JOC president Seiko Hashimoto acknowledges problems at Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, says 'that isn’t the whole story'

Seiko Hashimoto, president of the Japanese Olympic Committee, said at a press conference in Nagoya on October 3, 2026 that “there were many problems” that marred the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and cautioned that harsh criticism “isn’t the whole story.” She added there were positive experiences for some participants alongside the issues she acknowledged.

Organisers abandoned a traditional Athletes' Village as a cost-cutting measure, a decision that Hashimoto said contributed to cramped lodgings and transport difficulties during the Games, which officially began on September 19. To house roughly 17,000 athletes and officials the organisers relied on a mix of hotel rooms, temporary wooden containers and a cruise ship, arrangements Hashimoto said produced both complaints and praise.

Hashimoto pointed to feedback that life aboard the cruise ship could be a favourable experience, saying: “It is also true that there were many problems, although we also heard people say living aboard the cruise ship was a very good experience, with extremely good food — not only the Japanese food — and hospitality, including that from the volunteers.”

She defended some of the innovations as experiments intended to reduce costs and explore alternatives for future events, saying: “I think there were many things we tried for the first time at these Games. We made use of a cruise ship, for example, as well as transportable container-type accommodations. “When we think about future international competitions and the varied circumstances in different countries and regions, by trying these new approaches this time, we were able to present possibilities…'by making use of this, perhaps our country or our region could also stage an international competition'. We were able to present that kind of major, forward-looking — or pioneering — possibility.”

On the organisational learning required, Hashimoto said improvements were necessary and that the criticisms must be addressed: “How to overcome these challenges is the skillset we need to improve upon. This will pave the way for enhancing our future ability to organise and run an event (such as this). We also received harsh criticisms because of the challenges we faced. I am fully aware of that. This is all part of the Games, but we need to analyse those issues, so we can tackle them for the next future opportunity. “There are so many things we could have done better in retrospect. So we’d like to take these lessons and learn.”

She also attributed some scheduling disruption to weather and to the late addition of multiple sports within a year, noting that events such as equestrian and rowing were postponed or compressed: “Prior to the event, we were hit by a typhoon, and multiple typhoons came to Japan and hitting the area during the competition. Multiple events had to change their schedules. Adapting to that changeable environment has been quite tough but the organising committee was able to manage that situation, I believe. “There are things that cannot be resolved through human effort, no matter what the organising committee does, and I think that means co-existence with nature. “We received reports that heavy rain (fell at some) part of the athletes’ accommodations and caused considerable difficulties. Even with things that are beyond our control, it is important to anticipate and prepare for them.”

Hashimoto welcomed Japan’s on-field results, saying the host nation had recorded its highest-ever medal total: “This is the highest (medal count) in our history and I would like to extend my deepest thanks to all those who have given Team Japan their enthusiastic support, particularly for the young athletes, who have developed so much and performed so well, which was really our focus for these Games.” Japan crossed the 250 medal mark with more than 75 gold, while China led the standings with more than 325 medals including 165 gold.

Hashimoto said the organising committee must study the problems encountered so they can be addressed at the next opportunity, noting that analysis and lessons learned are required to improve future hosting, and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will conclude on Sunday (October 4, 2026).