Masamichi Kitamoto

After graduation from junior high school in Wakayama Prefecture, Masamichi Kitamoto entered Keio University in Tokyo. In 1929, he first won the 5,000 metres at the Meiji Jingu Games and later that year at the Japanese Athletics Championships. In 1931, he repeated his success at the Meiji Jingu. One year later he won the distance double (5 and 10K) at the national championships. During his time at Keio, he also took part in the Hakone Ekiden, leading his team to the overall win in 1932. At the Los Angeles Olympics, he was well behind his best in the 5,000 but placed ninth in the 10,000. He later served as a coach of 1936 marathon gold medalist Son Gi-Jeong.

In World War II, Kitamoto served as a Lieutenant Ensign at the New Guinea Front. In 1943, he led a special operation opening an important cross-mountain supply route. The route was later used for the so-called Sarawaket crossing. After the war, he became manager at an iron factory in Takarazuka in Hyogo Prefecture.

Personal Bests: 5000 – 15:08.0 (1932); 10000 – 31:33.6 (1932).