The man behind the logo for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games has hit back at claims he plagiarized the design, saying Friday he knew nothing about a Belgian theater logo that has drawn attention for its similarities.

"I know nothing about the overseas piece of work that is being reported by the media," Kenjiro Sano said in comments released by the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee.

"I never referred to it when I was creating (the Olympic logo)," added Sano, who will reportedly speak further on the matter at a later date.