Kiyoshi Nakamura

Kiyoshi Nakamura was a Japanese-born Korean. He attended Waseda University, competing in the Hakone Ekiden from 1935-37. In the following year, he set Japanese records in the 1,000 and 1,500 metres. His only national title came in 1935 in the 1,500. In 1938, he joined the service as an officer of the military police in the Imperial Army.

After the war, Nakamura was appointed director of the running section of Waseda University, coaching amongst others Yoshinori Sakai, the final torchbearer of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Under his guidance, Waseda won the Hakone Ekiden in 1952 and 1954. He later resigned due to internal conflicts. He then joined Tokyu Corporation, teaching long jumper Hiroomi Yamada. In 1976, he returned to Waseda University in order to restore their strength in long-distance running helping, for instance, Toshihiko Seko to become a two-time Olympic marathoner. Later, Nakamura also became director of the track and field club of Esbee Foods, where he coached several Olympians, including Kenya’s marathon silver medalist Douglas Wakiihuri.

Nakamura was famous for his advanced and unconventional training methods. None of his students, however, won the long-awaited gold medal in the Olympic marathon for Japan. One year after the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, he slipped from a rock and died in the Uono River in Niigata Prefecture, where he often fished as a hobby.

Personal Best: 1500 – 3:56.8 (1937).