He served on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in the immediate post-war period. He was also a physician who studied medicine in both Tokyo and London and was later president of the Japanese Red Cross Society.

Azuma had rowed for the medical faculty of the University of Tokyo and during his student days in London he joined Thames Rowing Club.

The impression he helped create at the 1958 IOC Session in Tokyo was crucial in convincing fellow members to award the 1964 Games to his city.

Azuma had joined the IOC at a sensitive time. Germany and Japan were sporting outsiders and had not been invited to the 1948 Olympics.

“It is because Japan is an ‘ex enemy’ to the Olympic member countries,” explained the Japan Times.

The sporting community in Japan was gradually reintegrating. Rowing, swimming, wrestling and cycling re-joined their respective International Federations.

The IOC Executive Commission met in Copenhagen in May 1950 and announced “the candidature of Dr Azuma will be placed before the full session.”

Azuma, already an official with the Japan Amateur Athletic Association was duly “co-opted” at the session and told Japanese reporters: “My biggest job here was to impress upon the individual sports federations, Japan’s desire to be re-affiliated.

“Many of the federations seemed favourable. I have been given to understand that if we are able to rejoin most of the other federations, we will be allowed to participate at the 1952 Oslo and Helsinki Olympic Games.”

In 1951, he led a delegation to the inaugural Asian Games held in Delhi.

“Public opinions here are in full support and encouragement for us and I hope the Games will be quite a success, as under the present circumstances of utmost international tensions,” the said.

In fact Japanese athletes won 24 gold medals in Delhi.

Archives at the Olympic Studies Centre in Lausanne include Azuma’s correspondence with Otto Mayer, the Swiss jeweller who ran the IOC office as chancellor.

“Would you kindly send me the President’s letter of invitation as soon as possible? An official letter is essential for approval of travelling abroad and it may be necessary to go through a chain of formal procedures requiring many days.”

Azuma did receive his visa and Japan re-entered the Olympic family at the 1952 Winter Games in Oslo with a team of 13.

He reported, “the Japanese representatives were extraordinarily popular and given high praise for their sportsmanship.”

In Helsinki, the team numbered 69. Freestyle wrestler Shohachi Ishii won gold at bantamweight.

“The popularity and respect won by the Japanese athletes alone was worth every bit of Japan’s participation,” Azuma later said.

He invited the IOC to stage a session in Tokyo. This was accepted “by acclamation’’ at Melbourne and was described in the official Tokyo 1964 Olympic report as “one important step.”

In 1958, Tokyo also hosted the Asian Games, directly after the IOC session.

Both were opened by Emperor Hirohito.

Azuma welcomed his fellow IOC members.

“We firmly believe that in this world of suspicion and jealousy, nothing could be more essential for the peace and security of mankind, than the faith, fair play and good sportsmanship embodied in the Olympic ideal. I hope sincerely, that the Torch of Olympism may continue to burn ever brighter on all of the five continents.”

Of the many details, the re-introduction of the original Olympic anthem, composed by Spiros Samaras and first played at the 1896 Games in Athens made a big impression.

In the early fifties, there had been a contest to find an original Olympic composition, but although the winning entry was played at Melbourne in 1956, composer Michal Spisak refused to relinquish copyright.

In the meantime Azuma contacted Ioannis Ketseas, an IOC member in Greece. Somehow or other he uncovered the score of Samaras’ hymn and sent it to Japan, where Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) arranged it for an orchestra with a mixed chorus.

Renowned poet Akira Nogami was commissioned to write new lyrics in Japanese and the work was performed by the NHK orchestra.

“The members of the IOC who were present were deeply impressed with the hymn,” said Azuma. 

He was “instructed to convey the congratulations and thanks of the IOC to the orchestra and chorus for their performance.”

At the insistence of Prince Axel of Denmark, the hymn became part of official protocol and has been used ever since.

The Olympic review thanked “Japanese friends whose kindness and devoted attentions [sic] were inexhaustible” and IOC minutes described the Session as “flawless.”

Azuma then presented the Tokyo 1964 candidacy. His own life changed soon afterwards when he was elected Governor of Tokyo.

“The new governor was in an ideal position to promote interest in the invitational programming,” said reports.

In May 1959 came the IOC vote. It was a runaway success for Tokyo. With 34 votes it had a clear majority. Detroit was a distant second with only 10.

“The most delightful news did actually throw the people of Tokyo and the entire Japanese nation into an ecstasy of joy,” Azuma wrote.

“We assure you we are fully aware of the fact that the sports festival is a grand event which is something like a treasure, jointly owned by all nations of the world. The honour makes it incumbent upon us to discharge the immense responsibility to the gratification of all participants and all nations as well.”

As preparations gathered pace, Azuma borrowed an idea he had seen whilst in Rome for the 1960 Olympics.

To help raise funds, he proposed a baseball pools system based on Italian football’s ‘Totocalcio’.

Azuma had long supported the inclusion of judo and when the International Federation made a formal application, IOC minutes recorded that “Azuma supports this application and says how gratifying it would be were judo to be included in Tokyo.”

He was also no doubt gratified to be “unanimously” elected to the IOC Executive Board.

He was kept busy, soon part of a new commission, headed by Sir Arthur Porritt, to combat the new menace of doping.

Meanwhile, the business of Tokyo 1964 still occupied his time.

Although there are still reports of accommodation shortages for 2020, in Tokyo’s first Games it was less of a problem.

Azuma had taken charge of this area himself. He announced that “plans are now ready and all the lodging capacity of the city will be utilised. The Japanese home is so different from the European. It is a real experience for a visitor to spend a few days in an Eastern residence.”

He also monitored hotel pricing and insisted “all necessary steps will be taken to prevent any kind of abuse.”

Even so, one group of television journalists still found themselves billeted in a hotel which had a reputation as a house of ill repute.

Azuma participated in the opening ceremony rehearsal, open to the public with no secrets in those far off days.

As the Governor of Tokyo, it was his task to receive the ceremonial Olympic flag from Rome. The flag handover was at the opening ceremony in those days.

He was at City Hall to welcome the Olympic Flame and in a whirlwind schedule for a 71-year-old, also addressed the IOC Session.

“At last the day has come to keep the long coveted flame burning in Asia. Our fervent desire cherished so dearly and so long has now been fulfilled. We shall soon see the Olympic flame burning ever brighter and higher in this memorable year of the 70th anniversary of the IOC.

“We are extremely happy to be able to meet the responsibility, which once in the past we had to give up reluctantly under a deplorable circumstance.”

He spoke of the legacy the Games would provide which was “a gallant march along the programme of civic improvements of the municipality.”

He stood down from the Executive Board, but the IOC members “stood to signify its gratitude to Dr Azuma who had done magnificent work.”

Tokyo was a success, televised by satellite across the world. In a glimpse of the future, Azuma joined an IOC commission led by Italy’s Giulio Onesti to examine “proceeds coming from television.’’

When he stood down as a full member after the 1968 Mexico Olympics aged 75,

his resignation was reluctantly accepted by President Avery Brundage, who was almost six years older.

Azuma became an honorary member but remained active as a member of the Organising Committee for the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo.

In 1975, Azuma was one of the first recipients of the new Olympic Order in silver.

When he died of pneumonia in 1983 aged 90, IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch led fulsome tributes.

“Through his work, he has made such an outstanding contribution to the Olympic Movement and to world sport in general.”