Nagoya, Japan, August 22, 2026: The torch relay for the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya next month is officially underway.
After three fires from Tokyo, Hiroshima and Nagoya converged to light the Asian Games flame at Nagoya Castle on Saturday, Japan’s three-time Olympic champion wrestler Saori Yoshida collected the torch and started the relay.
The torch relay will involve 1,000 participants and cover all 40 municipalities of Aichi Prefecture and 16 wards of Nagoya city before coming to an end on September 18 – one day before the opening ceremony of the 20th Asian Games at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium.
It was a grand occasion on Saturday, as the flames from Japan’s two previous Asian Games host cities - Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994 - came together to join the flame from Nagoya to light the cauldron.
Then, Yoshida – a 13-time world champion and four-time Asian Games champion – had the honour of lighting the torch from the cauldron.
Among the VIP guests to witness the celebration were the President of organizing committee AINAGOC, Mr. Hideaki Ohmura, Governor of Aichi Prefecture; the Mayor of Nagoya City, Mr. Ichiro Hirosawa; OCA Vice President Mr. Tsunekazu Takeda, and the President of the Japanese Olympic Committee, Ms. Seiko Hashimoto.
Women’s football icon Homare Sawa and retired tennis player Kimiko Date brought the fires kindled at Tokyo's National Stadium on August 18 and in Hiroshima two days later.
Takeru Goto, a member of Japanese boy band INI and an official ambassador for the Games, kindled the Nagoya fire with a concave mirror before the three fires were merged.
Yoshida said the Asian Games held special memories for her.
"I've always been on the competing side, but this time I'm on the cheering side. I ran with the hope of giving the athletes energy," said Yoshida.
“I hope the feelings of every torchbearer will give strength to the athletes competing at the Asian Games."
The flame was then handed to local torchbearers and carried through central Nagoya. Saturday's route included Meijo Park, Hisaya-odori Park, the Oasis 21 complex and the Nakagawa Canal. The flame will be divided after the opening-day relay and carried along two routes across Aichi Prefecture. It will also include a schools’ relay from September 7-15 involving 14 schools.
The 20th Asian Games will be held from September 19 to October 4, featuring 43 sports, 71 disciplines and 469 events and 11,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions across Asia.
