The Japanese capital had already signalled that it planned to launch a bid for the Games but there were fears that they would have to abandon their campaign after the disaster last month which has ravaged its Pacific coast and left tens of thousands of people dead.

"Although they [the 2020 Games] are nine years from now, we can start raising our hand now," said Ishihara

"If we will work hard with hopes for nine years ahead, it will be a big catalyst for our country's reconstruction and revival."

Tokyo last held for the Olympics in 1964, an event that was widely helping Japan reintegrate into the international community after World War Two.

It bid for the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics, but was always the outsider as the Games were awarded to Rio de Janeiro, the first time that a South American city will have staged the event.

Ishihara is now hoping that the Olympic Movement will get behind their latest bid as a way of helping rebuild the country.

"There seems to be some tendency within the International Olympic Committee to help Japan, at any rate nine years later when it is expected to have been revived," he said.

IOC President Jacques Rogge is due visit Tokyo in July for the Japanese Olympic Committee's (JOC) centenary celebrations.

Officially, the JOC still have to officially decide whether to put forward Tokyo or Hiroshima as its candidate but sources have already told insidethegames that the capital will be chosen.

"Tokyo is Japan's driving force," said Ishihara.

"If Tokyo comes to a halt, Japan will come to a halt as well."

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