Skip to main content

Thanks for 59 Years - Yashima Track to Close at End of October

http://www.shikoku-np.co.jp/kagawa_news/locality/20120920000139

translated by Brett Larner

Having become outdated and too old for use, the Yashima Field track and field grounds in Takamatsu, Kagawa are scheduled to close at the end of October for a complete renovation and modernization.  A memorial event to commemorate the track's 59-year history is scheduled to take place at Yashima Field on Nov. 3.  The event will feature a talk on running form from 2010 Asian Games 400 mH bronze medalist Naohiro Kawakita and activities including the attending crowds forming human letters.  It is sure to be a memorable experience.  Demolition and construction work will begin in mid-November, and the new and improved facility is scheduled to open in 2016.

The Kagawa prefectural government build Yashima Field for the 1953 National Sports Festival.  In 1983 the track was upgraded to an all-weather surface, and in 2008 the prefecture transferred ownership to the city.  As the only track in eastern Takamatsu, Yashima Field has played an important role not only as the site of national and international-level competition but also for elementary and junior high school time trials, high school meets and kindergarten exercise days, a regular part of the running lives of many prefectural citizens.

The closing event on Nov. 3 will have three main parts.  At 10:00 a.m. Takamatsu Track and Field Association director Masafumi Arima will conduct a running clinic for people older than elementary school-aged, showing runners how to run with beautiful form. At 1:00 p.m. Kawakita will lead a session titled "Learn the secret of how to run fast!" where elementary school students can learn the best way to swing their arms and move their legs as they run.

Between 11:45 and 12:30, all participants will gather on the field to spell the word "Arigato" [thank you] together for a commemorative aerial photo.  Each participant will receive a small section cut from the track as a memento.  Participation in both Arima's clinic and Kawakita's session is limited to 100 people each.  There is no entry fee.  Interested people may apply between Sept. 24 and Oct. 5.  To enter or to find out more, call the city sports bureau at 087-839-2626.

Comments

Most-Read This Week

Chien Breaks TPE NR, Iwata Betters ID-Class WR - Weekend Track Roundup

The last weekend of the academic and fiscal year saw at least 5 meets with good results domestically and abroad. Kicking things off Friday was the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne, where Tomohiro Shinno and Naoto Hasegawa took 1st and 3rd in the men's high jump, both of them only clearing 2.18 m along with 2nd-placer Roman Anastasios . 12 other Japanese athletes were in action on the second day of the meet on Saturday, where 3000 mSC NR holder Ryuji Miura ran 3:42.84 for 6th in the men's 1500 m. Nagiya Mori had a better one in the men's 3000 m with a 7:45.40 for 4th. Both Yota Mashiko and Rui Suzuki cleared 8:00 too, Mashiko's 7:53.84 the 2nd-fastest ever by a Japanese-born high schooler. Abigail Fuka Ido and Nagisa Takahashi both placed 3rd in their events, Ido going 23.85 (-0.9) in the women's 200 m and Takahashi clearing 1.82 m in the women's high jump. 8 Japanese men were at The TEN in California to run 10000 m. In the B-heat won by Edward Marks in ...

JAAF Announces Marathon Teams for Nagoya Asian Games

On Mar. 25 the JAAF announced Japan's marathon team lineups for this fall's Nagoya Asian Games. Yuya Yoshida (GMO) and Ichitaka Yamashita (Mitsubishi Juko) make up the men's team, with Sayaka Sato (Sekisui Kagaku) and Mikuni Yada (Edion) representing Japan in the women's marathon. Each country can field up to 2 men and 2 women per marathon team at the Asian Games. The top-ranked male and female athletes in the 2025-26 MGC Series rankings were given first priority, with the second slots going to people with high-level performances in the 2025-26 MGC Series. Yoshida ran 2:05:16 to win the 2024 Fukuoka International Marathon, and at February's Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon ran an excellent 2:06:59 to take the top Japanese spot in the race and in the MGC rankings. After having run the Tokyo World Championships marathon last fall this will be his second-straight marathon national team in a major international championships. Yamashita ran 2:06:18 at February's Osak...

JAAF Announces World Road Running Championships Half Marathon Team

The JAAF announced the men's and women's half marathon teams today for this fall's World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen: Women Yumi Yoshikawa (Canon) - 1:09:14 (1st, 2026 Osaka Half) Wakana Kabasawa (Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo) - 1:09:20 (1st, 2026 Nat'l Corp. Half) Rina Shimizu (Noritz) - 1:09:22 (2nd, 2026 Osaka Half) Yuna Takahashi (Shimamura) - 1:09:23 (3rd, 2026 Osaka Half) Men Tomoya Ogikubo (Hiramatsu Byoin) - 1:00:22 (4th, 2026 Marugame Half) Yuma Nishizawa (Toyota Boshoku) - 1:00:26 (5th, 2026 Marugame Half) Neo Namiki (Subaru) - 1:00:29 (6th, 2026 Marugame Half) Daisuke Sato (Chuo Univ.) - 1:00:40 (7th, 2026 Marugame Half) Mile and 5 km teams, if any, will be decided after June's National Track and Field Championships. © 2026 Brett Larner , all rights reserved