A deep divide separates Tokyo—a city powered by electricity—from the abandoned regions left after the nuclear disaster. Marketed as a “Reconstruction Olympics,” Tokyo 2020 was held during the COVID-19 pandemic. On opening day, citizen volunteers used VR livestreams to connect Tokyo’s busy streets with silent, evacuated disaster zones.

Open your eyes and witness citizens, acting as “True Torchbearers” outside the official relay, running between these two worlds with hope and responsibility, striving to build genuine connections between divided communities.

Director:

Yuichi Watanabe

Yuichi Watanabe is a boundary-pushing filmmaker whose work transcends traditional genres, weaving together media art, social activism, journalism, and cinematic storytelling. With a background in cultural anthropology from Saitama University’s... Read More