Toshihiko Shoji

Toshihiko Shoji was considered Japan’s best player in the 1930s, on the level of European hockey players. Shoji represented Japan at the 1930 World Championships in one game and the 1936 Winter Olympics in two games, the only two major pre-war international events with Japanese participation. Shoji played an additional 23 friendlies for Japan, scoring 11 goals, the most goals of all Japanese players pre-World War II. The center alternatively played left wing and was a speedy skater like most of the Japanese players at that time. He was also popular among spectators on the 1935/36 European tour, when he also captained the team.

After attending Manchuria Medical University in Mukden (now Shenyang) Shoji worked in the city as an esteemed surgeon. In 1943, he published his PhD thesis titled “Association of appendiceal inflammation and bilirubin level”.

In 1975, Shoji founded the Mandai Memorial Ice Hockey Club, consisting of Japanese doctors in their 50s and 60s. The team played against senior teams, even participating in tournaments in British Columbia.