In May 1958, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) held what was then described as their 54th Session in Tokyo. Although IOC chancellor Otto Mayer described the meetings as "mainly a working session".

Although no host city vote was taken, many feel that the impression created by the Japanese hosts that week was a major factor in Tokyo winning the right to stage the 1964 Olympics.

The IOC "passed a resolution of thanks and appreciation" by acclamation for "the outstandingly friendly welcome" and "for the facilities which permitted a flawless organisation of the session".

Much of the credit went to 65-year-old Dr Ryotaro Azuma, a distinguished specialist in medicine who had become an IOC member in 1950. In the aftermath of war, the arrival of a new Japanese member had been a sensitive issue.

During the Melbourne 1956 Olympic Games, Tokyo was chosen to host the 1958 IOC Session. On his way back from Australia, Helsinki 1952 organising chief Erik Von Frecnkell made a stop over in Tokyo. "He had been a strong supporter of Tokyo and offered much constructive advice," said officials.

"This is indeed an historic moment for Japan," said Azuma as the Session opened.

"We firmly believe that, in this generation of the intercontinental ballistic missile and the hydrogen bomb as well as 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."

A total of 34 IOC members attended the Session held at Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel. At their head was IOC President Avery Brundage.

"Young lady interpreters had graciously offered their services and escorted the members of the International Olympic Committee in their comings and goings through the city," noted the Olympic Review. "These ladies' charm and cheerfulness were duly appreciated by all throughout the visit to Tokyo." 

They were, in fact, the daughters of high-ranking Government and diplomatic officials.

The proceedings were officially opened by Emperor Hirohito at a special ceremony in the NHK (Japanese Broadcasting Corporation) Auditorium.

"I desire to extend my cordial welcome to the President and members of the International Olympic Committee who have come long ways overseas to Tokyo," the Emperor told them. 

"Your deliberations I hope will serve to enhance further the Olympic spirit in consonance with its glorious tradition and lofty ideal."

The Imperial presence was highly significant. Before this, the Emperor would never have been seen at a sporting event and his voice rarely if ever heard by the public at large.

The majority of the Session was spent discussing the arrangements for 1960, when Winter and Summer Games were still held in the same year.

The IOC confirmed that bobsleigh would not be part of the Winter Games in Squaw Valley and tried to reduce the size of the programme for the summer.

They also presented awards for work outside the field of play. Brundage himself proposed that the Bonacossa Cup be awarded to the National Olympic Committee of West Germany, "for resuming excavations at Olympia" and "for its successful efforts in presenting a united German team in Cortina and Melbourne [in 1956]".

German member Willi Daume suggested the prize be awarded to both East and West Germany, a conciliatory gesture similar to Olympic efforts to bring the two Koreas closer together in 2018.

The Japanese Organising Committee also left a lasting legacy for Olympic ceremonies.

Throughout the 1950s, the IOC had sought a new Olympic hymn and had even gone to the lengths of organising a contest to find one. Unfortunately, the winning composer had insisted on retaining the copyright of his work.

With the help of Greek IOC member Ioannis Ketseas, Azuma was able to locate the score of the original Olympic hymn by the Corfiot composer Spiros Samaras which had been played at the 1896 Games in Athens.

This was orchestrated by the NHK symphony orchestra and the lyrics translated into Japanese by poet Akira Nogami.

When it was performed at the Session "all the attending members were deeply impressed" said Azuma, who was asked to convey the thanks of the IOC to the orchestra.

In particular Ketseas "expressed his appreciation for the perfect execution" and Prince Axel of Denmark, at his last Session as a full member of the IOC, proposed that the music be adopted as the official Olympic hymn. Ever since the Winter Games at Squaw Valley in 1960, it has been heard at every Olympic Games.

Tokyo had bid unsuccessfully for the 1960 Games but officials from Asia had seized the opportunity to lobby for a greater part for the continent in Olympic matters.

"The standard of amateur sport in Asia would be very greatly stimulated by the selection of Tokyo for the 1964 Games," said Arnaldo de Oliveira Sales of Hong Kong.

Before the end of the Session, Azuma joined the Governor of Tokyo Seiichiro Yasui to formally present the documents confirming a 1964 Tokyo bid. It was the work of the Tokyo Olympic Preparatory Committee and had taken six months to compile.

The document suggested that the Games begin in mid July. In fact they were ultimately held in October.

In addition to 21 sports, it proposed that a demonstration sport would be included, chosen from rugby, baseball, table tennis, badminton, kendo or judo. All except kendo are now full Olympic sports.

Azuma had another card to play. He encouraged IOC colleagues to visit the 1958 Asian Games or "Asiad" held in Tokyo. These were held the week after the Session. An excursion by train to Kyoto was arranged and there were also outings to watch sumo wrestling at the Kuramae Kokugikan, a sumo hall in Tokyo where IOC members met grand champion Wakanohana Kanji. They also visited the Shintoist brothers of Tenri, a pearl fishery and had picnic lunches.

The Asian Games had special resonance for the hosts. In 1951 at Delhi, Japanese competitors made their re-entry to international competition. They had been excluded from the 1948 Olympics in London along with Germany.

The stadium which formed the centrepiece for 1958 had been built with the 1964 Olympics clearly in mind. It was described by the New York Times as "one of the most beautiful and modern stadiums in the world". It held 70,000 which would be expanded to 100,000 in the event of a successful Olympic bid.

It had the very last word in electronic scoreboards. Built at a cost of $111,000 it was able to display 100 characters during the Games and was set for an upgrade later.

The 1958 Games were the third staged after Delhi and Manila in 1954 and were opened by Emperor Hirohito who spoke in Japanese. "I wish the success of the Games and on this occasion I expect earnestly that the goodwill and friendship amongst the member nations will be further enhanced," said the Emperor.

A flame had been kindled in Manila. It was carried into the Tokyo Stadium by 1928 Olympic triple jump gold medallist Mikio Oda.

"After slowly circling the Stadium, he climbed the 86 steps and lighted the cauldron located at the top of the Southern End of the stands. The flame will remain burning throughout the Games," reported the Japan Times.

The same cauldron would also be used when Tokyo staged the 1964 Olympics.

Spectators gave a standing ovation to 1,700 female dancers. Dressed in blue and white yukata, a type of kimono, they presented the "Chakkiri –Bushi" a traditional dance.

Japanese competitors delighted the home crowds although the exploits of Milka Singh, dubbed "the flying Sikh" who won gold medals in both the 200 and 400 metres, made headlines beyond his Indian homeland.

When the Games closed with a floodlit ceremony, the 24-year-old Crown Prince Aikihito, patron of the Games, told the crowd: "We have all been able to share in the fellowship and atmosphere of goodwill which is the result of the wholesome and sincere efforts of participating athletes from so many countries," he said.

"Setting new records or being first is not the ultimate purpose of sports. If every man does his best, and shows good sportsmanship, then only is the true objective attained."

Melbourne’s 1956 Olympic Organising Committee chairman Sir Wilfrid Kent Hughes paid fulsome tribute.

"The Japanese achieved something very worthwhile in creation of international goodwill," he said. "They could handle the Olympics and they could handle them well. I'm rather glad the Melbourne Games came before this."

It was no mean concession from a man who had been taken prisoner during the Second World War by the Japanese forces.

The official IOC publication Olympic Review noted: "The public eyes were not only riveted on the Games but it looked towards the tribunes where the members of the IOC sat. They were wondering whether Japan is likely to be a worthy successor to Rome in the matter of organising the next Olympic Games. One can almost guess that they left Tokyo most favourably impressed."

Brundage told reporters: "With what has been learnt on these occasions and in the light of a natural efficiency of the Japanese I am sure Japan is prepared to organise an even greater international event such as the Olympic Games."

It was perhaps unsurprising that the following year in Munich, Tokyo was chosen above Detroit, Brussels and Vienna as host city by an overwhelming margin. The Olympic flag was symbolically raised in Tokyo that day and flew until the 1964 Games were over.