japan running news

Daisuke Uekadoage: 25
sponsor: Otsuka Seiyaku
graduated from: Hokuryo H.S., Kyoto Sangyo University

best time inside MGC window:
2:09:27, 6th, 2017 Fukuoka International Marathon

PB: 2:09:27, 6th, 2017 Fukuoka International Marathon

other PBs:
5000 m: 14:06.13 (2016) 10000 m: 28:48.22 (2013) half marathon: 1:03:28 (2016)

marathons inside MGC window (Aug. 1 2017 – April 30 2019)
22nd, 2019 Beppu-Oita Marathon, 2:15:49
8th, 2018 Berlin Marathon, 2:11:07
6th, 2017 Fukuoka International Marathon, 2:09:27 – PB

other major results:
11th, 2019 New Year Ekiden Fourth Stage (22.4 km), 1:05:59
2nd, 2018 Kansai Corporate Ekiden First Stage (12.6 km), 37:54
81st, 2018 Valencia World Half Marathon Championships, 1:04:48
10th, 2017 Lake Biwa Marathon, 2:12:58
48th, 2016 Marugame Half Marathon, 1:03:28 – PB
1st, 2016 Kyoto Marathon, 2:17:54

Someone else totally unique in the MGC men’s field: Uekado is the only one who graduated from a university outside the Tokyo-centric Kanto Region. That might not mean…

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…

http://osaka.yomiuri.co.jp/sp_others/20090421ks06.htm

translated by Brett Larner

Based in Fukushima Prefecture's Naruto, beverage maker Otsuka Seiyaku is helping a select crew of young women to achieve their dreams through sports. This month the company announced the formation of a new professional women's track and field team. 2009 Berlin World Championships national team member and world-class race walker Masumi Fuchise leads the initial lineup of five middle and long distance athletes, with additional spots expected to be filled to allow Otsuka Seiyaku to field a women's ekiden team. The new Otsuka Seiyaku team's approval by the Jitsugyodan Track and Field Association is pending, and head coach Tadasu Kono is optimistic about the future as he says, "Especially in times of recession such as these it's important to do something to help inspire the community through sports."

Otsuka Seiyaku founded its men's team in 1990. Athletes who have run under K…

by Brett Larner

The 3rd annual Tokyo Marathon is this Sunday, Mar. 22. This year's race features continued refinements geared to help make Tokyo into a truly world-class event, including the addition of an elite women's field and a public prize purse. It is also the final domestic selection race for the men's World Championships marathon team and will host a competitive field of many of Japan's best male marathoners. JRN will be dedicating most of the week to coverage of the event and its athletes.

To kick things off, take a tour of the Tokyo Marathon course. Click here for a high-speed video tour, or here for a Google Earth view.

A demo video of Otsuka Seiyaku's Virtual Tokyo Marathon 2009 game.

Sponsor Otsuka Seiyaku has put together a Virtual Tokyo Marathon 2009 game as a promotion for its Double Amino-Value sports drink, the official drink of the Tokyo Marathon. Players can select an avatar which will run an animated version of the course and earn points according …

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/tm2008/news/20080208-OYT1T00503.htm?from=navr
http://journal.mycom.co.jp/news/2008/02/07/056/

translated and edited by Brett Larner

Tokyo Marathon 2008 sponsor Otsuka Seiyaku announced that it will be increasing the amount of its sports drink Amino Value which will be available to support the 30,000 runners at this week's race. Otsuka Seiyaku supplied 230,000 cups of Amino Value at last year's race, but in response to requests from runners it will be supplying 280,000 cups at this year's event. The drink will be offered in its double-strength format, containing 4000 mg of amino acids rather than the standard 2000 mg format.

Sports drink, water and other assistance for runners will be available at 10 stations, including the start, goal, and 8 locations along the course. A map showing the locations of the aid stations is available here.

The Tokyo Marathon also announced that it is increasing the number of bananas available along the course to 60,00…

http://www.kobe-np.co.jp/news/sports/0000826157.shtml

translated by Brett Larner

Japanese national full marathon record holder Toshinari Takaoka (Team Kanebo) will be running in the 10 mile (16.093 km) Himejijo Road Race on Feb. 11 in Himeji, sponsored in part by the Kobe Newspaper Group. Takaoka joined the Himejijo lineup on Feb. 4 following the cancellation of the Ome Marathon 30 km due to heavy snowfall. Takaoka had planned to run Ome as part of his preparation for a spring marathon.

Originally from Kitsugawa in Kyoto Prefecture, Takaoka ran track events in the Atlanta and Sydney Olympics, finishing 7th in the men's 10000 m in Sydney. At the 2002 Chicago Marathon he set the Japanese national record of 2:06:16. He also holds the national record for 3000 m and 10000 m. Takaoka attempted to qualify for the Beijing Olympics at last December's Fukuoka International Marathon but finished 10th. Many have wondered where he would go next.

Also scheduled to run Himejijo are Satoshi Osaki…

http://4ch.kry.co.jp/tv/marathon_2007/

by Brett Larner

*Updated 12/11/07 with links to photos and many more detailed articles in Japanese.

Kazuya Nakamori of Team Otsuka Seiyaku ran 2:15:40 to win the 2007 Hofu Yomiuri Marathon yesterday, coming from behind in the final kilometer to stage an upset over breakaway leader Mitsuru Irifune of Team Kanebo.

An early pack of 24 led by Team Toyota`s Kazuki Enoki went through 5 km in a solid time of 15:31. Enoki maintained both lead and pace, passing 10 km in 31:04, 15 km in 46:42, and 20 km in 1:02:20. By the halfway point, 1:05:47, the lead pack had dwindled to 8 runners including Korean elite Hyon Je Yon who ran his PB of 2:10:37 while finishing 2nd in the 1999 Hofu.

Shortly after the halfway point, Enoki and Nakamori broke away from the other contenders, hitting 25 km in 1:18:17 compared to the remaining 6 leaders` 1:18:37. The pack broke apart between 25 and 30 km as Irifune, the younger brother of 2005 Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon winner and H…