TOKYO (Reuters) – For the general public, going to observe the Olympics is a once-in-a-lifetime possibility. Still, for 92-year-old superfan Naotoshi Yamada, it has ended up a quadrennial ritual during the last five and a half decades.
Yamada acknowledged to his Japanese compatriots as “Olympic Ojisan,” or “Olympics Grandad,” first skilled the Summer Games. At the same time, Tokyo last hosted the gathering in 1964, and he was there for every minute of every one.
“Mexico, Munich, Montreal, Los Angeles, Moscow. Japan no longer participated in the Moscow Olympics; however, I went to look at those games,” Yamada told Reuters in Tokyo.
“Moscow, Seoul, Barcelona, Sydney, Athens, Beijing, London. I went to all the Games from the outlet to the last rite … There isn’t such a person as me. I am the simplest one on earth.”
In his unique gold pinnacle hat, crimson jacket, and beaming smile, Yamada has become one of the most familiar and colorful figures at the Games. He is regularly accompanied by TV cameras and cheered by different fanatics.
Now, he has one final desire—to live long enough to witness the sporting spectacle when it returns to Japan next year.
“It may be the result of all my years cheering the Olympics,” stated Yamada.
Yamada changed into a relative stripling at 38. At the same time, he attended his first Olympics, no longer merely to witness the sporting spectacle but from an earlier preference to experience the world, which was stimulated by a speech given at his university by Emperor Hirohito.
The Emperor stated he desired younger technology to rebuild the USA,” Yamada said.
“I wanted to do something for my use of a. I think that it is one of the reasons why I started to go to the Olympics.”
Yamada’s first Games out of doors Japan became Mexico City in 1968, where he paired his classic Haori Hakama kimono with a Mexican sombrero.
Yamada said it became impossible for him to pick a favorite from the 14 Olympics.
“If you have extraordinary extraordinary and someone asks w, which color is their favorite, Blatheir favorite? Green? … Every color has its very own character,” said Yamada, a huge grin etched across his face.
“So I can’t inform you which is my favorite one. Each of the Olympics has been charming.”
Yamada loves the international nature of the Olympic Games and has an extensive collection of souvenirs he has gathered over time. A number of them were obtained through swaps with different enthusiasts.
His collection of flags, stamps, pictures, and other objects is on show at a gallery in Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture, his fatherland.
“The Olympics is the best global competition for all humankind,” said Yamada.
“Athletes and tourists from more than 200 nations will gather in one region.
“For the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, so many people must come to Japan.
“I think that 2020 may be a top-notch occasion.”
