japan running news

With the National High School Ekiden Championships looking like a go for Dec. 20 at this point, the main action across Japan this weekend came in prefectural high school ekiden championships. In each of Japan's 47 prefectures boys typically raced 42.195 km in seven stages and girls 21.0975 km in five stages, with the top-placing boys' team and top girls' team in the prefectural race set to go on to represent their prefecture at Nationals. Not every prefecture held its qualifying race this weekend or just before, but among those that did here's a quick rundown on the winners. In Hiroshima , the video above, due to the coronavirus crisis the race was held on a 400 m track instead of its regular road course. The Sera H.S. boys and girls both won, the boys winning the prefectural title for the 17th year in a row and the girls for the 15th. Both teams last won the national title in 2015, when the boys set the still-standing Nationals course record of 2:01:18, but at last...

A local school in Isahaya, Nagasaki held a sendoff on July 16 for marathoner and alumnus Hiroto Inoue ahead of next month's London World Championships. Speaking with determination Inoue told attendees, "As a member of the national team my run will bring no shame." The sendoff ceremony took place in the principal's office at Inoue's alma mater, Iimori Nishi Elementary School. Local elementary and junior school students gathered along with members of the area residents' association to give Inoue their support and best wishes. Inoue received a ceremonial board on which current Iimori Nishi students had written messages of encouragement. Inoue then went outside to speak to a crowd of local residents about his ambitions for his first World Championships, telling them, "As a member of the national team I will do my best to bring you no shame, so please cheer for me." He then signed autographs and took pictures with waiting children. One fifth grade ...

http://www.nagasaki-np.co.jp/news/kennaitopix/2014/12/17090524015995.shtml translated by Brett Larner With a student body of 833 led by Principal Kenji Tamashima , Nagasaki's Isahaya H.S. held a pep rally at the school Dec. 16 for its boys' and girls' ekiden teams who will be competing in Sunday's National High School Ekiden Championships in Kyoto.  The entire student body turned out to show its support for the school's athletes. The pep rally was held in the school gymnasium.  Special guest Mayor Akio Miyamoto told the teams, "There are a lot of returning members from last year's [National Championships] team, so our hopes for you are high.  Please give it your best." Boys' captain Hiroyuki Sakaguchi , 17, told the assembled students, "We will run with the feeling that you are all sharing here today within our hearts."  Girls' captain Sakura Kawakami , 18, added, "With our running we want to show our thanks for the s...

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/news/20120411-OYT1T00950.htm translated by Brett Larner Team Shiseido announced on April 11 that marathoner Yoshiko Fujinaga , 30, has retired.  Fujinaga left the team on March 30 and plans to pursue a career as a teacher. As a student at Isahaya H.S. in Nagasaki Fujinaga ran the 5000 m at the 1999 World Championships, going on to run the marathon at the 2009 World Championships.  Aiming for the London Olympics, she finished only 38th at March's Nagoya Women's Marathon. Translator's note: Fujinaga and London Olympics men's marathon team member Arata Fujiwara  (Tokyo T&F Assoc.) were teammates at Isahaya H.S.

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2012/03/30/kiji/K20120330002935440.html translated by Brett Larner Appearing at a press conference in his hometown of Isahaya, Nagasaki on Mar. 29, London Olympics marathon team member Arata Fujiwara  (30, Tokyo T&F Assoc.) talked about his goals at the Olympics, saying, "If you can run 2:07 then you can compete with the Africans.  I'm going to train focusing on time without worrying about what place it gets me." Before the press conference Fujiwara made an appearance at his alma mater, Isahaya H.S., receiving words of support and encouragement from his old coach Toshihiro Matsumoto , 55, and students.  "All of your support is a powerful encouragement," Fujiwara told them.  "I want to run the kind of race that will let me pay it back to you." Translator's note: Although it seems likely to change in London, to date only Beijing Olympics gold and silver medalists Samuel Wanjiru  (Kenya) and Jaouad Gh...

by Brett Larner Arata Fujiwara , 26, came from the obscurity of professional running with the undistinguished JR East Japan team to finish 2nd overall and in the top Japanese position at the Tokyo Marathon on Feb. 17. His finish time of 2:08:40 was a major PB; more impressive than the time itself was the way in which Fujiwara overcame severe leg cramping in the final few kilometeres to hold off Olympian Julius Gitahi of Kenya. Fujiwara's result puts him into good position as a contender for the Beijing Olympic marathon team, yet he is almost completely unknown. Born Sept. 12, 1981 in Nishi Sonogi, Nagasaki Prefecture, Fujiwara attended Isahaya High School, one of the stronger running high schools in Japan. He went on to Takushoku University , a relatively minor school which in its better years qualifies for one of the bottom slots in the Hakone Ekiden. Fujiwara ran Hakone twice, finishing 10th on the 1st stage as a 1st year student in 2001, and 4th on the 4th stage as a 3rd year...