Japan got one step closer to its first sub-27 minute 10000 m Saturday at the Hachioji Long Distance meet.
Conditions were as perfect as they could have been, and as the heats went by it was clear that something big was coming. The E and D-heats both had winning times under 28:10. In the C-heat Hiromichi Nonaka held off alum and former collegiate marathon record holder Kiyoto Hirabayashi to set a Koku Gakuin University school record 27:36.64, Hirabayashi right behind in a 27:37.13 PB and the top 7 all under 28. The B-heat went even faster, Yuto Imae kicking to win in 27:33.84, 4th-placer Kaisei Okada setting a Chuo University school record 27:37.06, and the top 17 all under 28 minutes.
Close by another meet was happening at the same time, the MARCH Taikosen time trial meet made up of the Meiji University, Aoyama Gakuin University, Rikkyo University, Chuo, and Hosei University teams. The A-heat there was massive too, with collegiate marathon record holder Asahi Kuroda running an AGU school record 27:37.62 to lead the top 8 under 28 minutes, 5 of them from AGU and the other 3 from Chuo. AGU 2nd-year Sota Orita had an especially good debut in 27:43.92, and in 7th Chuo's Yamato Hamaguchi debuted in 27:53.85 to become the first Japanese 1st-year ever to crack 28.
But the main event was the Hachioji A-heat, with a massive crew of Japan-resident Kenyan corporate leaguers and Wavelight pacing at 27:10 supporting national champ Mebuki Suzuki, 59:30 half marathoner Kotaro Shinohara, Hakone Ekiden First Stage CR holder Yamato Yoshii and others in taking down the 27:09.80 JPN NR. The pace was just behind target in the early going, 5:27 at 2000 m and 13:37 at halfway, but Suzuki had closed with a 2:32 last 1000 m and 60-second last lap to win Nationals in April, and having positioned himself up front and looking under control the chances looked good that the NR would go down.
Suzuki went to the front at 9000 m, and given how he'd closed at Nationals the prospect of not only the NR but Japan's first sub-27 was there. But this time around Suzuki seemed to lack the same spark, and at the bell 4 of the 5 Kenyans in tow behind him went by with ease. Suzuki's Toyota teammate Samuel Kibathi set a meet record 27:01.70 for the win, with the top 5 all under the old record. Suzuki was 6th in 27:05.92, almost 4 seconds under the old record. But look at those Nationals splits again, 2:32 for the last 1000 m and 60 for the last lap. Here he ran 2:37 and 62. Japan's first 26-minute 10000 m is right there waiting to happen.
21 of the 27 people in the A-heat went under 28 minutes, with Toyota sweeping the top 3 Japanese spots as Yoshii ran a #6 Japanese all-time 27:21.45 PB for 8th and all-time #8 Ren Tazawa coming back from a long injury with a 27:31.90 for 13th. All told 53 people broke 28 minutes between the 4 races, 30 of them Japanese and 11 of those college students. What a time to be alive, really.
The impact of the Koku Gakuin, Chuo and Aoyama Gakuin performances here on the Hakone Ekiden odds is pretty major. Izumo Ekiden champ KGU has the best 10-runner half marathon average in the Hakone field, 1:01:20, and Nonaka's run here strengthens its 10000 m credentials. Last season's Hakone champ AGU is down this year, but having built on its 7th-place finish at Izumo with a 3rd-place at the National University Ekiden 3 weeks ago and a bump of half marathon PBs at the Setagaya 246 Half 2 weeks ago, its results here give it the 2nd-best 10-man 10000 m average in Hakoneland, 28:00.33. Chances of another AGU win are good.
Ranked #1 at Izumo but finishing only 10th, then pulling it together for a runner-up finish at Nationals, Chuo now has a 10-runner 10000 m average of 27:55.98. That makes up for whatever it lacks in half marathon achievements relative to Koku Gakuin and Nationals winner Komazawa University, if not in stability. Whoever ends up on top, Hakone 2026 is going to be a banger.
Hachioji Long Distance
Kamiyugi Park Field, Hachioji, Tokyo, 22 Nov. 2025
7 heats of men's 10000 m
Heat 7
1. Samuel Kibathi (Toyota) - 27:01.70 - MR, PB
2. Anthony Kibe (Toyota Kyushu) - 27:02.15 - PB
3. Emmanuel Maru (Toyota Boshoku) - 27:02.47 - PB
4. Kelvin Kiplagat (Aisan Kogyo) - 27:03.21 - PB
5. Evans Keitany (Toyota Boshoku) - 27:05.78 - PB
6. Mebuki Suzuki (Toyota) - 27:05.92 - NR
7. Raphael Dapash (JR Higashi Nihon) - 27:09.32 - PB
8. Yamato Yoshii (Toyota) - 27:21.45 - PB
9. Dennis Mutuku (JR Higashi Nihon) - 27:22.89 - PB
10. Kiprono Sitonik (Kurosaki Harima) - 27:23.21
11. Michael Kiplangat Temoi (GMO) - 27:23.87 - PB
12. Shadrack Rono (Subaru) - 27:26.53 - PB
13. Ren Tazawa (Toyota) - 27:31.90
14. Emmanuel Kiplagat (Mitsubishi Juko) - 27:34.14
15. Stephen Muthini (Soka Univ.) - 27:34.32 - PB
16. Brian Kiptoo (Reitaku Univ.) - 27:43.89
17. Gilbert Kiprotich (Sunbelx) - 27:44.18
18. Ryuto Igawa (Asahi Kasei) - 27:52.61
19. James Mutuku (Yamanashi Gakuin Univ.) - 27:56.56
20. Dan Kiplangat (JFE Steel) - 27:57.71
21. Shadrack Kipchirchir (Chudenko) - 27:57.95
22. Philemon Kiplagat (Aisan Kogyo) - 28:01.03
23. Raphael Longisa (Takushoku Univ.) - 28:01.80
24. Kotaro Shinohara (Toyota) - 28:06.04
25. Tomoya Ogikubo (Hiramatsu Byoin) - 28:20.34
26. David Shunqeya Neiyiai (Reitaku Univ.) - 28:21.05
27. Shunsuke Yoshii (4th yr., Chuo Univ.) - 28:32.82
DNF - Ledama Kisaisa (Kao)
Heat 6
1. Yuto Imae (GMO) - 27:33.84 - PB
2. Ayumu Kobayashi (Subaru) - 27:36.00 - PB
3. Yuma Nishizawa (Toyota Boshoku) - 27:36.61 - PB
4. Kaisei Okada (2nd yr., Chuo Univ.) - 27:37.06 - PB, school record
5. Evans Kurui (JFE Steel) - 27:40.93
6. Wilson Lemangale (NTN) - 27:42.79 - PB
7. Simon Muthio Saidamu (Chuo Hatsujo) - 27:43.30
8. Takato Suzuki (GMO) - 27:43.97 - PB
9. Hayate Honma (3rd yr., Chuo Univ.) - 27:45.05 - PB
10. Shoya Kawase (NTN) - 27:46.88 - PB
11. Ryo Goda (Yasukawa Denki) - 27:48.22 - PB
12. James Muoki (Sekino Kosan) - 27:49.48
13. Neo Namiki (Subaru) - 27:49.62 - PB
14. Yusuke Tamura (Kurosaki Harima) - 27:49.75
15. Hironori Kishimoto (GMO) - 27:52.29 - PB
16. Hyuga Endo (Sumitomo Denko) - 27:59.08 - PB
17. Richard Kimayat (Sunbelx) - 27:59.94 - PB
18. Tatsuya Tsunashima (YKK) - 28:41.75
19. Akira Akasaki (Kraftia) - 28:57.99
20. Torazo Kai (Suzuki) - 29:30.93
Heat 5
1. Hiromichi Nonaka (3rd yr., Koku Gakuin Univ.) - 27:36.64 - PB, school record
2. Kiyoto Hirabayashi (Logisteed) - 27:37.13 - PB
3. Jin Yuasa (Toyota) - 27:47.89 - PB
4. Hiroki Yamanaka (Osaka Gas) - 27:50.62 - PB
5. Tsuyoshi Bando (Osaka Gas) - 27:52.44
6. Yuito Yamamoto (Subaru) - 27:58.05 - PB
7. Rei Yamahira (MABP) - 27:58.54 - PB
8. Haruka Onodera (Toyota Boshoku) - 28:02.52 - PB
9. Masaya Tsurukawa (GMO) - 28:10.34 - PB
10. Yuhei Urano (Fujitsu) - 28:12.05
11. Masaki Kodama (GMO) - 28:12.73 - PB
12. Shunsuke Shikama (Logisteed) - 28:13.34
13. Daiki Hattori (Toyota Boshoku) - 28:13.65
14. Takuya Hanyu (Toyota Boshoku) - 28:14.22
15. Hiroshi Ichida (Logisteed) - 28:14.26
Heat 4
1. Jinichiro Kameda (Asahi Kasei) - 28:09.27
2. Sota Fukutani (Kurosaki Harima) - 28:18.45
3. Taiju Nakashima (Chugoku Denryoku) - 28:18.59
4. Seiya Amano (Kraftia) - 28:18.72
5. Tatsuhiro Taniguchi (NTN) - 28:19.85
6. Genta Kuramoto (Chudenko) - 28:22.18
7. Hiroto Fujimagari (Toyota Boshoku) - 28:22.56
8. Yuta Nakagawa (MABP) - 28:23.18
9. Koki Asai (Toyota Boshoku) - 28:25.44
10. Yuto Akahoshi (Otsuka Seiyaku)- 28:28.17
Heat 3
1. Rei Matsunaga (JR Higashi Nihon) - 28:08.20
2. Ren Umezaki (Otsuka Seiyaku) - 28:08.67
3. Shota Nishiwaki (JR Higashi Nihon) - 28:16.34
4. Rinto Nakayama (Nishitetsu) - 28:20.56
5. Yuma Hattori (Toyota) - 28:20.99
6. Kenzo Ijichi (Yakult) - 28:21.83
7. Daiji Kawai (Toenec) - 28:24.62
8. Keigo Kurihara (Fujisan GX) - 28:29.91
9. Ryuya Kajitani (Subaru) - 28:34.87
10. Mizuki Higashi (Asian Kogyo) - 28:36.99
Heat 2
1. Kakeru Ide (Kurosaki Harima) - 28:30.56
2. Taiga Hirayama (Konica Minolta) - 28:44.65
3. Kosei Matsunami (Kurosaki Harima) - 28:47.20
4. Hayato Miyashita (Konica Minolta) - 28:50.65
5. Wataru Tochigi (Hiramatsu Byoin) - 28:53.16
Heat 1
1. Masaki Sakuda (JR Higashi Nihon) - 28:35.29
2. Ryo Yoshida (JR Higashi Nihon) - 28:50.21
3. Daichi Kimoto (Sekino Kosan) - 28:51.99
4. Hiroto Kudo (JR Higashi Nihon) - 28:53.11
5. Yuki Takei (JR Higashi Nihon) - 28:57.01
MARCH Taikosen
Machida City Field, Machida, Tokyo, 22 Nov. 2025
4 heats of men's 10000 m
Heat 4
1. Asahi Kuroda (4th yr., Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) - 27:37.62 - PB, school record
2. Daichi Fujita (3rd yr., Chuo Univ.) - 27:40.50 - PB
3. Sota Orita (2nd yr., Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) - 27:43.92 - debut
4. Shunya Udagawa (4th yr., Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) - 27:49.90 - PB
5. Kaito Iida (2nd yr., Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) - 27:51.51 - PB
6. Itta Tameike (4th yr., Chuo Univ.) - 27:52.18 - PB
7. Yamato Hamaguchi (1st yr., Chuo Univ.) - 27:53.85 - debut
8. Aito Sato (2nd yr., Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) - 27:55.93 - PB
9. Yuichi Sato (4th yr., Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) - 28:07.75 - PB
10. Tomoki Aramaki (4th yr., Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) - 28:08.26 - PB
11. Shota Morishita (4th yr., Meiji Univ.) - 28:08.46 - PB
12. Sota Namikawa (2nd yr., Chuo Univ.) - 28:08.56 - PB
13. Kenta Torii (3rd yr., Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) - 28:10.02 - PB
14. Hiroto Kuniyasu (4th yr., Rikkyo Univ.) - 28:10.04 - PB, school record
15. Daisuke Sato (2nd yr., Chuo Univ.) - 28:10.82 - PB
Heat 3
1. Kenshiro Uenoyama (1st yr., Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) - 28:20.82
2. Daiki Sasaki (2nd yr., Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) - 28:26.34
3. Fumiya Ogura (4th yr., Rikkyo Univ.) - 28:27.84
4. Kotaro Tahara (2nd yr., Chuo Univ.) - 28:28.11
5. Takumi Ito (3rd yr., Rikkyo Univ.) - 28:34.63
6. Sosuke Hori (4th yr., Meiji Univ.) - 28:36.75
7. Yuta Yoshinaka (4th yr., Chuo Univ.) - 28:37.05
8. Yota Aoteki (2nd yr., Hosei Univ.) - 28:37.14
9. Kotaro Suzuki (3rd yr., Chuo Univ.) - 28:37.51
10. Ao Funakoshi (2nd yr., Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) - 28:37.68
Heat 2
1. Hinata Yuda (3rd yr., Hosei Univ.) - 28:52.35
2. Yoshiki Wakabayashi (2nd yr., Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) - 28:54.48
3. Maharo Nishizawa (3rd yr., Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) - 28:56.58
4. Shotaro Nozaki (3rd yr., Hosei Univ.) - 28:57.02
5. Yusei Oketa (1st yr., Meiji Univ.) - 29:06.52
Heat 1
1. Tomoki Tanaka (1st yr., Aoyama Gakuin Univ.) - 29:21.10
2. Kento Fukata (2nd yr., Hosei Univ.) - 29:23.21
3. Yota Machida (2nd yr., Hosei Univ.) - 29:26.03
© 2025 Brett Larner, all rights reserved
Comments
Great to see the NR from Suzuki though (and I'm not knocking him), it's hard to get really excited until this translates in international races too: he is the same guy who lost 40 seconds in the last 2k at the worlds on a 29 minutes final. So awesome to see his progression these past few years but for him like others prior to him (Aizawa, Shiojiri, ecc), we really need to see them taking it out of Japan too.
Next step gotta be the sub 27 by someone next year.
Among other results I think Yamato Yoshii had a a nice step up as well among the pros. Yuito Yamamoto while not spectacularly fast had a pretty big PB and could be the launch point as he has been disappointing since joining Subaru.
Kuroda will likely be the star of Hakone and could set the stage 2 CR so seeing him going with a PB here and all the other AGU recents good results makes you wonder if they are a bit early with their form this year or if this means AGU will be even more scary in January.
The Chuo guys were equally impressive.
I was hoping for more from Shinohara and Shunsuke Yoshii, I don't know if Akasaki had some troubles or this was just a sort of preparation run as he ran very slow and I was hoping he could improve his 10kPB a little.
Same goes with Aoi Ota who just doesn't seem to be able to build from his AGU days yet.
It was a very very interesting meeting, thanks for the summary!