japan running news

On May 7 Nihon Taiiku University announced the new lineup of its ekiden team coaching staff. Junichiro Yokoyama , 55, was named to the head coach's position, with recent graduate Shun Onoki , 24, named assistant coach. Last September Nittai head coach Masaaki Watanabe was fired over violence and abuse of authority toward students . He was temporarily replaced as head coach by Koji Watanabe , 81, with former pole vault national record holder Fumiaki Kobayashi , 44, overseeing the ekiden program until a permanent replacement could be found. Watanabe retired from his temporary position at the end of March, with Kobayashi continuing on as head coach of the overall track and field program. source article: https://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20190507/ath19050718210005-n1.html translated and edited by Brett Larner

http://www.nikkansports.com/general/news/p-gn-tp0-20090327-475908.html translated by Brett Larner On Mar. 26 the Kanagawa Prefectural Police announced that a search of track and field training facilities at Nihon Taiku [Nittai] University in Yokohama's Aoba Ward on Mar. 2 as part of an investigation of suspected marijuana violations had uncovered a cache of counterfeit money. Police are investigating the origin of the counterfeit bills. Nittai University's men's ekiden team have won the Hakone Ekiden nine times, and the school counts among its alumni world-class marathoners Hiromi Taniguchi and Yuko Arimori. Kanagawa Prefectural Police officers found three types of counterfeit bills in denominations of 1000, 5000 and 10000 yen along with incomplete one-sided bills. The bills appeared to have been produced using a color photocopier but will be subject to a detailed examination. Police are questioning the residents of the room in which the money was discovered to find out mor...

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/news/20090323-OYT1T00988.htm translated by Brett Larner On Mar. 23 Nihon Taiku [Nittai] University announced that Track and Field director Takashi Ishii, head coach Masahiko Mizuno and assistant coach Fumiaki Kobayashi had resigned their positions to take personal responsibility following the expulsion of a student on the men's team over suspicion of violating Japan's anti-marijuana laws. According to a press release from the university, Ishii, Mizuno and Kobayashi resigned from their positions of leadership on Mar. 5. The press released stated that further details could not be discussed "due to the case still being under investigation," but did mention that the team's training camp facilities had been searched by police on Mar. 2. The student has not been arrested because there are doubts about his alleged cultivation and use of marijuana. On Mar. 3 Rikuren released an 'Offical Policy Pertaining to Drugs' which stated, ...