Yahei Miura

Born as the son of a major farmer, Yahei Miura was sick from an early age. Nevertheless, he attended Shiroishi High School in Miyagi prefecture and started to strengthen his body by running. He then studied at the Waseda University, where he joined the university’s race club and won many competitions, including the national championship, and also participated in the first Hakone Ekiden long-distance relay. After representing Japan at the marathon of the Antwerpen Olympics, he studied physical education in Berlin.

Miura was selected again for the 1924 Paris Olympics while in Germany but failed to finish the marathon. After returning to Japan in 1932, he built an “Olympic Village” in Marumori, Miyagi Prefecture and worked to popularize sports. In 1947, he ran for a seat in the House of Representatives but lost. Since 1980, an annual road race had been held in his honor in Date City.

Personal Best: Mar – unknown.