2021 was an eventful year. Here's a recap of the major events that marked the year!
The Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games
Japan distinguished itself in particular, finishing 3rd at the Olympic Games with 58 medals (including 27 gold) and 11th at the Paralympic Games with 51 medals (including 13 gold). This is nothing less than Japan's best performance ever!
- List Japanese medalists at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
- List Japanese medalists at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games
The new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
Unable to retain the trust of the Japanese people, former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga resigned just one year after taking office. He was replaced not by the voters' favorite (Taro Kono), but by the favorite of the Liberal Democratic Party's elite, Fumio Kishida.
Mr. Kishida, 64, is considered a moderate. He has notably served as Minister of Foreign Affairs. He is the 100th Prime Minister of Japan.
- THE profile by Fumio Kishida
- THE balance sheet of the Suga government
Photo by 首相官邸, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=112128528
Princess Mako's wedding
This is THE controversy that has rocked Japan this year. Princess Mako, niece of Emperor Naruhito, finally married commoner Kei Komuro and, in effect, relinquished her imperial status. But the real problem lies elsewhere… Indeed, it is Kei Komuro's mother who is at the heart of a scandal. She is accused of keeping the money her ex-fiancé's family gave her to finance a wedding that never took place. Imagine the disgrace…
Fortunately, all's well that ends well; Kei Komuro paid off his mother's debts and married Mako. They currently live in New York.
- A marriage «"Unprecedented" for an imperial princess
- There imperial family Today
Shohei Ohtani, Personality of the Year
Since baseball isn't a popular sport in France, this name might not ring a bell. And yet, Shohei Ohtani has gone from superstar to international icon! Indeed, 2021 saw him break historic records in the American baseball league. He was even crowned MVP (Most Valuable Player) of 2021. Ohtani's unique characteristic is that he plays equally well at bat and pitch, to the point of having been an All-Star at both positions.
Baseball is the most popular sport in Japan, so seeing a Japanese person at the top of the world is a source of immense pride and joy for the Japanese.
- Why the baseball player Ohtani Shohei is so admired in Japan and the United States
Photo by Ship1231 — Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25006874
