All of the Must-See Photos from the Opening Ceremony at the Tokyo Olympics

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Eugene Hoshiko/AP/Shutterstock

02of 31Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesThe opening ceremony began with an impressive fireworks display.

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Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

The opening ceremony began with an impressive fireworks display.

03of 31Matthias Hangst/Getty ImagesWhich was equally stunning from above.

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Matthias Hangst/Getty Images

Which was equally stunning from above.

04of 312020 Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremony.HANNAH MCKAY/AFP via Getty ImagesMost of the arena was left empty, with no spectators allowed other than members of the press.

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2020 Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremony.HANNAH MCKAY/AFP via Getty Images

Most of the arena was left empty, with no spectators allowed other than members of the press.

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David J Phillip/AP/Shutterstock

06of 31Dylan Martinez - Pool/Getty ImagesFirst Lady Dr.Jill Bidenand French President Emmanuel Macron attended the ceremony, which hosted far fewer dignitaries than usual due to the ongoing pandemic.

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Dylan Martinez - Pool/Getty Images

First Lady Dr.Jill Bidenand French President Emmanuel Macron attended the ceremony, which hosted far fewer dignitaries than usual due to the ongoing pandemic.

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08of 31Swen Pförtner/picture alliance via Getty ImagesDancers performed during the opening ceremony in another segment meant to represent the pandemic.

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Swen Pförtner/picture alliance via Getty Images

Dancers performed during the opening ceremony in another segment meant to represent the pandemic.

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10of 31Morry Gash/AP/ShutterstockAn aerial view as the Japanese flag was carried into the opening ceremony.

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Morry Gash/AP/Shutterstock

An aerial view as the Japanese flag was carried into the opening ceremony.

11of 31Swen Pförtner/picture alliance via Getty ImagesSinger Misia performed the country’s national anthem in a stunning gown.

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Singer Misia performed the country’s national anthem in a stunning gown.

12of 31DYLAN MARTINEZ/POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesThe opening ceremony also highlighted a unique part of Japan’s history and culture, with a group of tap dancersperforming a traditional work songcalled the “Kiyari Uta,” dressed as carpenters.

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DYLAN MARTINEZ/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The opening ceremony also highlighted a unique part of Japan’s history and culture, with a group of tap dancersperforming a traditional work songcalled the “Kiyari Uta,” dressed as carpenters.

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Jamie Squire/Getty Images

14of 31Clive Rose/Getty ImagesIt all culminated in a gorgeous set of Olympic rings, made from the lumber of trees that grew from seeds athletes brought from their home countries to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

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Clive Rose/Getty Images

It all culminated in a gorgeous set of Olympic rings, made from the lumber of trees that grew from seeds athletes brought from their home countries to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

15of 31Matthias Hangst/Getty ImagesFireworks went off as dancers performed in front of the Olympic rings at the opening ceremony.

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Fireworks went off as dancers performed in front of the Olympic rings at the opening ceremony.

16of 31BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty ImagesAngola’s flag bearer Natalia Santos led her delegation through the opening ceremony.

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BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images

Angola’s flag bearer Natalia Santos led her delegation through the opening ceremony.

17of 31Lintao Zhang/Getty ImagesA shot from outside of the stadium showed the incredible fireworks display.

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Lintao Zhang/Getty Images

A shot from outside of the stadium showed the incredible fireworks display.

18of 31Patrick Smith/Getty ImagesGreat Britain entered the opening ceremony on Friday night.

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Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Great Britain entered the opening ceremony on Friday night.

19of 31MARTIN BUREAU/AFP via Getty ImagesItaly’s flag bearers Jessica Rossi and Elia Viviani led the delegation during the opening ceremony.

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MARTIN BUREAU/AFP via Getty Images

Italy’s flag bearers Jessica Rossi and Elia Viviani led the delegation during the opening ceremony.

20of 31Morry Gash/AP/ShutterstockTeam USA made a splash with their entrance, boasting a delegation of 613 athletes clad in Ralph Lauren ensembles.

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Team USA made a splash with their entrance, boasting a delegation of 613 athletes clad in Ralph Lauren ensembles.

21of 31Pita Taufatofua.Tasos Katopodis/UPI/ShutterstockAnd Tonga’s flamed flagbearer Pita Taufatofua,who competes in Taekwondo, once again set the Internet ablaze.

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Pita Taufatofua.Tasos Katopodis/UPI/Shutterstock

And Tonga’s flamed flagbearer Pita Taufatofua,who competes in Taekwondo, once again set the Internet ablaze.

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FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images

23of 31Drones form the globe at the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony.Leon Neal/Getty ImagesThe drones came together to create Earth, rotating delicately above the stadium.

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Drones form the globe at the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony.Leon Neal/Getty Images

The drones came together to create Earth, rotating delicately above the stadium.

24of 31Swen Pförtner/picture alliance via Getty ImagesIn one of the biggeststandout moments, a group of performers acted out each Olympic event based on pictograms, rapidly changing from one sport to the next.

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In one of the biggeststandout moments, a group of performers acted out each Olympic event based on pictograms, rapidly changing from one sport to the next.

25of 31Jan Woitas/picture alliance via Getty ImagesAs the ceremony came closer to its end, actor Ichikawa Ebizo put on a traditional Kabuki performance.

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Jan Woitas/picture alliance via Getty Images

As the ceremony came closer to its end, actor Ichikawa Ebizo put on a traditional Kabuki performance.

26of 31Matthias Hangst/Getty ImagesAs Ichikawa Ebizo struck a kabuki pose, Grammy winner Hiromi began to animatedly play a piano medley on the opposite end of the stage.

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As Ichikawa Ebizo struck a kabuki pose, Grammy winner Hiromi began to animatedly play a piano medley on the opposite end of the stage.

27of 31Maddie Meyer/Getty ImagesFor the dramatic lighting of the cauldron, Olympic athletes Tadahiro Nomura and Saori Yoshida were first to carry the torch, handing it off to three Japanese baseball legends: Shigeo Nagashima, Sadaharu Oh and Hideki Matsui.

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Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

For the dramatic lighting of the cauldron, Olympic athletes Tadahiro Nomura and Saori Yoshida were first to carry the torch, handing it off to three Japanese baseball legends: Shigeo Nagashima, Sadaharu Oh and Hideki Matsui.

28of 31Laurence Griffiths/Getty ImagesEssential workers wereagain honored: the flame was briefly passed to Dr. Hiroki Ohashi, a family physician who treated COVID-19 patients onboard a cruise ship last year, and nurse Junko Kitagawa, who has also taken care of many sick with COVID-19.

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Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Essential workers wereagain honored: the flame was briefly passed to Dr. Hiroki Ohashi, a family physician who treated COVID-19 patients onboard a cruise ship last year, and nurse Junko Kitagawa, who has also taken care of many sick with COVID-19.

29of 31FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty ImagesParalympian Tsuchida Wakakothen passed the torchon to several local students, who in turn took it to the surprise final torchbearer …

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Paralympian Tsuchida Wakakothen passed the torchon to several local students, who in turn took it to the surprise final torchbearer …

30of 31Naomi Osaka.ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images… Naomi Osaka! The young tennis champ, who even dyed some of her strands red for the occasion,had the honorof lighting the stunning cauldron.

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Naomi Osaka.ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images

… Naomi Osaka! The young tennis champ, who even dyed some of her strands red for the occasion,had the honorof lighting the stunning cauldron.

31of 31FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty ImagesLet the games begin!

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Let the games begin!

source: people.com