A top ruling party official in Japan said Thursday it is still possible that the Tokyo Olympics could be canceled. The comment came from Toshihiro Nikai, secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. He spoke to broadcaster TBS as COVID-19 cases have been rising across Japan. “If it seems impossible to go on with the games, they must be definitely canceled,” Nikai said. “If there is a surge in infections because of the Olympics, there will be no meaning to having the Olympics.” However, Nikai added that he felt it was important for Japan to keep working to put on a successful Olympic Games. “It is a big opportunity. I want to make it a success,” he said. “We will have many issues to resolve and prepare, and it is important to take care of them one by one.” Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said in a statement there was no change to the government position to do everything to achieve a safe and secure Olympics.” Tokyo organizers said they -- together with officials from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) -- “are fully focused on hosting the games this summer.” The recent rise in COVID-19 cases included 729 new cases in Tokyo on Thursday, the most since early February. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike urged people in the city to take extra protections and asked people from outside Tokyo not to visit.