The 1964 Tokyo Games were the first to be held in Asia. At the first Olympic Judo event there were 74 participants from 27 countries. Youngest participant: Park Cheong-Sam (17 years, 346 days), Oldest participant: Orlando Madrigal (43 years, 223 days), Most Medals (Athlete): 16 athletes with 1 medal, Most Medals (Country): Japan and Soviet Union (4 medals)

The carrier of the flame, Yoshinori Sakai, was chosen because he was born on 6 August 1945, the day the atomic bomb exploded in Hiroshima, in homage to the victims and as a call for world peace. There were 74 participants from 27 countries. There were 4 men's weight classes as follows: Lightweight (-63 kg/-139 lbs), Middleweight (-80 kg/-176 lbs), Heavyweight (-93 kg/-205 lbs), and Openweight.

A cinder running track was used for the last time in the athletics events, whilst a fibreglass pole was used for the first time in the pole vaulting competition. The Tokyo Games was also the last occasion that hand timing by stopwatch was used for official timing.

The first official Fair Play Trophy for setting an outstanding example of sportsmanship was awarded to Swedish yachtsmen Lars Gunnar Käll and Stig Lennart Käll. The Swedes gave up their race to come to the aid of two other competitors whose boat had sunk.