An infielder, Isao Hirono was on Japanese national team that won its fourth title at the Asian Championship in 1965. He played at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics on the Japanese Students Team while representing Keio University. Hirono later played nine years in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), with the Chunichi Dragons from 1966-67, the Nishitetsu Lions from 1968-70, the Yomiuri Giants in 1971-73, and a return to the Dragons for his final year in 1974. Hirono later became a hitting coach for the Seibu Lions.
Japan