Introduction: 1940 Tokyo and Asian Olympics in the Olympic Movement

Abstract

Despite the importance of the 1940 Tokyo Olympic Games in defining Japanese cultural nationalism and contributing to the legitimacy of the IOC in the tumultuous 1930s, a thorough history of the event has not been addressed in the English language. This study situates the 1940 Tokyo Games as key not only to the diplomatic history of Japan and the West, but also to the ideological production of 1930s Japan and to the crisis of the IOC’s legitimacy in the aftermath of the 1936 Berlin Olympics. The history of modern sports in Japan and Japan in the Olympic Movement is also traced in order to showcase Japan’s ability as a developed nation of Olympic sports and athletes.