The announcement, which included news that a commemorative plaque bearing the names of the gold medallists from those Games will also be featured at the new arena, comes as the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry bows to growing public calls to preserve the heritage of Tokyo 1964.

The Cauldron, which stands at 2.1 metres tall and weighs 2.6 tonnes, was constructed in 1958 by Mannosuke Suzuki and his son Bungo, and soon became an iconic symbol of the Games.

Every autumn since the conclusion of those Olympics, Bungo is said to have polished the Cauldron, with Olympic 2004 hammer gold medallist Koji Murofushi joining him after he learned of the young Suzuki's efforts to preserve the famous icon.

Bungo Suzuki and Athens 2004 champion Koji Murofushi polish the Cauldron, with the former having done so every autumn since the Tokyo 1964 Games ©Bloomberg/Getty Images



The Cauldron, which was lit in September this year to mark the news the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had awarded the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics to Tokyo, currently sits atop the National Stadium that will soon be knocked down and replaced by a new state-of-the-art facility designed by British-based architect Zaha Hadid.

While this new arena, which is scheduled for completion in 2019, is being built the Ministry has said the Cauldron will be lent to various cities connected with the 1964 Games.

A number of Municipal Governments have been rallying for the preservation of the Cauldron, with Kawaguchi sending a written request to the Ministry and Miyagi Prefecture wanting it displayed in the city.

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