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MGC Race Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifier - Suguru Osako

Suguru Osakoage: 28
sponsor: Nike Oregon Project
graduated from: Saku Chosei H.S., Waseda University

best time inside MGC window:
2:05:50, 3rd, 2018 Chicago Marathon – NR

PB: 2:05:50, 3rd, 2018 Chicago Marathon – NR

other PBs:
5000 m: 13:08.40 (NR, 2015) 10000 m: 27:38.31 (2013) half marathon: 1:01:13 (2017)

marathons inside MGC window (Aug. 1 2017 – April 30 2019)
DNF, 2019 Tokyo Marathon
3rd, 2018 Chicago Marathon, 2:05:50 – NR
3rd, 2017 Fukuoka International Marathon, 2:07:19

other major results:
1st, 2019 Hot Trot Half Marathon, 1:02:23 – CR
3rd, 2019 HDC Abashiri 10000 m, 27:57.41
2nd, 2019 Payton Jordan Invitational 5000 m, 13:40.48
24th, 2018 Valencia World Half Marathon Championships, 1:01:56
1st, 2018 National Cross Country Championships 10 km, 29:53
1st, 2017 National Championships 10000 m, 28:35.47
3rd, 2017 Boston Marathon, 2:10:28
6th, 2017 Marugame Half Marathon, 1:01:13 – PB
12th, 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics 5000 m Heat 2, 13:31.45
17th, 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics 10000 …
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MGC Race Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifier - Yuki Sato

Yuki Satoage: 32
sponsor: Nissin Shokuhin
graduated from: Saku Chosei H.S., Tokai University

best time inside MGC window:
2:08:58, 10th, 2018 Tokyo Marathon

PB: 2:08:58, 10th, 2018 Tokyo Marathon

other PBs:
5000 m: 13:13.60 (2013) 10000 m: 27:38.25 (2009) half marathon: 1:02:30 (2019)

marathons inside MGC window (Aug. 1 2017 – April 30 2019)
16th, 2019 Tokyo Marathon, 2:15:07
6th, 2018 Berlin Marathon, 2:09:18
10th, 2018 Tokyo Marathon, 2:08:58 – PB
DNF, 2017 Fukuoka International Marathon

other major results:
6th, 2019 HDC Abashiri Meet 10000 m, 28:08.34
2nd, 2019 Gold Coast Half Marathon, 1:02:36
2nd, 2019 Sendai International Half Marathon, 1:02:30 – PB
DNF, 2019 Marugame Half Marathon
13th, 2019 New Year Ekiden Fourth Stage (22.4 km), 1:06:03
2nd, 2018 East Japan Corporate Ekiden Fifth Stage (7.8 km), 23:00
DNF, 2018 National Championships 10000 m
16th, 2018 Marugame Half Marathon, 1:02:33
15th, 2017 Valencia Half Marathon, 1:02:53
4th, 2017 National Championships 10000 m, 28:09.01
DNF…
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MGC Race Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifier - Akinobu Murasawa

Akinobu Murasawaage: 28
sponsor: Nissin Shokuhin
graduated from: Saku Chosei H.S., Tokai University

best time inside MGC window:
2:09:47, 14th, 2018 Tokyo Marathon

PB: 2:09:47, 14th, 2018 Tokyo Marathon

other PBs:
5000 m: 13:34.85 (2011) 10000 m: 27:50.59 (2012) 20 km: 59:08 (2009)

marathons inside MGC window (Aug. 1 2017 – April 30 2019)
18th, 2018 Frankfurt Marathon, 2:15:41
14th, 2018 Tokyo Marathon, 2:09:47 – PB
1st, 2017 Hokkaido Marathon, 2:14:48

other major results:
25th, 2019 Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon, 1:04:32
34th, 2019 New Year Ekiden Third Stage (13.6 km), 40:25
28th, 2017 Lake Biwa Marathon, 2:17:51
5th, 2017 Karatsu 10-Miler, 46:46
8th, 2016 National Championships 10000 m, 28:29.10
5th, 2015 National Championships 10000 m, 28:39.39
9th, 2014 Kumamoto Kosa 10-Miler, 46:40 – PB
3rd, 2012 Hakone Ekiden Second Stage (23.2 km), 1:08:14
1st, 2011 Hakone Ekiden Second Stage (23.2 km), 1:06:52
2nd, 2010 Hakone Ekiden Second Stage (23.2 km), 1:08:08
1st, 2009 Hakone Ekiden Qualifier 20…
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Toda Misses 1500 m NR by 0.48 at Hokuren Distance Challenge Fukagawa Meet

The second meet in the 2019 Hokuren Distance Challenge series took place July 9 in Fukagawa, Hokkaido. Masaki Toda (Sunbelx) ran an all-time Japanese #2 mark of 3:37.90 to win the men's 1500 m A-heat, a solid performance to follow up his 1500 m national title at last month's National Championships. But, missing the Japanese national record for 1500 m by just 0.48 seconds he couldn't help being disappointed, saying, "I was optimistic about how close I could get. I guess this is just the limit of my ability right now."

After former New Year Ekiden national champion Nissin Shokuhin scaled back its team this season Toda moved to the up-and-coming Sunbelx corporate team. In the middle of this twist of fate Toda has found his way. "I've been thinking a lot about how to change myself," he said. "It looks like I'm finally on the right path."

Translator's note: A few hours after Toda's run, National Championships 3rd-placer Nanami Arai …
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Nissin Shokuhin to Eliminate All Athletes Except Sato and Murasawa

Two-time New Year Ekiden national champion Nissin Shokuhin Group announced on Jan. 10 that it is making major cuts to its men's ekiden team. With the exception of MGC Race 2020 Olympic marathon trials qualifiers Akinobu Murasawa, 27, and Yuki Sato, 32, it will eliminate its other twelve athletes from the team. It has also canceled contracts with two graduating university fourth-years who were scheduled to join the team in April following their graduation.

The Nissin Shokuhin Group team has been one of the leaders of Japanese long distance, home to top class athletes including current marathon national record holder Suguru Osako, 27. The change in its policies comes suddenly. According to a person involved in the situation, of the team's fourteen members the twelve other than Murasawa and Sato have been asked to leave the team. Those who wish to continue their athletic careers will receive support in transferring to another team, while those who wish to retire will have the op…
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Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems and Nissin Shokuhin Group Win New Year Ekiden Regional Qualifiers

by Brett Larner

九州実業団毎日駅伝

優勝おめでとうございます(*^^*) pic.twitter.com/R9KGe1AdJV — manamin (@kinokonoko0916) November 3, 2016
Corporate men's ekiden season got started Thursday with two regional qualifiers for the Jan. 1 New Year Ekiden coporate men's national championships.  In the Kyushu Region, Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems went back and forth with favorite Asahi Kasei throughout the race to score its first-ever regional win.  Shuho Dairokuno (Asahi Kasei) got things started right with a 1:22 lead over Ryo Kiname (MHPS) on the 12.9 km First Stage.  Mitsubishi's new Kenyan Enock Omwamba caught Asahi Kasei's Takaya Arake on the Second Stage, both teams handing off to their third runners at the same time.  Hiroto Inoue (MHPS) opened a 42-second lead over Kenta Murayama (Asahi Kasei), but on the next stage Murayama's twin brother Kota Murayama, the 10000 m national record holder, cut Mitsubishi's lead down to 11 seconds.  Takashi Ichida turned it into a 59-second Asah…
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Asahi Kasei Set to Challenge Honda and Toyota for New Year Ekiden National Title

by Brett Larner

It’s an interesting and exciting time in Japan’s corporate leagues. Over the last five years there has been an unprecedented explosion of quality and depth at quality on the university scene at the hands of young, innovative coaches, on which more in a JRN feature next month, and its impact is starting to be felt at the more conservative corporate level.



Last year’s New Year Ekiden national corporate men’s championships winner Toyota had an average age of 23.2, just out of university, for its 7-man team. First-year pros Shinobu Kubota (Toyota), Suguru Osako (Nissin Shokuhin) and twins Keita Shitara (Konica Minolta) and Yuta Shitara (Honda) were some of the day’s overall big players. This year there has been an even bigger influx of major talent ahead of the New Year Ekiden’s 60th running, with the celebrated Asahi Kasei team’s new star Kota Murayama breaking the 10000 m national record in 27:29.69 and cracking the all-time Japanese top 10 for 5000 m, his twin brot…
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Kyushu Corporate Ekiden Rounds Out Qualification for 60th Anniversary New Year Ekiden

by Brett Larner



Following other regional corporate league ekiden winners Honda (East Japan), Toyota (Chubu), YKK (Hokuriku), Otsuka Seiyaku (Kansai) and Mazda (Chubu), the Asahi Kasei team brought the qualification round for the 60th anniversary New Year Ekiden national corporate men's championships to a close with a win by more than a kilometer at Monday's Kyushu Corporate Ekiden.

The Jan. 1 New Year Ekiden is the primary reason for the existence of Japan's men's corporate team leagues and a nationally-televised event.  It is also one of the few championship ekidens without a seeded bracket, meaning that every team, even the winner, must run one of the November regional qualifying ekidens to re-qualify the next year.  This has a direct impact on Japanese men's ability to run fall marathons outside Japan.

With a huge group of new team members this year Asahi Kasei did what every team should, using its regional qualifier as a way to get its rookies used to corporate…
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Honda Wins East Japan Corporate Ekiden to Lead 15 Qualifiers for New Year Ekiden National Championships

http://mainichi.jp/sports/news/20151104k0000m050015000c.html

translated and edited by Brett Larner

朝チャン！ 東日本実業団駅伝 「いつも追いかけている仕事の警視庁。この日ばかりは必死で逃げます！」←思わず笑ってしまった(^O^) pic.twitter.com/nKLg7mMNcs — ku_min (@kunkun_san) November 3, 2015
Running from the Saitama Prefectural Government offices to Kumagaya Sports Park Field, 27 corporate men's teams raced the 56th running of the seven-stage, 77.5 km East Japan Corporate Ekiden on Nov. 3.  The local Honda team won for the first time in 3:47:09 after anchor Yuki Matsumura made up a 52-second deficit to run down leader Nissin Shokuhin.  Nissin Shokuhin finished 2nd for the fourth year in a row, with DeNA taking 3rd and Konica Minolta, in search of a fourth-straight win, finishing on 4th.  The top 15 teams qualified for the 60th running of the New Year Ekiden national corporate men's championships on Jan. 1.  The new ND Software team was the 16th finisher, just missing making its New Year Ekiden debut by 3 seconds behind the Tokyo Police D…
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Osako Quits Nissin Shokuhin Corporate Team For Oregon

http://sports.nissin.com/rikujo/weblog/sp/2015/03/post-52.html

translated by Brett Larner

At this time we would like to announce that Suguru Osako, who has had great success as a member of the Nissin Shokuhin Group corporate team, will resign his position with the team on Mar. 31, 2015.  We extend our thanks to all the fans who have generously given their warmest support.  All of us at Nissin Shokuhin will continue to cheer Osako on as he leaves to take on the world in pursuit of his life's dream.

Osako's comments: "During the last year in which I've been based in the United States while competing I've become confident that I can race the way I see myself racing, and I've decided that it is time to start over based in Oregon, U.S.A. as a professional athlete.  And for everyone at the Nissin Shokuhin Group who supported me this year and who are willingly letting me go, I will give it all to produce the results."
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Osako Sets 2 Mile National Record at Armory Track Invitational

by Brett Larner
click photo for video c/o USATF.TV

Quasi-Nike Oregon Project member Suguru Osako ran the 2 mile at the 2015 Armory Track Invitational alongside training partners Cam Levins and Galen Rupp.  After moving to Oregon to train with the NOP and head coach Alberto Salazar while remaining tied to the Nissin Shokuhin corporate team, early last fall Osako set the outdoor 3000 m national record of 7:40.09 and all-time #2 Japanese mark of 8:28.30 for 2 miles outdoor.  Biding his time mid-pack at the Armory, Osako kicked hard to take 2nd behind Levins in 8:16.47, a new national record more than 8 seconds faster than fellow Waseda University alumnus Kensuke Takezawa's outdoor 2 mile NR of 8:24.69.  More records are sure to follow.

Armory Track Invitational Men's 2 Mile
New York, 1/31/15
click here for complete results

1. Cam Levins (Canada/Nike Oregon Project) - 8:15.38
2. Suguru Osako (Japan/Nissin Shokuhin) - 8:16.47 - NR
3. Ben Blankenship (USA/Nike OTC) - 8:16.53
4. Galen R…
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Toyota Over Konica Minolta for 2015 New Year Ekiden National Title

by Brett Larner

The 2015 New Year Ekiden marked a transition in Japanese distance running as a new wave of heavily talented collegiates including sub-62 half marathoners Shinobu Kubota (Komazawa University to Team Toyota), Suguru Osako (Waseda University to Team Nissin Shokuhin) and twins Keita Shitara (Toyo University to Team Konica Minolta) and Yuta Shitara (Toyo University to Team Honda) made a major impact in their corporate league debuts.

Training with Alberto Salazar's Nike Oregon Project and running for 2012 New Year Ekiden winner Nissin Shokuhin, Osako ran under control through the 12.3 km First Stage before kicking away in the last km to open a 5-second lead, 6 seconds ahead of 2011 winner Toyota and 7 seconds ahead of two-time defending champion Konica Minolta.  2013 World XC Jr. silver medalist Leonard Barsoton (Kenya) took Nissin's lead even further to 11 seconds, soloing a stage-winning 22:39 for the 8.3 km Second Stage.  Sub-27 Kenyan Bedan Karoki (DeNA) tied Bar…
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A Battle of Past Champions - 2015 New Year Ekiden Preview

by Brett Larner

The New Year Ekiden national championship road relay is the raison d'être for Japan's corporate league men, the key race around which the entire year revolves.  37 teams battle it out over 100 km divided into 7 stages with a 6 1/2 hour live nationwide broadcast to millions of fans.  Most of the top corporate men in Japan, both Japanese and African, will be there, and you can follow highlights of the action via @JRNLive.

Two-time defending champion Konica Minolta comes in strong.  Stronger than ever, in fact, with a major boost from rookie Keita Shitara, sub-28 and sub-62 while at Toyo University where he won the 2014 Hakone Ekiden's uphill Fifth Stage before graduating this year.  Konica's chances largely rest on the recovery of star Tsuyoshi Ugachi from the Fukuoka International Marathon earlier this month, his third marathon in his first year taking on the distance.

Ready to take over from Konica Minolta is 2012 winner Nissin Shokuhin.  Already featur…
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2014 New Year Ekiden Preview

by Brett Larner



Jan.1 is the day for which Japan’s corporate men’s running league exists, the national championship New Year Ekiden. Seven-man teams from across the country square off over 100 km on stages ranging from 8.3 km for foreign runners to 22.0 km for the best pros, with all the action broadcast live nationwide on TBS starting at 8:30 a.m. on New Year’s Day.

Defending champion Konica Minolta comes back as the heavy favorite, having won the Nov. 3 East Japan regional qualifier in course-record time by a minute and a half over 2012 New Year Ekiden course record setter Nissin Shokuhin. Nissin Shokuhin was strong to be sure with a stage record from ace Yuki Sato but Konica Minolta was just that much stronger, winning four of East Japan’s seven stages including two individual stage records. Anchor Tomohiro Tanigawa was the team’s secret weapon, just off the anchor stage record as he continued his quiet rise to Japan’s top ranks. Team Fujitsu took the remaining two individual s…
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Gideon Ngatuny Leaves Nissin Shokuhin Team

http://www.nissinfoods-holdings.co.jp/rikujo/weblog/2013/03/2012-6.html

translated by Brett Larner

The Nissin Shokuhin Group men's distance running team wishes to announce that longtime member Gideon Ngatuny will leave the team Mar. 31.  Thank you all for supporting him and cheering for him over the years.  Ngatuny played an instrumental role in winning Nissin Shokuhin's 2010 and 2012 New Year Ekiden national titles.  "Handing off the tasuki to my teammates in ekidens will be my longest-lasting memory of Japan," says Ngatuny.  "Thank you for the last seven years."
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New Year Ekiden Preview

by Brett Larner



The raison d'être for the Japanese men's corporate team comes bright and early every Jan. 1 with the New Year Ekiden national corporate men's championships.  37 teams from 6 regions square off over 100 km in a race that sees most of the athletes bringing their peak performance of the year; at the 2012 New Year Ekiden, winner Team Nissin Shokuhin ace Yuki Sato's record of 1:02:51 for the 22.0 km Fourth Stage was equivalent to a 1:00:16 half marathon, faster than the Japanese national record.  TBS will broadcast the race live starting at 8:30 a.m.  Overseas viewers should be able to watch online with Keyhole TV, with coverage also available via Twitter @JRNLive.

Nissin Shokuhin comes to the 2013 New Year Ekiden in range of a title defense, but much of its chances depend on Sato.  At November's East Japan regional qualifier he was only 4th on his stage, contributing to the team's loss to the Tsuyoshi Ugachi-led Team Konica Minolta.  It will take a …
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Waseda Ace Osako to Join Salazar's Nike Oregon Project

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2012/12/25/kiji/K20121225004849190.html
http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/etc/news/20121225-OHT1T00207.htm

translated and edited by Brett Larner

In a Dec. 25 interview about the Jan. 2-3 Hakone Ekiden, Waseda University junior Suguru Osako, Japan's #1 collegiate runner and one of the brightest hopes of Japanese men's distance running, revealed that he will join the 2012 national champion Nissin Shokuhin team following his graduation in 2014.  Osako's long list of achievements includes the 2011 National University Championships 1500 m title, the 2011 World University Games 10000 m gold medal, and the Asian junior half marathon record.  He chose the Nissin team, he said, "because they are going to give me the freedom to do what I want to do."  According to Waseda head coach Yasuyuki Watanabe, Osako plans to move to Portland, Oregon to be coached by one of marathon legend Toshihiko Seko's great rivals, American Alberto Salazar…
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Sato Confident of 10000 m National Record This Spring

http://sports.nifty.com/cs/headline/details/ec-ns-f-sp-tp0-120131-0039/1.htm

translated by Brett Larner

10000 m ace Yuki Sato (25, Team Nissin Shokuhin) has set breaking the Japanese national record as his goal for the spring season.  At a party on Jan. 31 at a Tokyo-area hotel to celebrate Team Nissin Shokuhin's New Year Ekiden national championship win, Sato said, "I spent January fully resting and recovering.  In February and March I'll be building up toward breaking the Olympic A standard [27:45.00] in the U.S.A. in April."  His precise goal is the Japanese national record, Toshinari Takaoka's 27:35.09.  Sato's PB is 27:38.25, but, he said with obvious confidence, "I want to run in the 27:20's.  If all goes well I can do it."  Beyond that, Japan's top track runner is targeting the top eight at the London Olympics.

Translator's note: Last year's 10000 m national champion, Sato set a course record of 1:02:51 for the 22.0 km Third Sta…
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Nissin Shokuhin Wins Second New Year Ekiden Title in Three Years, World Champ Jeilan Out With Injury

by Brett Larner

The year kicked off with perfect, windless conditions at the seven stage, 100.0 km New Year Ekiden, the corporate men's national championships Jan. 1 in Maebashi, Gunma.  Three stage records fell along the way as pre-race favorite Team Nissin Shokuhin won by over a minute in 4:49:32, returning to the top after a 3rd-place finish last year to take its second national title in three years.

Despite the ideal weather the race started very slow, the pack of 37 teams splitting 3:07 for the first km of the 12.3 km First Stage.  Last year's First Stage runner-up Yoshihiro Wakamatsu (Team Nissin Shokuhin), a transplant from the suspended Team TEPCO, emerged from a sprint finish against Yuya Konishi (Team Toyota Kyushu) to hand off to past Kenyan national XC champion Gideon Ngatuny (Team Nissin Shokuhin) in the lead.  Ngatuny appeared stale but maintained the lead against the mostly-African field, which included 2011 World XC silver medalist Paul Tanui (Kenya/Team Kyuden…
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Can Toyota Defend Its National Title? New Year Ekiden Preview - Watch Online

by Brett Larner

Japan wastes no time getting the 2012 racing season off to a start, with the New Year Ekiden national corporate men's championships kicking off this Sunday, Jan. 1 at 8:30 a.m.  With 100 km split into seven stages broadcast live to a nationwide TV audience the New Year Ekiden is one of Japan's biggest and most popular races, featuring the best Japanese pro runners and Japan-resident Africans, including 10000 m world champion Ibrahim Jeilan (Team Honda), World XC silver medalist Paul Tanui (Team Kyudenko) and Fukuoka International Marathon winner Josphat Ndambiri (Team Komori Corp.).  Overseas viewers up for the task should be able to catch TBS' broadcast live via Keyhole TV, with English-language splits and commentary coming to you live @JRNLive starting at 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 31 on the west coast of North America, 6:30 p.m. on the east coast, or 11:30 p.m. in London.  If JRNLive maxes out commentary will continue @JRNHeadlines.

2010 New Year Ekiden winner Ni…
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