Masao Ichihara

Masao Ichihara enrolled in law school at Ritsumeikan University in 1931. Only then did he specialize in the 400 metre hurdles. In 1934 and 1935 he was the national champion in this event. Internationally, he represented Japan at the 1934 Far Eastern Games, placing third. He was also selected for the Japanese team at the 1935 International Student Athletics Championships in Budapest but was not able to attend due to illness. He soon recovered and won the 200 low hurdles at the Meiji Jingu Games later that year. At the 1936 Berlin Olympics he did not advance to the second round in either the 400 hurdles or the 4x400.

Ichihara graduated in 1937 and subsequently started to work in the management of Sapporo Railway but continued to compete in national and regional competitions. After serving in World War II, he held various official positions in the Hokkaido Athletics Association and was eventually elected as director of the Japan Athletics Federation.

Personal Bests: 400 – 50.8 (1934); 400H – 54.7 (1936).