Heigoro Kuriyagawa

Before World War II Heigoro Kuriyagawa, from the island of Hokkaido, was one of the most successful Japanese athletes in cross country skiing and Nordic combined. After graduating from high school he joined the Sapporo Railway Administration Bureau. Kuriyagawa won his first titles at the All Japan Ski Championship in 1928 in the 30 km cross country and the relay. He then enrolled in the Meiji University and went on to win three consecutive student championships in the 18 km cross country (1929-31), as well as the national title in the Nordic combined in 1930. Kuriyagawa’s 12th place in the 18 km at the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid was the best result for a Japanese athlete in individual cross country skiing until Hiroyuki Imai finished sixth in the 50 km at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. He failed to achieve a better result in the Nordic combined due to a fall in the first round of the jumping. In 1933, Kuriyagawa was the first Japanese to compete at the Holmenkollen Games in Oslo.

Later Kuriyagawa worked as director of the ski department of the Sapporo Railway Administration Bureau. At the 1972 Winter Olympics in his hometown Sapporo, Kuriyagawa served as deputy general manager of the competition management. After retirement he joined the Hokkaido Food Business Cooperative. His former residence in Sapporo is still recommended to be visited due to his interesting architecture.