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'Why Does Japanese Marathoning Suck Now?"

Currently reading Why Does Japanese Marathoning Suck Now? by Toshimi Oriyama, a newly-published book in which the last seven Japanese men's marathon national record holders, Shigeru Soh (2:09:06, 1978), Toshihiko Seko (2:08:38, 1983), Takeyuki Nakayama (2:08:15, 1985), Taisuke Kodama (2:07:35, 1986), Takayuki Inubushi (2:06:57, 1999), Atsushi Fujita (2:06:51, 2000) and Toshinari Takaoka (2:06:16, 2002), and, in an afterward, Yuki Kawauchi, talk about their eras, the current situation and its future outlook.  It includes the record holders' training logs for the four months leading up to each of their seven national records.  Essential reading for anyone with Japanese literacy.  A translation would be the definitive English-language work on Japanese distance running, Rashomon to The Last Samurai.  Solid gold.

Comments

Anonymous said…
So when will it be available in english? :)
Brett Larner said…
I don't imagine it will be.
James Ashworth said…
Brett you need to translate it
Metts said…
I will try to buy it in Japan in Feb. I usually go to Yurindo Honya in Yokohama. I saw it on Amazon Japan and might just buy it from there.
Chris said…
Brett, as I bet you will be reading it, would you be able to summarize any significant points, and their training logs?
Also, I imagine that if the top U.S. coaches and top Japanese coaches sat down together, and shared ideas, they would both benefit to some degree. I live in Tokyo and was really bummed that the world didnt get to see the true ability of the Japanese in the Olympics.
Thanks
Aidan said…
Oh god Brett please translate this, or cliff-notes it!

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