Forty-two-year-old Kaoru Sugano works for Japanese advertising giant Dentsu and had a key role in the production of the ceremonies.

Media in Japan said he faced disciplinary procedures from Dentsu last month for behaviour described as "power harassment". 

He has now stepped down from his Tokyo 2020 tasks with this decision accepted by the Organising Committee of the Games.

Dentsu had written to Tokyo 2020 to inform them of the disciplinary action.

Sugano had previously worked on the handover segment of the Rio 2016 Closing Ceremony.

This featured Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe appearing as Nintendo's video game icon Mario.

His work in Brazil saw him named as the 2016 creator of the year by the Japan Advertising Agencies Association.

"We have no choice but to proceed to make sure there are no effects from the development," a Tokyo 2020 official said.

"We are not in a position to respond to questions about internal disciplinary measures at Dentsu."

Mansai Nomura, a famous Japanese actor, is the creative director of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for both the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

He has been tipped to coordinate the events together as a "four-part series", instead of them being separate entities. 

Animated characters and new technology are due to be prominent themes.

Dentsu has previously faced intense scrutiny for its working culture.

In 2016, President and chief executive Tadashi Ishii resigned after an employee took her own life due to "overwork".

The company was also warned for its overtime practices last month.