1964 - The Greatest Year in the History of Japan

How the Tokyo Olympics Symbolized Japan’s Miraculous Rise from the Ashes

By: Roy Tomizawa

Narrated by: David Shih

Japan was a physical and psychological wasteland at the end of World War II. With over three million dead, 39 percent of city populations homeless, 40 percent of all urban areas flattened, 80 percent of all ships destroyed, and 33 percent of all industrial machine tools rendered inoperable, the country was devastated and demoralized.

And yet, just 19 years later, Japan stood proud-modern, peace-loving, and open - welcoming the world as the host of the 1964 Olympics, the largest global event of its time.

In 1964 - The Greatest Year in the History of Japan, Roy Tomizawa chronicles how Japan rose from the rubble to embark on the greatest Asian economic miracle of the 20th century. He shares stories from the 1964 Olympics that created a level of alignment and national pride never before seen in Japan, leaving an indelible mark in the psyche of the Japanese for generations.

©2019 Roy Tomizawa (P)2020 Tantor

An absolutely fascinating at many events surrounding the 1964 Tokyo Olympics

I loved this book. As someone who has studied in Japan and lived there as an exchange student, it was fascinating to have a look at how important the 1964 Tokyo Olympics were to Japan’s future.

I enjoyed learning about events related to but far removed from the games, and a bit about the history of the paralympics in Japan and elsewhere.

There are sad and exhilirating stories in the book, and the narration is done with empathy and a nice, clear tone.