A series of operational failures at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, including the wrong national anthem being played and problems with accommodation and transport, has prompted growing concern in foreign media that confidence in Japan’s event management is being undermined.
At the men's hockey match on 18 September 2026, North Korea's national anthem was played instead of South Korea's. At the men's basketball final on the 20th, the bus that was supposed to pick up the players failed to arrive, forcing the cancellation of the final practice session. Operational problems continued from the opening of the Games.
At the temporary container-style accommodation, the beds were too short for taller players, and water leaks were also reported. Some players eventually moved to hotels, highlighting deficiencies in the accommodation arrangements. Multiple operational failures affecting the Games have been reported.
Foreign media described the event as “the worst Games in history,” among other assessments, and raised concerns that it could damage Japan's reputation. The absence of a major advertising agency has been cited as a factor behind the shift to an operating structure led by local companies and the Japanese subsidiaries of French companies.
Insufficient coordination among the parties involved and inadequate training were also cited, with the amateurish operating structure becoming a target of criticism. The trend of excluding Dentsu is common to other international events as well, and debate continues over how Japan should run international events.