Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara is again behind his city's bid to host the Olympics. Whether that will help or hinder it is open to debate.
Ishihara, generally described as an outspoken nationalist, was on hand Saturday when Tokyo officially declared it would bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics.
The 78-year-old co-author of the 1989 book ''The Japan That Can Say No'' was the driving force behind Tokyo's failed bid to host the 2016 Olympics, which were awarded to Rio de Janeiro.
Ishihara drew criticism after Tokyo spent an estimated $176 million bidding for 2016.
He was criticized by Rio officials and others after comments in the Japanese media blaming Tokyo's loss on internal dealmaking and ''invisible dynamics'' within the International Olympic Committee.
Just like he did for 2016, Ishihara is cajoling people into getting behind the 2020 bid.
While some are concerned South Korea's Pyeongchang winning the right to host the 2018 Winter Olympics will affect Tokyo's chances, Ishihara is having none of that. His speech to the Japanese Olympic Committee after declaring Tokyo's bid on Saturday sounded more like a lecture than words of encouragement.
''The Tokyo government will do everything it can, but the JOC has to come through,'' Ishihara said. ''There's no room for whining. As long as we are going to do this, you have to win.''
Ishihara wants the 2020 bid to be a symbol of Japan's recovery from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that left almost 23,000 people dead or missing on Japan's northeast coast.
But after the disaster, Ishihara angered survivors by saying the tragedy was divine punishment because Japanese people had become greedy. He later apologized for his comments.
He is renowned for outbursts against China, North Korea, foreigners, immigrants, women and even the French language.
But for all his baggage, Ishihara, who was re-elected to a fourth term in office in April, has a reputation for getting things done. Even Tokyo residents who recoil at Ishihara's bombastic conservatism appreciate his ability to push through reforms such as limiting diesel emissions or cutting government spending.
Still, some think the fact that Ishihara is at the center of Tokyo's 2020 bid will be a detriment to the city's chances of landing the Summer Olympics for the first time since 1964.
''Tokyo would certainly do a great job putting on another Olympics,'' said author Robert Whiting, who has written several critically acclaimed books about Tokyo. ''But given governor Ishihara's frequent negative remarks about foreigners in Japan, why would the IOC even entertain the idea of holding the Olympics here? They would logically ask the question: do all Japanese think like he does? Would foreigners really be welcome in the city?''
