The prospect of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga conducting active diplomacy with foreign leaders during the Tokyo Olympics remains uncertain, was struggling to set visits with foreign leaders under a fresh COVID-19 state of emergency that will run for the duration of the games.
The United States and China have decided not to send their leaders to the Olympics, which will open July 23 and end Aug. 8. North Korea, meanwhile, pulled its whole team of athletes from the games earlier in the year.
South Korea is coordinating a visit by President Moon Jae-in timed for the opening ceremony. But his bid to repair soured ties with Japan has met with reluctance from Suga due to Moon's handling of wartime issues.