2020 Olympics: superfan Naotoshi Yamada dies with unfulfilled Tokyo Games dream

Superfan Naotoshi Yamada, famous in Japan for having been to every Summer Games since 1964, has died aged 92 with an unfulfilled dream of watching the Olympics when it returns to Tokyo next year.

Japanese broadcaster NHK reported on Monday that he died last week following heart failure.

Yamada, known to his Japanese compatriots as “Olympic Ojisan”, or “Olympics Grandad”, first experienced the Games when Tokyo last hosted the gathering in 1964.

He had been a colourful presence at every Summer Games since, in his distinctive gold top hat and red jacket to pair with his beaming smile.