Kenji Ogiwara

Kenji Ogiwara, born on December 20, 1969, is a distinguished Japanese politician and former Nordic combined skier. His athletic career is marked by remarkable achievements, including winning gold medals in the Nordic combined team events at the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics. Ogiwara's prowess in the sport also shone through at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, where he secured two gold medals in the 15 km individual events in 1993 and 1997, as well as gold in the team events in 1993 and 1995, alongside a bronze in the 7.5 km sprint in 1999.

In addition to his Olympic and World Championship successes, Ogiwara triumphed at the prestigious Holmenkollen ski festival in 1995, further solidifying his status in the sport. That same year, he was honored with the Holmenkollen medal, becoming the first non-European and the first Asian to receive this prestigious accolade. His commitment to sportsmanship was exemplified when he took the Athlete's Oath at the 1998 Winter Olympics.

Ogiwara's legacy in Nordic skiing is complemented by his familial connection to the sport; his twin brother, Tsugiharu, competed alongside him at the 1995 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, where they shared a gold medal in the 4 x 5 km team event. Beyond his athletic endeavors, Ogiwara has ventured into politics, representing the Liberal Democratic Party. He ran for the Mayor of Nagano election on October 31, 2021, garnering a significant number of votes and subsequently being appointed Mayor of Nagano on November 11, 2021.