Tokyo

In 1964, I made my first appearance in Asia, and the torch I was carried in was made of stainless steel and aluminum. Its design was inspired by the work of architect Kenzo Tange, who also designed some of the Olympic facilities and the Hiroshima Peace Museum. The last torchbearer for this edition was Yoshinori Sakai, who was born on the same day the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, serving as a reminder of the town's tragic past. During this time, the Olympic Games became a powerful tool for expressing a country's status, interests, and concerns on a global stage. In this particular edition, Japan aimed to showcase its exceptional organizational skills. South Africa was banned from participating due to its discriminatory apartheid policies, while China opted not to participate in protest of Taiwan's involvement.