The 77-year-old Mori revealed that he had undergone successful surgery last week to have an affected part of his lung removed.

Tokyo 2020 chief executive Toshiro Muto claimed he expects Mori, Japan's former Prime Minister, to be back working at his full capacity in the very near future.

Despite having undergone surgery a week prior, Mori attended today's Executive Board meeting of Tokyo 2020 to discuss the agenda and announce the appointment of members of Tokyo 2020's Culture and Education Commission.

As President of the Japan Rugby Footall Union, Yoshirō Mori is also involved in preparations for the 2019 World Cup, which is being staged in the country ©AFP/Getty Images

Mori is also President of the Japan Rugby Football Union and is closely involved in preparations for the 2019 World Cup, which is being staged in the country.

Mori, one of Japan's most unpopular ever Prime Ministers, had been a controversial appointment in January 2013 to head Tokyo 2020.

At the time he joked: "I am destined to live five or six more years if I am lucky.

"This will be my one last service to the country."

But a Tokyo 2020 spokesman claimed they expected Mori to make a full return to work. 

"President Mori had been diagnosed with lung cancer and the affected part of his lung was successfully removed," a Tokyo 2020 spokesman told insidethegames today. 

"He already attended the Executive Board meeting and CEO Muto made it very clear that President Mori will come back to his work at full capacity very soon."

At today's Executive Board meeting it was announced that Ryohei Miyata, President of the Tokyo University of the Arts will chair the Culture and Education Commission, which will feature 28 leading figures of Japan's art and entertainment worlds, in addition to prominent members of from the field of education.

The Commission will have the responsibility of helping Tokyo 2020 deliver its culture and education programme.

Fashion designer Junko Koshino has been revealed as one of the members of the Commission ©AFP/Getty Images





Mori claimed the appointment of 27 members to the Culture and Education Commission, with one further appointment still to be announced, brings Tokyo 2020 a step closer to delivering a successful Games.

"The coming fiscal year will be very important for the Organising Committee, as it will be the year in which we commence implementation of specific initiatives contained in our Games Foundation Plan," he said. 

Kabuki actor Ebizo Ichikawa, ballet dancer Kumi Koyama, fashion designer Junko Koshino, NHK educational programme co-host Shelly and award-winning film director Takashi Yamazaki have all been confirmed as members of the commission.

Also featuring on the Commission will be American sake Sommeilier Sarah Marie Cummings, tea ceremony master Sen Sōshitsu, Japanese flower arrangement artist Yuki Ikenobo and Michelin 3-star chef Yoshihiro Murata, with the Organising Committee attempting to bring together well-known people from many facets of Japanese culture.

Tokyo 2020 hope that the Culture and Education Programme will engage both athletes and the media alike, as well as the Olympic Family and spectators.

The Culture and Education Commission is one of five commissions which are being created to help deliver the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games and follows the establishment of the Athletes' and Media Commissions in September. 

Tokyo 2020 have also created the Urban Planning and Sustainability Commission and the Economy and Technology Commission, although its members have yet to be announced.