japan running news

Eri Yamaguchi , Masako Chiba , Junko Ichikawa and more try to make it onto the 2000 Sydney Olympic team at the 1999 Tokyo International Women's Marathon. Parts 2~4 below.

http://www.kobe-np.co.jp/news/sports/201505/0008049840.shtml translated by Brett Larner A former marathon great is working hard in her position as head coach.  International Pacific University in Okayama has named 2000 Sydney Olympics marathon 7th-placer Eri Yamaguchi , 42, to lead its new women's ekiden team.  Returning to the field of competition for the first time in four years, Yamaguchi was full of a sense of mission as she said, "I want to pass to them everything that I learned and accomplished." In March, 2011 Yamaguchi left her job as assistant coach at the Tenmaya women's corporate team to get married, afterward focusing on developing juniors.  When the knock on the door came from IPU she was conflicted, asking herself, "Can you go back to the competitive world?  You won't be able to take care of your family any more."  But after talking with IPU president Hiroshi Ohashi , she said, "I got a strong desire to help develop a strong ekid...

http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=spo_30&k=2014052300819 translated by Brett Larner On May 23 International Pacific University in Okayama announced that it has hired 2000 Sydney Olympics marathon 7th-place finisher Eri Yamaguchi , 41, as an assistant coach of its track and field team.  Yamaguchi will be responsible for the women's middle and long distance programs. Yamaguchi was named to the Sydney Olympics team after winning the 1999 Tokyo International Women's Marathon in 2:22:12, then the 2nd-fastest time in Japanese women's marathoning history.  Since retiring in 2005 her activities have included coaching work with her former corporate team, Tenmaya .

http://mainichi.jp/enta/sports/general/track/news/20081227k0000m050111000c.html Rikuren has announced that as part of its plan to strengthen Japan's distance running it has appointed Team Chugoku Denryoku head coach Yasushi Sakaguchi to lead the men's marathon subcommittee and Team Tenmaya head coach Yutaka Taketomi to the top position in the women's marathon subcommittee. Sakaguchi coached both men who ran the Beijing Olympics marathon, while Taketomi has had runners in the last three Olympic marathons. Both new committee heads will report to Long Distance and Road Racing Director Keisuke Sawaki. Translator's note: Yasushi Sakaguchi coached Olympic marathoners Shigeru Aburaya (5th, Athens 2004), Tsuyoshi Ogata (13th, Beijing 2008) and Atsushi Sato (76th, Beijing 2008). Sakaguchi's runners have been mainstays of recent World Championships marathon teams, with Aburaya 5th in Edmonton 2001 and 5th in Paris 2003, Ogata 12th in Paris 2003, taking the bronze medal in ...

by Brett Larner With Naoko Takahashi's abrupt announcement of her retirement today less than three weeks before her planned entry in the Tokyo International Women's Marathon it's worth taking a minute to look back at some of the achievements which made her Japan's greatest marathon runner, male or female, and one of its most beloved public figures. Gold Medal - Sydney Olympics 9/24/00 By far the accomplishment for which Takahashi is most respected in Japan is winning the country's first-ever Olympic marathon gold medal. Japan had scored several men's and women's silver and bronze Olympic marathon medals over the years, but until Sept. 24, 2000 no Japanese runner had ever taken the top position. Takahashi, accompanied partway by teammates Ari Ichihashi and Eri Yamaguchi, dominated the race, setting an Olympic record of 2:23:14 which still stands. She became an instant icon in Japan, achieving unprecedented respect for a woman in the public eye and winning the...

http://business.nikkeibp.co.jp/article/topics/20080804/167170/ translated by Mika Tokairin and Brett Larner Tenmaya is a department store chain based in Okayama and Hiroshima Prefectures. Entering through the front door of the Okayama main store, one is greeted by a gleaming, fashionable boutique full of Chanel and Tiffany. Wandering through the displays, there is little to indicate that one of the shrewdest, most talented leaders of the Japanese marathon world is based here in simple quarters. This is Tenmaya Women's Track and Field Team head coach Yutaka Taketomi. A small man, he looks like some sort of artisan with short, sporty hair and brown skin caused by long hours in the sun. Tenmaya team member Yurika Nakamura won her first marathon, the Nagoya International Women's Marathon, in March to qualify for the Beijing Olympic marathon team. The Olympic marathon team alternate, Tomo Morimoto, also belongs to Team Tenmaya. With Nakamura's selection to the Beijing team, Tak...

http://www.asahi.com/sports/spo/TKY200711130086.html translated by Mika Tokairin and Brett Larner The golden singlet Mizuki Noguchi wears is fading into the sunset in the mountains of Kunming, China. A 40 km run at the end of October. Her training is almost at completion. At last April`s London Marathon, race organizers presented defending Olympic gold medalists Stefano Baldini of Italy and Mizuki Noguchi of Japan with golden singlets. Baldini wore his singlet during the race but Noguchi was not able to compete due to an injury to her left Achilles tendon which she suffered in January. She missed the opportunity to display this gift in a race and it became part of her training wear. Noguchi was also unable to run Berlin last year because of an unrelated injury to her left leg. This weekend`s Tokyo International Women`s Marathon will be her first marathon in 2 years, her first since setting the Japanese national record of 2:19:12 at the `05 Berlin. "I was shocked because I have ne...