1964 Tokyo Olympics - Essay Example

1964 Tokyo Olympics Symbolizing a reacceptance to the global community and the end of a lengthy, depressing period for many Japanese, the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympics was a moment to recognize and commemorate the progress and reemergence of Japan. This Japan was new and different from what it used to be in the eyes of the world; it was no longer a wartime foe, but a peaceful country that terrorized no one. In a surprisingly short time, the transition from distraught enemy to rebuilt friend was achieved in less than 2 decades.

Japan had previously joined the United Nations and several other international organizations, but nothing matches the vision and splendor of an Olympics. The whole world would be coming to Japan, and those that could not come would be watching live and in color for the first time. It was also the first Olympiad to be hosted in a non-white, non-Western country, a point of pride for both Japan and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) (Droubie). The Japanese also made a decision to prove the world that they had restructured and were now a peace-loving people.

The Olympics, which claim to be apolitical and about individuals coming together in nonviolent competition, were perfect for displaying this new identity based on Japans constitution that renounced war as a tool of the state and its status as the only country to suffer from an atomic bombing. Certainly, selective amnesia was necessary that either forgot the war or centered on domestic torment during the war rather than the suffering Japanese caused across Asia and the Pacific during the 17 years of war.

This was most obviously witnessed at the various art and cultural exhibits that cautiously eliminated all images and arts related to the Empire. As the Japanese government was basically prohibited the use of the military or its traditions, the Olympics were also a harmless way to promote patriotism and nationalism. Nevertheless, international sporting events are one of the few adequate places to be nationalistic as people applaud on the athletes—representatives of and surrogates for states and nations—as they race against each other in bloodless battle.

The importance of state medal counts, all unofficial and not recognized by the IOC, are one measure of this (Droubie) 1988 Seoul Olympics An opportunity to bring international attention to South Korea was presented by hosting the 1988 Olympics. The 1988 Seoul Olympic Games played an important role in political transformation, international relations and national development in South Korea.  Held in 1998 the Seoul Olympics had political and social impacts on Korean society, even though its role in urban image construction and real estate development was not as fully manifested as it is in the case of Beijing’s 2008 Olympics.

  The 1988 Olympics in Seoul was a part of the discussion of South Korea democratization since the “June29 declaration.”  After the huge public revolt in 1987, the June29 declaration was completed with the purpose of reducing the prospect of endangering the 1988 Olympics.  The declaration also paved the way for a direct presidential election after long military dictatorship.  The 1988 Olympics in Seoul assisted South Korea show its economic triumph to the world.  It also served as a means to create economic and political connections with the post Socialist coalitions.

  The South Korean government also used the Games to mobilize citizens to “beautify Seoul,” and to be disciplined supporters and participants of the Games under the official discourse of “for the success of the Olympic.”  The victory was a citizen and state-driven nationalism embedded in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. The nationalism manifested during the 1988 Olympics has a lot to say about the complex politics of nationalism and its varied and sometimes contradictory  discourses in the transformation of South Korea from the 1990s to the 2000s (“State- and Citizen-Driven Nationalisms in Mega Sport Events: Comparison of the 1988 Olympics in Seoul and the 2002 World Cup Game between South Korea and Japan”).

Works Cited Droubie, Paul. “Japan’s Rebirth at the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympics.” About Japan: A Teacher’s Resource. 2008. 9 May 2009. "State- and Citizen-driven Nationalisms in Mega Sport Events: Comparison of the 1988 Olympics in Seoul and the 2002 World Cup Game between South Korea and Japan.” US-China Institute. 2008. 9 May 2009.