The "ceremonial greeting card" was sent to all the IOC members last month, a Tokyo Government official revealed.

It comes amid growing confidence that Tokyo will officially announce its plans to bid again in July to coincide with centenary celerbations of the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC).

There were initial fears that the massive earthquake and tsunami that hit the country on March 11 followed by the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima power plant would mean Tokyo would have to drop plans to try to bring the Games back to the city for the first time since 1964. 

"The disaster threw our preparations into a spin," the JOC's Olympic cooperation director Yasuhiro Nakamori admitted.

"We have to assess the situation with the nuclear issue, although the final decision will be made by the JOC and we will make an announcement in mid-July.

"A bid must also be approved by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government of course."

Tokyo bid for the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics but were knocked out in the second round of voting as the Games were awarded to Rio de Janeiro.

But Ishihara is keen to try again and Tokyo's chances have been boosted by the decision earlier this month of Hiroshima to withdraw its application.

"I still think we'd better not extinguish the flame of the torch," Ishihara told his regular news conference on Friday (May 27).

The JOC are also behind his plans.

Candidate cities have until September 1 to officially declare whether they are interested in bidding or not.

But Jacques Rogge, the President of the IOC, is due to visit Tokyo on July 15-16 to attend a series of events to mark the 100th anniversary of the JOC and officials hope to be able to make an announcement then.

"We are trying to create a positive atmosphere to prepare Tokyo's bid," said Nakamori.

"The support of sport for those hit by the tragedy is important and the Tokyo Government has been hugely supportive too.

"We must wait for things to settle down at the nuclear plant but we are continuing with our preparations to deliver a bid to the IOC on September 1."

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