Tokyo Olympiad Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Tokyo Olympiad Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov June 5, 2020

Kon Ichikawa's "Tokyo Olympiad" (1965) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc include new introduction by Peter Cowie; three archival interviews with the director; additional scenes; newly produced documentary program; and more. The release also arrives with an illustrated leaflet featuring an essay by critic James Quandt as well as technical credits. In Japanese, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

The 4K restoration of Tokyo Olympiad was first introduced on Blu-ray in Criterion's 100 Years of Olympic Films: 1912-2012 box set. Click on the link above to see our listing and review of it.

Tokyo Olympiad Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.40:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Tokyo Olympiad arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

The following text appears inside the leaflet that is provided with this Blu-ray release:

"This new digital transfer was created in 4K resolution on a Scanity film scanner from the following materials: the 35mm original camera negative of Sensatiobn of the Century (producer Taguchi Suketaro, supervisor Nobumasa Kawamoto); the 35mm original camera negatives of four sports-compilation films made under the aegis of the Tokyo Olympic Film Association; and a 35mm interpositive and internegative of Tokyo Olympiad. The overall management of the 4K restoration was taken on by Warner Bros. Motion Picture Imaging, with VFX Hollywood handling dirt removal and damage using DIAMANT-Film software. The surviving soundtrack was restored and remastered from the 35mm optical soundtrack negative by Audio Mechanics in Burbank, California.

Restoration supervisors: Adrian Wood, Robert Jaquier.
Digital scanning: Imagica, Tokyo.
Colorist: Jan Yarborough/Warner Bros. Motion Picture Imaging, Burbank, CA.
Content analysis and reconfirm: The Edit Store, London."

The release is sourced from the same beautiful 4K master that was first introduced in the 100 Years of Olympic Films: 1912-2012 box set in 2017. Naturally, the quality of the technical presentation here is equally impressive. Obviously, because of the nature of the content that is used some small fluctuations in terms of density, delineation, and clarity exist. However, overall the film actually boasts some absolutely breathtaking visuals whose depth, delineation, and fluidity are as good as anything you would see in a conventional film where. (While it functions primarily as a documentary, Tokyo Olympiad isn't a traditional documentary project either). Additionally, a direct comparison with this DVD release of the film immediately reveals a vastly superior color scheme, with dramatically healthier primaries and expanded nuances. I personally think that the difference is so big that the 4K restoration actually ensures a completely new viewing experience. Image stability is excellent. The entire film looks spotless as well. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Tokyo Olympiad Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: Japanese LPCM 1.0 (mixed with other languages). Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

The original soundtrack of the film incorporates a lot of organic sounds and noises, which means that there are native fluctuations in terms clarity, dynamic stability, and even balance. But they are very small, and because they are part of the overall ambience of the events that are chronicled in the film, they actually sound entirely natural. (There are no abrupt spikes or drops in dynamic activity that feel out of sync, so the audio mix is in fact really good). Kon Ichikawa also used beautiful symphonic music which sounds terrific and adds a completely different quality to the visuals as well.

Tokyo Olympiad Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Introduction - this exclusive new introduction by film scholar and Olympic Games expert Peter Cowie was recorded in Montreux, Switzerland, in January 2020. In English, not subtitled. (12 min, 1080p).

• Kon Ichikawa - presented here are three archival interviews with director Kon Ichikawa in which he discusses the conception and production of Tokyo Olympiad as well as its editing, his knowledge of the games and their importance, and the film's lasting appeal. In Japanese, with optional English subtitles.
  
  1. Interview One - Preproduction 1964 (9 min, 1080p).
  2. Interview Two - Editing, 1964 (4 min, 1080p).
  3. Interview Three - 1992 (33 min, 1080i).

• Additional Material - presented here are additional scenes that were produced by the Tokyo Olympiad Film Association under the direction of Kon Inchikawa. All scenes are fully restored in 4K. A new introduction by Peter Cowie is included as well. In Japanese, with optional English subtitles.
  
  1. Introduction (10 min, 1080p).
  2. Track and Field (11 min, 1080p).
  3. Aquatics (41 min, 1080p).
  4. Team Ball Sports (16 min, 1080p).
  5. Wrestling, Wight Lifting, and Cycling (17 min, 1080p).

• A Singular Vision: Kon Ichikawa's "Tokyo Olympiad" - this new documentary the genesis of Tokyo Olympiad and Kon Ichikawa's working methods. It features new video interviews with film editor Chizuko Osada, camera operator Masuo Yamagushi, and the director's son, Tatsumi Ichikawa. The documentary was produced by Criterion. In Japanese, with optional English subtitles. (31 min, 1080p).

• About the Restoration - this new program takes a closer look at the 4K restoration of Tokyo Olympiad. It features restoration producer Adrian Wood. In English, not subtitled. (7 min, 1080p).

• Trailers - two vintage trailers for Tokyo Olympiad. With English subtitles where necessary. (4 min, 1080p).

• Commentary - this archival audio commentary was recorded by Peter Cowie in 2001. It initially appeared on Criterion's DVD release of Tokyo Olympiad.

• Leaflet - an illustrated leaflet featuring an essay by critic James Quandt as well as technical credits.

Tokyo Olympiad Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There is a substantial amount of new and archival bonus features on this upcoming release of Kon Ichikawa's Tokyo Olympiad that fans of the film would want to see. I spent two days with them and in my opinion a few are actually essential viewing material. (The restored footage from the Czechoslovakia vs. Hungary soccer clash, for instance, is outstanding, and there is a lot more). The release is sourced from the beautiful 4K restoration of the film that was introduced on Blu-ray a couple of years ago, so the technical presentation is predictably excellent. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.