As he tensely awaited the result of his long campaign to secure the 2020 Olympics for his city, Naoki Inose tightly grabbed a silver locket hanging from his neck. The governor of Tokyo told reporters later that inside the little case was a photo of his wife Yuriko, who--unknown to many of his constituents--had died just weeks earlier.

With the announcement in Argentina Saturday that Tokyo won the competition over Istanbul and Madrid, Sept. 7 became a day of celebration for Mr. Inose, who, as head of the city’s Olympic hosting committee, had traveled the world to pitch Tokyo’s bid since taking office last December. It was also the 49th day since the death of his wife, the final day of the initial mourning period for Buddhists when family and friends gather for a prayer.

“I know that she is rejoicing with me,” Mr. Inose told reporters at a Buenos Aires hotel soon after Tokyo’s victory was announced. His speech was halting -- uncharacteristic for the 66-year-old writer-turned-governor, known for his eloquence and energy. He then pulled out the locket from under his shirt and showed the photo of Yuriko, an attractive woman with large eyes and a shiny bob cut.

Many Japanese were surprised to learn about the Mrs. Inose's passing, which wasn't widely publicized, despite the extra attention the governor had received lately for his role in the Olympic bid. While Mr. Inose didn’t keep the news secret, he tried to keep it low key so it wouldn’t damp Tokyo's momentum, according to those who helped the campaign. The Japanese media largely obliged.