Masanori Tsuji was a Japanese cyclist who competed during the mid-1960s before becoming a team manager. In 1964 Tsuji competed at his home Olympics, riding in the road race at the Tokyo Games. Two years later he won gold in the 10 km race at the 1966 Asian Games in Bangkok. Away from cycling Tsuji worked as a police officer before joining Shimano Racing in the early 1970s, eventually becoming a director of the company. In 1984 he was the coach of the national team that competed at the Los Angeles Olympics. One year later, however, Tsuji was one of the 520 people who died onboard Japan Air Lines Flight 123 after it crashed into Mount Takamagahara shortly after take-off. He was only 39-years-old.
Japan