As financing questions linger over the costly rebuilding of National Stadium for the 2020 Olympics, Tokyo Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe "has lashed out at the central government," according to Shusuke Murai of the JAPAN TIMES. Masuzoe "was speaking Tuesday at a news conference at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government headquarters a day after learning that the facility will not be completed as originally envisaged by the time of the Olympics." The stadium "is currently being demolished and will be rebuilt to an ambitious design, but Monday’s announcement that a planned retractable roof will be omitted on grounds of cost and schedule was apparent confirmation that not all is going well." Masuzoe said the central government has "said repeatedly that (the Olympics) will be successful and easy." He "contrasted its assurances with its apparent reluctance to release concrete details." Japan Sports Minister Hakubun Shimomura "visited Masuzoe to inform him of progress and announced the plan to omit the roof." Masuzoe said that "this smacked of irresponsibility." Masuzoe said, "They are supposed to have a concrete plan" at the moment when they sign off on the cost and construction schedule. He added, "That was the first time I have ever heard from officials" about a change in plans (JAPAN TIMES, 5/19).
