There were various anti-Olympic protests in the Japanese capital as the opening ceremony for the Tokyo Games got underway at the national stadium on Friday.

Dozens of people, surrounded by police, gathered at the city hall with banners saying “Put out the Olympic torch”, “No Olympics”, and one which called the Games a “Global crime against Japan.”

There were also loud protests outside the stadium where fans were not permitted to attend due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Many others also met at the stadium to seemingly be close to the opening ceremony without protesting.

Recent polls showed the majority of Japanese do not want the Games to take place in Tokyo amid the global pandemic.

(dpa/NAN)