japan running news

http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/etc/news/20090613-OHT1T00006.htm
http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/090612/spg0906121630002-n1.htm

translated and edited by Brett Larner

On June 12, Berlin World Championships marathoner Kazuhiro Maeda (28, Team Kyudenko) went to the Osaka headquarters of sporting goods manufacturer Mizuno to have measurements taken for the custom shoes he will wear in August's race in Berlin. The measurement process took two hours and included the creation of a mold of Maeda's feet, high speed camera recording of his stride pattern, and timing tests of various points of contact between his feet and the ground as he ran. "That was pretty tough," he laughed afterwards.

In his debut marathon in Tokyo in March Maeda was the top Japanese finisher and 2nd overall against a field of international runners with best times as fast as 2:04. A proven speed runner with World Championships 10000 m track credentials to his name, Maeda is training with the expectation t…

http://sankei.jp.msn.com/politics/local/080613/lcl0806130140000-n1.htm

translated by Brett Larner

Inspired by the success of the Tokyo Marathon, Osaka Governor Hashimoto announced on June 12 that he has initiated a committee to examine the creation of a mass-participation marathon in Osaka. The tentative plan for the race calls for it to act as an extension of the legacy of currently exisiting marathons. Speaking at a meeting of city government officials, Governor Hashimoto told listeners he is in consultation with the city office and police department to design a course suitable for a large-scale marathon and a plan to handle road closures and safety issues.

Governor Hashimoto stated, "We are examining what steps will be necessary to hold a mass-participation marathon as well as gathering sponsors to cover the costs of expanding the event beyond the scale of existing marathons." Osaka-based sports maker Mizuno is a potential sponsor. Mizuno company president Akito Mizuno comme…

http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=spo_30&k=2008012200382
http://www.daily.co.jp/general/2008/01/23/0000810586.shtml

translated and edited by Brett Larner

On Jan. 22, sports gear maker Mizuno announced that Sendai Ikuei High School distance running prodigy Megumi Kinukawa, 18, will join its team after graduating in the spring. Mizuno's team includes hurdler Shingo Suetsu and hammer thrower Koji Murofushi, but Kinukawa will be its first distance runner. At a press conference in Tokyo, Kinukawa told reporters, "My ambition extends to the world. I want to reach a new level in my running."

"My motto is 'Change the World.'" Kinukawa chose Mizuno in large part because she does not want to spend her career running ekidens but would rather focus her energy on track running. In last summer's Osaka World Championships Kinukawa was 14th in the women's 10000 m, the only high school student on the Japanese team. She was injured late last year but this month has retu…