Kamen Rider Gaim Alum Kobayashi Yutaka Named 2018 Olympic Torchbearer

Kobayashi Yutaka, who played Kumon Kaito, Kamen Rider Baron, in Kamen Rider Gaim, was announced as a torchbearer representing Japan at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea. The announcement came from the website of BOYS AND MEN, the J-pop group Kobayashi belongs to and first made his name with, known for hit singles including “Boymen Ninja” and “Wanna be!”

The announcement came amid friction between Japan and South Korea over an official PyeongChang Olympics map that had omitted Japan entirely; the Japan Sports Agency demanded a correction, and organizers called the omission accidental. Japan competed in the Games, held February 9 through 25, 2018.