Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday appointed veteran politician Toshiaki Endo as the nation's first Olympics minister as it seeks to navigate through a host of issues ahead of 2020 Summer Games.
Though Tokyo won the games largely due to its organizational prowess, the last year has seen bid promises rolled back, construction costs soar and arguments escalate between the city and national governments over funding for the new main stadium.
Taking up the post, 65-year-old Endo is a lawmaker of 22 years standing, who has long worked on sports policies, been a senior vice minister in the Education Ministry and lists rugby as his main hobby.