TOKYO: The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020) has announced the appointment of Saburo Kawabuchi, Executive Advisor to the Japan Football Association and concurrently President of the Alliance of Japan Top Leagues, as Mayor of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Village.

Tokyo 2020 additionally announced the appointment of Haruki Uemura, President of Japan’s Kodokan Judo Institute and concurrently board member at the International Judo Federation, as Deputy Village Mayor. This brings to seven the number of Associate Village Mayors appointed; five for the Olympic Village and two for the Paralympic Village.

Three out of the seven will have responsibility for both Villages.

The main responsibilities of Village Mayor, Deputy Village Mayor and Associate Village Mayor are attending to VIPs as representative of the Village, as well as liaising and exchanging information with participating athletes, team representatives and officials of the various National Olympic Committees.
Olympic Village:

Village Mayor:
Saburo Kawabuchi, Executive Advisor to Japan Football Association; President, Alliance of Japan Top Leagues,
participated in Tokyo 1964 Olympics (football)
Deputy Village Mayor:
Haruki Uemura, President at Kodokan Judo Institute, board member of International Judo Federation, participated in
Montreal 1976 Olympics (won Gold medal in judo)
Associate Village Mayors (in Japanese alphabetical order) :
– Mikako Kotani, board member of Japanese Olympic Committee, participated in the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games
(bronze medals in artistic swimming solo and duet, formerly synchronized swimming)
– Naoko Saiki, board member, Japan Rugby Football Union
– Masamitsu Takizawa, Head of Japan Institute of Keirin
– Aki Taguchi, Vice President, Paralympians Association of Japan, participated in the Paralympic Games Athens
2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012 (shooting)
– Hideaki Tomiyama, Vice President, Japan Wrestling Federation, participated in the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic
Games (won gold medal in wrestling)
Paralympic Village:
Village Mayor:
Saburo Kawabuchi, Executive Advisor to Japan Football Association; President, Alliance of Japan Top Leagues,
Deputy Village Mayor:
Haruki Uemura, President, Kodokan Judo Institute, board member of International Judo Federation
Associate Village Mayors (in Japanese alphabetical order) :
– Kuniko Obinata, President of Paralympians Association of Japan, participated in the Paralympic Games
Lillehammer 1994, Nagano 1998, Salt Lake City 2002, Torino 2006, Vancouver 2010, winning multiple medals
including a gold medal at Nagano 1998 (downhill skiing)
– Naoko Saiki, board member, Japan Rugby Football Union
– Masamitsu Takizawa, Head of Japan Institute of Keirin
– Aki Taguchi, Vice President, the Paralympians Association of Japan, participated in the Paralympic Games Athens
2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012
– Shinji Negi, Vice President, the Paralympians Association of Japan, participated in the Paralympic Games Sydney
2000 (wheelchair basketball)
Comments by Village Mayor Saburo Kawabuchi
“I am delighted and honoured from the bottom of my heart to be appointed as the Village Mayor of the Tokyo 2020 Games’
Olympic and Paralympic Village. Having participated in the Olympic Games Tokyo 1964 as a football player, it feels like a
dream come true to be able to participate in the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo after 56 years. When I heard
about the activities of the Village Mayor, it sounded like quite hard work. However, I am ready to commit myself to creating
a comfortable, cosy and memorable Olympic and Paralympic Village for the athletes from all over the world, working
together with Deputy Village Mayor Uemura and the seven Associate Village Mayors as one team.”
Comments by Deputy Village Mayor Haruki Uemura
“It’s a great honour and I feel very motivated to be appointed as the Deputy Village Mayor of the Tokyo 2020 Games’
Olympic and Paralympic Village. We will create a safe, secure and comfortable Olympic and Paralympic Village so that all
participating athletes can make the best use of their body and spirit, and the skills they have cultivated through daily training,
to exceed their personal best. Various people from all over the world will gather in the Olympic and Paralympic Village. By
appreciating and embracing new encounters as well as deepening interactions and mutual understanding, I hope this
village will nurture the spirit of mutual prosperity and help to realize a society where all people can coexist and prosper.”
Comments by Associate Village Mayors
Commented Kuniko Obinata, “The Village, where various athletes from many countries and regions will gather and live
together, has a unique uplifting feeling. It was one of my pleasures in the Village to exchange pin badges with athletes
from other countries. When I returned to the Village with my medal after the event, the volunteers and guards there
welcomed me with a smile and I could share my joy with them. In addition, at the Village-entering ceremony of the
PyeongChang Paralympic Winter Games that I participated in as national team leader, I received a warm welcome from
the Village Mayor and exchanged a firm handshake, and I am reminded of the feeling I had then and it firms my resolve to
support the team the best I can so that the athletes can perform at their best. In the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, which
will be held in my home town, I will cooperate with all of you as Associate Village Mayor to deliver our hospitality so that
athletes, officials and all other people visiting the Village can take back their own wonderful memories.
Added Mikako Kotani, “As well as the actual events, the memories of the Olympic Village are the most poignant for me. I
still remember vividly the Village at the Olympic Games Seoul 1988; the rustling sound of the bed sheets, the delicious
Korean beef bulgogi and the warmth and kindness of all the guards. I spent a pleasant time in a positive frame of mind
thanks to the Olympic Village, and this helped me to win those long-awaited medals. I am very happy to be able to support
and provide hospitality in such a Village. The way athletes spend their time in the Village helps to determine their future
life, so I would like to do my best to support them as Associate Village Mayor with the commitment and responsibility that
entails.
Naoko Saiki said, “I feel very honoured, and feel a sense of determination being appointed as Associate Village Mayor of
the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Village. I was at the IOC Executive Meeting in Buenos Aires as a member of the
Japan government when Tokyo was selected as the host city six years ago. I remember the excitement I felt at that time
like it was yesterday. I will do my best with my duties as Associate Village Mayor so that all the athletes in the Olympic and
Paralympic Games can make the most of their power. Sport connects the world and helps to create a wonderful future.
Let’s work together to make this peace festival a success.”
Commented Masamitsu Takizawa, “I am very honoured to be appointed as the Associate Village Mayor of the Olympic
and Paralympic Village Tokyo 2020. As Head of the Japan Institute of Keirin, I have trained and developed many bicycle
racers and Olympians. I graduated from this training institute in Izu about 40 years ago and became a bicycle racer myself.
I am very pleased that the Tokyo 2020 Games will be held somewhere that is so close to my heart. Also, being appointed
as the Associate Village Mayor makes me want to do my best. For the athletes, the Tokyo 2020 Games will be a great
stage that will offer them a once in a lifetime experience. I would like to fully support this big stage and watch over the
successful activities of the athletes.”
Aki Taguchi added, “I’m worried whether I can fulfil this important role, but I’ll do my best. When I participated in the past
three Paralympic Games, I was able to spend a comfortable time in the Village thanks to all of the people there from each
country. I would like to create an environment where everyone—the athletes and staff members of each country who are
in the Village—can achieve their personal best. I would like to make the Tokyo 2020 Games a memorable experience for
all of them, by joining forces with the Village Mayor, Deputy Village Mayor, the other Associate Village Mayors and all other
people involved.”
Commented Hideaki Tomiyama, “I was really surprised when I heard that I had been appointed as an Associate Village
Mayor of the Olympic Village; it was like a bolt from the blue. I really appreciate it and at the same time I feel a sense of
responsibility. At the time of the 1964 Tokyo Games, 56 years ago, I was a first grader in elementary school and have a
vague memory of watching the Games together with my family on a black and white TV somewhere in the neighbourhood.
I have been involved in the Olympic Games 10 times, as an athlete, coach, director and commentator, including the
Moscow 1980 Games which were boycotted by some countries. Each time and at every venue, I felt the love and warm
hospitality of so many people. I would like to ask myself what I can do as an Associate Village Mayor by leveraging these
experiences, to convey with a smile the warmth of Japanese people’s hearts to the athletes gathered from all over the
world. Even if our language, customs and skin colour are different, a smile is the biggest common language that brings the
world together. The torch will finally come to Tokyo from the Temple of Hera in Olympia, the site of the ancient Olympic
Games. Soon it will be the opening of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020. Let’s share this amazing time with
everyone from all over the world and make lasting memories!”
Added Shinji Negi, “I am very grateful for this wonderful opportunity to be appointed as the Associate Village Mayor of the
Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Village. At the same time, I feel a strong sense of responsibility. The Village is the most important
place for athletes and staff before, during and after the Games. We will strive to provide the best environment for the
athletes so that they can achieve their best performances in the Games. It is also the best place for athletes and staff from
all over the world to deepen their interaction. I will do my best to create a wonderful Village where athletes, staff, volunteers
and all other people involved can recount throughout their lives to future generations that it was the best Village of all.”

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International Communications
Email: pressoffice@tokyo2020.jp
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