NAGOYA, Aug 23 — With the Asian Games less than a month away, businesses and local authorities in Nagoya are stepping up preparations to welcome spectators from Japan and abroad, ranging from special events such as a cosplay parade at a shopping arcade to the training of hotel staff to better serve guests, Kyodo News reported.
Located in the heart of the capital of Aichi Prefecture, the Osu shopping district is abuzz with plans to give a warm welcome to visitors in the run-up to the games from Sept 19 through Oct 4. Offering people the experience of pounding a Japanese mochi rice cake and a cosplay parade are in the works, organisers say.
The district, known for restaurants serving international cuisine, maid cafes and vintage clothing shops, is home to more than 1,000 businesses and draws an estimated 70,000 to 80,000 visitors per day on weekends and holidays.
“We want to step up our efforts even further to welcome visitors from overseas,” said Shoji Hotta, 67, head of the shopping district’s association.
The association plans to decorate its covered arcade with the flags of participating countries and regions and set up a photo spot modelled on a medal podium. It expects daily visitor numbers to rise to between 120,000 and 140,000 during the games.
Nagoya is also working to improve the environment through a project launched in July to improve water quality in the Horikawa River in the city centre.
The central Japan city has also recruited about 1,200 supporters to provide tourist information and other assistance during the global sporting event.
Since last September, the Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel, directly connected to JR Nagoya Station, has been holding training sessions twice a month to help employees assist foreign visitors and people with disabilities.
“The training has made me more confident about stepping in to help guests,” said Ryo Tanaka, 26, who handles the reception desk and other guest services. “I want to make sure each guest is supported well.”
To encourage broader audiences, the Aichi prefectural government will allow some students to attend not only the Asian Games but also the Asian Para Games, to be held from Oct 18 to 24, for up to two days without being marked absent.
