Isamu Sekiguchi

Isamu Sekiguchi started ski jumping while attending junior high school, but improved his skills after graduation when the Japanese athletes were guided by the Norwegian Olaf Helset, (who was also the vice president of the Norwegian Ski Association and later served as president of the National Olympic Committee). He is considered to be the first Japanese to adopt the Scandinavian jumping style. Together with Tsutomu Sekido, Sekiguchi joined the Sapporo Railroad Administration Bureau before advancing to the Hokkaido Imperial University. After winning the jumping event at the All Japan Ski Championships in 1930, Sekiguchi was selected for the team at the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. However, he did not start due to illness and had to return home early.

From jumping Sekiguchi switched to Nordic combined and went on to win the title in this event at the 1935 All Japan Ski Championships. He got a second chance to compete in the Winter Olympics when in 1936 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Sekiguchi took part in the Nordic combined and in alpine skiing. Back in Japan, he focused on alpine skiing winning a third national title in the slalom at the 1937 national championships. Sekiguchi achieved the rare feat of winning three national titles in three different sports.

After World War II, Sekiguchi ran a driving range in Takarazuka in Hyogo prefecture, and also served as a technical instructor for the Ski Association of Japan.