This has been the case ever since the Olympic Torch Relay entered the Tokyo Metropolitan District more than 12 days ago.

On each day the original participants were gathered in Hamacho Park in Nihonbashi, in the Chūō City ward.

The 132 runners who were to have carried the Flame on the road were lined up in the park at a social distance. 

Each then carried the Torch at walking pace to the next bearer before the exchange of the Flame known as the kiss.

This was a process which took some hours to complete as runners originally scheduled to run in Taito, Bunkyo, Chiyoda and Chūō City all took part.

At the end of the day the cauldron was lit by 72-year-old Pinko Izumi who had watched the 1964 Games on a black and white television set when she was 16.

She admitted: "The only thing that the general public is involved in this event is the Torch Relay.  

"It not only connects the Torch, but also from the Olympics from 1964 to 2021."

There are now only three days remaining in a journey scheduled for 121.

On Friday (July 23), Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike will welcome the Torch at the Citizen’s Plaza. 

Forty-six runners will take part in a symbolic event to pass the Flame.

Later that evening it will be taken to the National Stadium at the climax of the Opening Ceremony.

During the Games the Flame will burn at Tokyo's waterfront near the Yume no Ohashi Bridge, though last week, Tokyo 2020 announced "we will restrict access around the Olympic Cauldron area and will ask members of the public to refrain from visiting it".