The 1958 Asian Games in Tokyo marked Japan's first hosting of the event and introduced four new sports, including judo and volleyball, to the Asian Games program.
Key Facts
- Dates
- 24 May – 1 June 1958
- Participating NOCs
- 20
- Athletes
- 1,820
- Sports contested
- 13
- Total events
- 97
- Sports introduced
- Field hockey, table tennis, tennis, volleyball
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Following two prior editions of the Asian Games, the Asian Games Federation sought to expand the multi-sport event's reach across the continent. Tokyo was selected as host city, marking the first time Japan would stage the Games, reflecting its growing postwar stature in regional sport.
The Third Asian Games were held in Tokyo, Japan, from 24 May to 1 June 1958. A total of 1,820 athletes from 20 Asian National Olympic Committees competed across 13 sports and 97 events. The program included four non-Olympic disciplines — judo, table tennis, tennis, and volleyball — with field hockey, table tennis, tennis, and volleyball all making their Asian Games debuts.
The 1958 Games expanded the Asian Games' sporting program and demonstrated Japan's capacity to host major international multi-sport events, laying groundwork for its later hosting of the 1964 Olympic Games. The inclusion of judo and other regional sports broadened the Games' identity beyond purely Olympic disciplines.
Result
at Tokyo, Japan