1. Life
Masao Ono's life was deeply intertwined with the development of Japanese football, from his early education through his professional and coaching careers.
1.1. Birth and Childhood
Masao Ono was born on March 2, 1923, in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Details about his specific early childhood environment are limited, but his formative years in Kanagawa set the stage for his future in football.
1.2. Education
Ono attended Kanagawa Prefectural Shonan Junior High School (now Kanagawa Prefectural Shonan High School), where he began to establish himself as a promising football talent. After graduating from Shonan Junior High School in 1940, he advanced his education at the Old System Mito High School before enrolling in the Tokyo Imperial University (now the University of Tokyo), where he studied in the Faculty of Economics. During his university years, he continued to play football, joining the University of Tokyo Association Football Club.
1.3. Early Football Activities
During his time at Kanagawa Prefectural Shonan Junior High School, Ono participated in the National Middle School Football Championship (the predecessor to the All Japan High School Soccer Tournament). In 1939, his team advanced to the best four in the tournament, showcasing his early abilities. At the University of Tokyo, he became a member of the University of Tokyo LB team, which was composed of both current students and alumni. With this team, he played a crucial role in their victory at the 1949 Emperor's Cup (the 29th All Japan Championship), playing alongside notable teammates such as Ko Arima.
2. Playing and Coaching Career
Masao Ono's career spanned both playing at the highest levels of Japanese football and contributing as a coach to the national team.
2.1. Club Career
After graduating from the University of Tokyo, Masao Ono joined Nissan Chemical Industry. While it is not explicitly stated whether he played for a specific Nissan Chemical football club, he continued his club career with other prominent teams. He was a key player for University of Tokyo LB, a team comprising players and graduates from his alma mater, where he contributed significantly to their success, including winning the 1949 Emperor's Cup. In 1955, Ono joined Tokyo Club, playing alongside talents such as Shozo Matsunaga and Isao Iwabuchi. With Tokyo Club, he helped secure victory in the inaugural National Inter-City Football Championship in 1955 and contributed to the team's consecutive championship win in 1956. Throughout his club career, Ono played as both a forward and a half-back.
2.2. National Team Career
Masao Ono made his first appearance for the Japan national team on June 8, 1952, in a match against the All Hong Kong Chinese Selection. His official international A-match debut came on March 14, 1954, when he played against South Korea as part of the 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification. Later that year, he also participated in the 1954 Asian Games in Manila, Philippines, where he played against Indonesia on May 1 and India on May 3. In total, he played three international A-matches for Japan in 1954.
2.3. Coaching Career
Following his playing career, Masao Ono transitioned into coaching. In May 1956, he was appointed as a coach for the Japan national football team that participated in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics football tournament.
3. National Team Statistics
Masao Ono's official appearances and goals for the Japan national team in international A-matches are as follows:
| Japan national football team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 1954 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 3 | 0 |
4. Death
Masao Ono died on February 11, 2001, at the age of 77. The cause of his death was a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.