Kokichi Tsuburaya

Japanese: 円谷幸吉 - つぶらやこうきち

A long-distance runner. Born in Fukushima Prefecture. After graduating from Sukagawa High School, he joined the Self-Defense Forces and developed his talent as a long-distance runner at the same physical education school. In 1963, he set new world records in the 20,000m and one-hour races during a tour of New Zealand, and then moved on to the marathon. In the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, he placed sixth in the 10,000m, and in the marathon, he appeared at the National Stadium after Abebe, who was in the lead, but was overtaken by B. Heatley of Great Britain in the final stages of the track and came in third, three seconds behind. However, his strong performance excited the whole of Japan. After the Olympics, people around him expected him to win a medal at the next Mexico City Olympics, but his performance was poor due to back pain and leg injuries. Unable to find a way to recover and losing confidence, Tsuburaya wrote in January 1968, the year the Mexico City Olympics were held, ``Father, Mother, Kokichi is completely exhausted and cannot run. Please forgive me. He took his own life in his room at the sports school, leaving a suicide note that read, "I have no peace of mind..."
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Source : Heibonsha Encyclopedia About MyPedia Information

Japanese:

陸上競技長距離走選手。福島県出身。須賀川高校卒業後自衛隊に入隊，同体育学校で長距離選手としての才能を開花させる。1963年のニュージーランド遠征で２万mと１時間走に世界新記録を樹立し，その後マラソンに進出。1964年の東京オリンピックでは１万mで６位入賞，マラソンでは先頭のアベベに次いで国立競技場に姿を現したが，トラックの最終段階でイギリスのB.ヒートリーにかわされ，３秒差の３位となった。しかしその健闘ぶりに日本中が沸いた。オリンピック後，周囲からは次回メキシコシティーオリンピックでのメダル獲得を期待されたものの，腰痛や足の故障などで成績は振るわなかった。復調へのきっかけをつかめず自信を失った円谷は，メキシコシティーオリンピックが開かれる1968年の１月，〈父上様，母上様，幸吉はもうすっかり疲れ切ってしまって走れません。何卒お許し下さい。気が休まる事なく……〉との遺書を残し，体育学校の自室で自らの命を絶った。
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