(Sports Action#2/6 (fb) -
BTS) - The media took note of his swimming style, dubbing him the
"Flying Fish" and greatest swimmer in the world at that time. His
dedication to swimming was profiled.
HIRONOSHIN FURUHASHI
Real Name: Hironoshin Furuhashi
Identity/Class: Normal human (late 1940s/early
1950s era)
(citizen of Japan)
Occupation: Swimming athlete, university
student
Group Membership: Japanese swimming team,
Nippon University student body
Affiliations: Shiro Hashizume, his coach, teammates
Enemies: opposing athletes (Bob Gibe, others)
Known Relatives: father (name unrevealed)
Aliases: Flying Fish
Base of Operations: Fujiyama, Japan; also
mobile internationally for competitions
First Appearance: Sports Action#2/6 (February,
1950)
Powers/Abilities: Hironoshin Furuhashi was an
Olympic-level athlete specializing in swimming. He also studied
university-level politics.
Height: 5'7"
Weight: Unrevealed
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
History:
(Sports Action#2/6 (fb)) - Born in 1929, Hironoshin
Furuhashi was adept at swimming and enthusiastic about water when just
5 years old. In the early 1930s, Japan had powerful swimmers and Hironoshin's
father encouraged his son's sports interest. Hironoshin hoped to
compete on the international stage. Hironoshin developed a slower kick
method while swimming, noted by his school's coach. In 1941, war
erupted between Japan and the USA, and aged 11, Hironoshin was consigned
to working in a machine parts factory. Despite the hard work, he
practices swimming whenever he could. He read about his sport and
longed to compete. The war ended and despite his country's
devastation, he sought to swim again, believing that young people must
study to avoid the mistake of war. Hironoshin entered Nippon
University, studying political science. He joined the university
swimming team, swimming against top athlete Shiro Hashizume in a trial.
The coach and Shiro saw his potential, and set him on disciplined
training course with "priestlike" dedication and long daily swims. The
next Olympic Games in 1948 saw Japan denied entry due to its war-time
aggression, but Hironoshin still longed to compete internationally. Not
long after, the USA invited Japan to compete in the A.A.U.
Championships in Los Angeles in 1949 and Hironoshin was competitively
selected among six to represent Japan. Although nervous, he broke five
world records in one day, winning by wide margins.
(Sports Action#2/6 (fb) -
BTS) - The media took note of his swimming style, dubbing him the
"Flying Fish" and greatest swimmer in the world at that time. His
dedication to swimming was profiled.
Comments: Based on real-life swimmer. Marvel version by uncredited writer and Pierce Rice (pencils - see comments).
This is a graphic account of the real-life inspiring Japanese athlete, Hironoshin Furuhashi (1928-2009). He was described as "one of the great motivators [for Japan] after World War II."
This marked a welcome departure from the racist
depictions of Japanese in American comics just five years earlier.
Oddly, he's shown having blue eyes as a boy.
I'm guessing the artist had no photo references for real-life teammate Shiro Hashizume, as he's never shown clearly.
Pierce Rice is identified as penciler (formerly
attributed to Syd Shores) on Grand Comics Database.
Profile by Grendel Prime.
CLARIFICATIONS
:
Hironoshin Furuhashi has no known connections to:
Shiro Hashizume was the top swimmer at Nippon
University. When Hironoshin sought to join the university's swim team,
the coach tried him against Shiro. Both Shiro and the coach marveled at
Hironoshin's speed. Shiro was proud to be Hironoshin's teammate.
--Sports Action#2/6
images:
(without ads)
Sports Action#2/6, p7, pan3 (main image)
p7, pan8 (headshot)
p7, pan4 (swimming)
p5, pan3 (Hashizume)
Appearances:
Sports Action#2/6 (February, 1950) - uncredited writer, Pierce Rice
(pencils), uncredited inker, Stan Lee (editor)
First posted: 09/17/18
Last updated: 09/17/18
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™
and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
If you like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com.
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