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 Yamada, known to his Japanese compatriots as "Olympic Ojisan",
or "Olympics Grandad", first experienced the Summer Games when
Tokyo last hosted the gathering in 1964 and he has been there
for every minute of every one since.
"Mexico, Munich, Montreal, Los Angeles, Moscow. Japan did not
even participate at the Moscow Olympics but I went to see that
Games," Yamada told Reuters in Tokyo.
"Moscow, Seoul, Barcelona, Sydney, Athens, Beijing, London. I
went to all Games from the opening to the closing ceremony ...
There is not such a person like me. I am the only one on the
earth."
Yamada, in his distinctive gold top hat, red jacket and beaming
smile, has become one of the most familiar and colorful figures
at the Games, regularly followed by television cameras and
cheered by other fans.
Now, he has one final wish -- to live long enough to witness the
sporting spectacle when it returns to Japan next year.
"It will be the culmination of all my years cheering the
Olympics," said Yamada.
Yamada was a relative stripling of 38 when he attended his first
Olympics, not just to witness the sporting spectacle but from an
earlier desire to experience the world that was inspired by a
speech given at his university by Emperor Hirohito.
"The Emperor said he wanted the young generation to rebuild our
country," Yamada said.
"I felt that I wanted to do something for my country. I think
that it is one of the reasons why I started to visit the
Olympics."
Yamada's first Games outside Japan was Mexico City 1968, where
he paired his classic Haori Hakama kimono with a Mexican
sombrero.
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Yamada said it was impossible for him to choose a favorite from the
14 Olympics.
"If you have ... different colors of crayons and someone asks which
color is the favorite one? Black? Red? Blue? Green? ... each color
has its own character," said Yamada, a wide grin etched across his
face.
"So I cannot tell which is my favorite one. Each of the Olympics
were fascinating."
Yamada loves the international nature of the Olympic Games and has a
vast collection of souvenirs he has collected over the years, some
of them acquired through swaps with other fans.
His haul of flags, stamps, photographs and other items are on
display at a gallery in his hometown of Nanto City, Toyama
Prefecture.
"The Olympics is only the international festival for all humankind,"
said Yamada.
"Athletes and tourists from more than 200 countries will gather at
one place.
"For the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, so many people want to come to Japan.
"I think that 2020 will be amazing event."
(Reporting by Masashi Kato; additional reporting by Jack Tarrant;
writing by Jack Tarrant; editing by Nick Mulvenney/Greg Stutchbury)
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