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Lexicon

Betsudai - the Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon
daigaku - university
ekiden - a long-distance relay race
faito - a courseside audience cheer; see ganbatte
ganbatte (ganbare) - a courseside audience cheer; see faito
gasshuku - an intensive training camp
Hakone Ekiden - the annual university men`s championships
jitsugyodan - corporate-sponsored professional running teams
onsen - a hot spring
Q-chan - Naoko Takahashi, the 2000 Sydney Olympics women`s marathon gold medalist, Olympic record holder and first woman to break 2:20 in the marathon
rikujo - track and field, the marathon, and other running events
Rikuren - the JAAF
tasuki - the sash which is handed off during an ekiden
zannen - too bad
otaku - a nerdy, socially awkward person, usually male, who is obsessed with some esoteric topic
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Race Entries

Races in Japan usually close entry at least a month beforehand, often much longer. They generally do not have race day entry and race organizers are not willing to make special exceptions for foreigners. If you are coming to Japan for, say, a business trip in two weeks, it is not possible to enter a race. If you are making longer-range plans then it may be possible to find a suitable event using the following services:

Samurai Running Japan is a long-standing entry service that focuses on smaller races to help overseas visitors "experience the 'real' Japan."  Along with entry it assists with accommodations and transportation.

Launched in September, 2015, Runnet Japan is an English-language branch of Runnet, Japan's dominant online entry service, catering to the international community.  The number of races offered on Runnet Japan is still limited but constantly expanding.

Other entry services like Sports Entry, TecNet and the new Sportsnavi Do still offer only Ja…
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Calendar of Major Races

Races in bold type include nationally-broadcast and other first-tier events.

January
New Year Ekiden
Hakone Ekiden (secondary site here)
Oita Godo Half Marathon
Unzen Obama Half Marathon
Asahi Ekiden (R.I.P.)
All-Japan Women`s Interprefectural Ekiden (secondary site here)
Kita-Kyushu Women's Invitational Ekiden
All-Japan Men`s Interprefectural Ekiden (secondary site here)
Osaka Half Marathon
Osaka International Women`s Marathon (secondary site here)
Meigi Ekiden
Chugoku Yamaguchi Ekiden

February
Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon
Kagawa Marugame Half Marathon (secondary site here)
Kanagawa Half Marathon
Moriya Half Marathon
Himejijo 10 Mile Road Race
Karatsu 10 Mile Road Race
Nobeoka Nishi Nippon Marathon (secondary site here)
Chiba International Cross Country
Chugoku Women's Ekiden
Ome Marathon 30 km (secondary site here and tertiary site here)
Fukuoka International Cross Country
Tokyo Marathon (secondary site here)
Kumanichi 30 km Road Race
Yutoku Half Marathon
Inuyama Yomiuri Half Marathon

March
Biwako Mainich…
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