Ryozo Hiranuma

An athlete known as the "father of sports." Born in Yokohama City. An all-round athlete since his days at Keio University. He served as a member of the Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly and the House of Peers (now the House of Councillors), but remained connected to the sports world, and in 1946 (Showa 21), when the Japan Amateur Sports Association (now the Japan Sports Association) began to elect its president, he was chosen as its first president. He led the Japanese delegation to both the Los Angeles and Berlin Olympic Games. He also made a great contribution to the sports world, serving as president of the Athletics Federation, volleyball, gymnastics, handball, and the Tokyo Big Six Baseball League. He also believed that sports were what lit the flame of hope for young people, and came up with the idea of ​​holding a National Athletic Meet, hoping to improve facilities by having the tournament flag rotate around the regions, which he succeeded in doing.

[Tsuneo Ishii]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

「スポーツの父」といわれたスポーツ人。横浜市生まれ。慶応義塾大学時代からスポーツ万能選手であった。神奈川県議会議員から、貴族院（いまの参議院）議員を務めたが、スポーツ界との縁は切れず、1946年（昭和21）日本体育協会（現、日本スポーツ協会）が会長公選になったとき、第1回の会長に選ばれた。ロサンゼルス、ベルリン両オリンピック大会には日本選手団の団長。また、陸上競技連盟、バレーボール、体操、ハンドボール、東京六大学野球連盟などの会長を務めるなど、スポーツ界功労者として活躍した。また、スポーツこそ青少年に希望の灯をともすとして、国民体育大会の開催を考え、大会旗を地方持ち回りにすることで施設の充実を願い、成功した。

［石井恒男］

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