Takeji ASO

Takeji Aso was the son of a director of the Bank of Japan and studied at the Waseda University. Initially he competed in long-distance runs, such as the Hakone Ekiden relay. Later, he went to Berlin to pursue his studies. During this time, he became a mountaineer of note and was the first Japanese person to climb the Matterhorn in 1923. The following year he made a successful ascent, with skis, of Mount Yari in the Nagano prefecture. Part of the Japanese team for the 1928 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, he also acted as an interpreter speaking English, French and German. He later lived in Norway for some time, and competed in the 1930 World Championships. At the 1932 Winter Games, he served as the manager of the Japanese team.