July 25th 2021 O.A.

Olympic Legacy

Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 has begun.

Prior to the games, LA 84, a sports promotion foundation held a ceremony to return the riding crop used by a Japanese Olympian to his family on June 3rd.

The riding crop was used by Takeichi Nishi, known as Baron Nishi.
In the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Nishi won a gold medal in Equestrian.
This is Japan’s only Olympic medal to date in an equestrian event.

Nishi was friends with celebrities like Douglas Fairbanks and was known as Baron Nishi in the community, but died in the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945.

The riding crop was gifted to the Foundation in 1964, and it has been decided to return back to Nishi’s family taking the opportunity of the Tokyo Games.

The riding crop was given to Consul General Muto and will return to Nishi’s family living in Japan by the actor, Masi Oka.

The returning of the riding crop is available to watch on LA84’s Youtube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-GMKml9ecI

Currently, JACCC has an exhibit displaying the photos of Nishi and the 1932 Los Angeles Games.

The photos were taken by photographer, Toyo Miyatake in 1932.

30 photos are being displayed, starting from Japanese athletes being welcomed by the locals, athletes competing, and ending with the athletes being seen off.

Memorabilia related to the Olympics, like the poetry published in 1933 are also displayed.

Photo exhibition “Torch” will be held at Doizaki Gallery, 1st floor of JACCC until August 8th.