Background
Born the son of a ship"s captain, Kawamuro moved to France in 1918, where he was employed in the airplane and then automobile industries.
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Kisso Kawamuro
Edit Profile川室 競
Career
His name is also rendered "Kiso" ("Kisou" is the correct romanization in modified Hepburn). He had participated in cycling races in Japan so he continued to ride in France. In 1926, he became the first Japanese to ride in the Tour de France by entering as a touriste-routier (an individual without a team).
He also entered the race in 1927, but on that occasion as well, he retired during the first stage.
The next Japanese to enter the race would be Daisuke Imanaka in 1996, and the first Japanese to complete the Tour would be Yukiya Arashiro and Fumiyuki Beppu in 2009. In subsequent years, Kawamuro competed in domifon races in Germany (cycling races in which motorcycles serve as pacers).
He eventually returned to Japan and worked in the motorcycle industry before passing away in 1973 at the age of 82.
