On July 23, 2021, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's aerobatics team "Blue Impulse", celebrating the opening of the Tokyo Olympics, drew the Olympic symbol "Five Wheels" in the sky.
Tokyo Olympics 2020 is thought-provoking in many ways. One of the opening ceremonies, the Blue Impulse air show, was moving and suggestive. The Blue Impulse reminded me that there is today after overcoming many hardships.
The image below is a video of the rehearsal practice. As it is a practice, the smoke is not colored:
Even though it was cloudy in Tokyo on July 23 2021, "Blue Impulse" drew five accurate and large perfect circles in the sky.
Olympic flight for the first time in 57 years
Blue Impulse is a team specializing in brilliant aerobatics at Japan's Air Self-Defense Force. The six aircraft colored in blue and white, the undisturbed formation that unfolds in the sky, and the dynamic performance must be a series of surprises. The earth is surrounded by great emotions and joyful voices. Its beautiful, magnificent, splendid and precise flight has been highly acclaimed both inside and outside the country. Blue Impulse also drew the Olympic ring in the sky at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Therefore, this is the first Olympic flight in 57 years.
Significance of domestic airplanes flying in Japan
The first aircrafts of the 1960 Blue Impulse, the F-86F, were provided by the United States. There is a historical reason for this. From the defeat on August 15, 1945 to the entry into force of the San Francisco Peace Treaty in 1952, GHQ (General Headquarters: An Allied military agency that implemented an occupation policy in Japan to enforce the Potsdam Declaration following the end of World War II.) cut off its wings from Japan. Specifically, regarding aircraft in Japan, the purchase, possession, operation, model making, research, education, experimentation, maintenance, or production facilities of aircraft were all banned.
After the war, the Japanese themselves destroyed the planes they owned and were banned from education and research for seven years. From the time when there was no technology or know-how, not just the lack of infrastructure, until Japan began to make domestic airplanes on its own, there were unimaginable difficulties. Considering Japan at that time, when even operating an airplane by Japanese was not allowed, the wonderful flight of Blue Impulse was even more emotional.
The following video is from the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. There is a Blue Impulse flight from 2 minutes after the video:
Know from SCAPINs: How Japan was reorganized after the war
The various directives issued by the GHQ to the Government of Japan (Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers Directives to the Japanese Government = SCAPINs) can be viewed free of charge in the "Research Navi" of the National Diet Library Digital Collection.
Regarding the aviation ban, the document is "SCAPIN-301: COMMERClAL AND CIVIL AVIATION 1945/11/18 Commercial and Civil Aviation". The impact of this document was terrible. The following is an excerpt of the document:
On and after 31 December 1945 you will not permit any governmental agency or individual, or any business concern, association, individual Japanese citizen or group of citizens, to purchase, own, possess, or operate any aircraft, aircraft assembly, engine, or research, experi- mental, maintenance or production facility related to aircraft or aeronautical science including working models.
You will not permit the teaching of, or research or experiments in aeronautical science, aerodynamics, or other subjects related to aircraft or balloons.
Conclusion
The Tokyo Olympics 2020 is thought-provoking in many ways. The degree of humanity increases with the depth of what is reminiscent of superficial events. The Tokyo Olympics 2020 has great implications. It may be good to look back on the past as a turning point of the times. The scenery of the past will differ depending on the viewer, but it is important for each person to grasp the essence behind the superficial event.
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