London 2012 was the most successful Olympics, medals wise, in history for Japan.
The Asian nation and hosts of the 2020 Olympics won 38 medals, including seven golds four years ago. Despite such a historic Games for the country, the pressure has already been set for what will happen in Brazil this August.
Yoshiro Mori, a former Prime Minister and current head of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee threatened the Japanese athletes at an event before they travel to Rio de Janeiro about singing Kimigayo, their national anthem.
Then & Now: Japanese athletes receive a send-off for the Summer Olympics in 1956 and 2016 @Japan_Olympic #Rio2016 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/WxHxSCXswk
— Getty Images Sport (@GettySport) July 3, 2016
“It’s not just a case of mouthing the words,” Mori said, according to The Guardian. “If you get to stand on the winners’ podium, sing the national anthem with a loud voice."
“If you won’t sing the national anthem, then you can’t consider yourselves representatives of Japan – that’s what I want to say to you."
Mori was infamous for some gaffes during his time as Prime Minister between 2000 and 2001, but his words to Japan's athletes will be certainly be in the back of their minds if they win gold in Brazil.
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