Overview

Masao Ono (大埜 正雄, Ono Masao; March 2, 1923 – February 11, 2001) was a Japanese football player noted for representing the Japan national team. Contemporary records identify him as part of Japan’s cohort of national representatives in the mid-20th century. Public sources confirm his birth and death dates and his role as an international player for Japan.

Career and context

Details of Ono’s domestic clubs and specific playing position are not widely recorded in accessible summaries, but his career falls into an era when many Japanese players progressed through school and company teams before joining national selections. He belonged to a generation that played during the difficult wartime and immediate postwar years, a period when organized domestic competitions and international fixtures were disrupted and gradually re-established.

Historical background

The time when Ono was active saw Japanese football rebuilding after World War II. National team activities resumed slowly in the late 1940s and 1950s and relied on players who combined amateur club commitments with national service. Players of Ono’s generation helped restore Japan’s presence in regional and international football and laid foundations for later professional developments.

Legacy and recognition

While Masao Ono is not widely known outside specialist lists of past internationals, his inclusion among Japan’s national players records him in the history of the sport in the country. Obituaries and historical rosters note his contribution simply by listing his name, dates, and national team membership; this archival presence preserves his place in Japan’s football heritage.

Key facts

  • Name: Masao Ono (大埜 正雄)
  • Born: March 2, 1923
  • Died: February 11, 2001
  • Role: Japanese player who represented the Japan national team
  • Era: mid-20th century, postwar period of Japanese football revival

For researchers seeking more detail on Ono’s matches or club history, national team archives and contemporary newspaper records are the most likely sources to hold match reports, line-ups, and additional biographical notes.