Meet the unsung stars determined to make the Olympics a success

From engineers to volunteers, behind-the-scenes players rise to the occasion

Mascots 2.jpg

Tomohisa Moridaira poses with Miraitowa, left, and Someity, the mechanical mascots developed by his team at Toyota.

Words by FIONA WILSON and JUNICHI TOYOFUKU, Photography by NAOYUKI OBAYASHI

As Tokyo gets set to host the Olympics and Paralympics after 2020's false start, a multitude of behind-the-scenes players have long been exercising their minds to ensure a gold-standard games. We meet some of the unsung stars, from engineers to volunteers, who are determined to make the games a success -- even if many Japanese people remain cautious about the event taking place at all.

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