will become clearer as to whether these goals will be met,
though work continues to make sure that the spectacle of the Olympics reflects well on Japanese
infrastructure and development.
References
Can share, won't share; Airbnb and Uber in Japan. (2018). The Economist, p. 57(US). Academic OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A542667348/AONE?u=ko_acd_nic&sid=AONE&xid=7e95b
369. Accessed 15 Jan. 2019.
Craft, L. (2016). Lip Service. ASEE Prism, 26(4), 30-33. Retrieved from
https://login.proxy.library.niagarac.on.ca/login?url=https://search-proquest-
com.proxy.library.niagarac.on.ca/docview/1891732142?accountid=39476
Greimel, H., & Nelson, G. (2015). Japan inc.'s 2020 vision: Self-driving cars on the road. Automotive
News, 89(6697), 1. Retrieved from
https://login.proxy.library.niagarac.on.ca/login?url=https://search-proquest-
com.proxy.library.niagarac.on.ca/docview/1730276809?accountid=39476
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Henderson, J. C. (2017). Destination Development: Trends in Japan’s Inbound Tourism. International

Journal of Tourism Research, 19(1), 89–98. https://doi-
org.proxy.library.niagarac.on.ca/10.1002/jtr.2088
Heuclin, M. (2018). Japan’s new ‘Airbnb law’: a double edged sword. In Phys.org. Retrieved from
https://phys.org/news/2018-05-japan-airbnb-law-double-edged-sword.html
Kikuchi, D. (2017). Japan aims to overcome language, cultural barriers before 2020 games. Japan Times.
Retrieved from https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/01/06/national/japan-aims-overcome-
language-cultural-barriers-2020-games/#.XD43-1xPHIU
Southan, J. (2016, January-February). Time to shine: despite challenges to its economy, Tokyo remains
one of the world's biggest economic powerhouses--and as it prepares to host the 2020 Olympics,
its infrastructure and service industries are receiving a welcome boost. Business Traveller Asia
Pacific, 38+. Retrieved from
http://link.galegroup.com.proxy.library.niagarac.on.ca:8080/apps/doc/A452067106/PPTH?u=ko_
acd_nic&sid=PPTH&xid=e1615a94
Tokyo 2020. (n.d.). 13. Transport. Retrieved from https://tokyo2020.org/en/games/plan/data/candidate-
section-13-ENFR.pdf