japan running news

https://www.minpo.jp/news/detail/2015090825188 translated and edited by Brett Larner video by 遠藤清也 Just a month after his 17th birthday, Gakuho Ishikawa H.S. 2nd-year Hyuga Endo ran 8:01.95 for 3000 m at the Sept. 5 Premium Games in Sakata time trial meet in Sakata, Yamagata, breaking the Japanese high school and youth national records.  Endo's time, a PB by more than 15 seconds, took nearly 4 seconds off the 8:05.82 high school national record set 11 years ago by Yuki Sato (Team Nissin Shokuhin, then Saku Chosei H.S.) and almost 7 seconds off the 8:08.57 youth national record set in 2010 by Kazuto Nishiike (Team Konica Minolta, then Suma Gakuen H.S.). Endo was paced by his Gakuho Ishikawa H.S. 3rd-year teammates Kazuyoshi Tamogami and Hiroki Abe until 1500 m where he went out front alone.  Keeping the high pace, he kicked hard over the last 400 m to the finish line to break both records. Endo ran the 3000 m at July's World Youth Championships where he was over...

http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/1533117.html translated by Brett Larner At last week's third meeting of the New National Stadium Construction Plan Inquiry Committee investigating the problems surrounding the plans for the New National Stadium that will form the main venue for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, it was revealed that the plans did not account for space in which to store materials to be used in the on-site assembly of the keel arch and other key elements of the stadium.  The fact came to light through testimony from Japan Sports Promotion Center (JSC) president Ichiro Kono and others during the hearing. The JSC described the problem as stemming from the fact that there is no available land which can be used freely in the Gaien area around the stadium site, where the city of Tokyo, the Meiji Jingu Outer Gardens, JSC and other landowners all hold stakes.  In response to the Committee's question, "Where were you planning to store all the ...

http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20150906-00000122-nksports-spo http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/athletics/news/1534420.html translated and edited by Brett Larner On Sept. 6 Rio Olympic team hopeful and amateur running hero Yuki Kawauchi (28, Saitama Pref. Gov’t) galloped through the home of the thoroughbred. Kawauchi won Sunday’s Nijuken Doro Half Marathon in Shin-Hidakamachi, Hokkaido, crossing the finish line in 1:05:32. With the town famous for producing thoroughbred racehorses, ranches filled the area around the course. “I come to Hokkaido a lot but this is my first time in the Hidaka region,” Kawauchi said. “Even when I was running I noticed horses all around. It was a lot of fun to run somewhere with a feeling of wide open space. I haven’t run very good times lately so I’m happy with my time here today.” Kawauchi also talked about his plans for the lead-up to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, saying that he is currently considering running one of two Rio selection ra...

As with last month's World Championships, the lack of leadership of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, its National Stadium and logo scandals, its backtracking in decision making, its complete avoidance of responsibility for its own failures, is a discouraging squandering of the potential that is most definitely there.  Like the way that going out to watch the Hakone Ekiden Yosenkai qualifier in person salves the pain of witnessing corporate league and JAAF policy, practice and decision making, there's no better way to be reminded of what a great city Tokyo really is, of what it could be, than to see it on foot.  Running the 40 km +/- around the Yamanote Line, the green circle train line circling the heart of the city, offers a glimpse of some of Tokyo's many faces.  Today's run started and finished at Harajuku Station, heading counterclockwise. photos (c) 2015 Brett Larner all rights reserved

http://www.iaaf.org/news/report/2015-prague-grand-prix-10km-jepchirchir Prague Grand Prix 10 km Prague, Czech Republic, 9/5/15 click here for complete results Women 1. Peres Jepchirchir (Kenya) - 30:55 2. Linah Cheruto (Kenya) - 32:08 3. Kidsan Alema (Ethiopia) - 32:10 4. Eshete Shitae (Ethiopia) - 32:11 5. Viola Jelagat (Kenya) - 32:37 ----- 8. Mizuki Matsuda (Japan) - 33:19 12. Ai Inoue (Japan) - 34:22 Men 1. Daniel Chebii (Kenya) - 27:42 2. Gilbert Masai (Kenya) - 27:45 3. Barselius Kipyego (Kenya) - 27:46 4. Japhet Kipyegon Korir (Kenya) - 27:48 5. Teshome Mekonen (Ethiopia) - 27:50 ----- 18. Rikinobu Watanabe (Japan) - 30:04 20. Ryuji Okada (Japan) - 30:28

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/local/tokyotama/news/20150903-OYTNT50314.html translated and edited by Brett Larner The big test for Tokyo-area universities hoping to make the 92nd running of the New Year's classic Hakone Ekiden , the Hakone Ekiden Yosenkai qualifier road race is set to take place Oct. 17 in Tachikawa, Tokyo.  Ahead of the Yosenkai, upper-level officials from the KGRR and the SDF Tachikawa Chutonchi Base met Sept. 3 to authorize an agreement of use of the base's runway for the start of the race course.  Participating in the signing were KGRR chairman Yoshiyuki Aoba , 73, and Tachikawa Chutonchi Base commander Masashi Kido , 52.  Both dignitaries signed the agreement and affixed it with their seals.  Chairman Aoba commented, "The number of schools participating in the Yosenkai is increasing every year.  We hope for fine autumn weather on race day and another safe and successful qualifying race."  Commander Kido concurred, saying, "Together w...

https://www.oita-press.co.jp/1010000000/2015/09/02/001710317 http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20150901/ath15090118280005-n1.html http://mainichi.jp/sports/news/20150902k0000m050018000c.html translated and edited by Brett Larner The organizers of the Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon have announced course changes for the event's 65th running on Feb. 7, 2016, the first course changes since 2010.  The start at Umitamago and finish at Oita Municipal Field will remain the same, but the two turnaround points will each be extended roughly a kilometer while the loop section through the city of Oita will be eliminated.  By reducing the number of times the course crosses bridges over the Oita River organizers believe the race will become flatter and faster, their main goal in making the changes. The Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon has also been named as the final selection race for the Japanese national team at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympics in the visually impaired marathon cate...

http://www.asahi.com/articles/ASH915QR9H91UTIL032.html translated by Brett Larner photo via Wikipedia Three luminaries gave Asahi their views on Tuesday's withdrawal of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics logo designed by Kenjiro Sano and officially released in late July. Mitsuru Yaku, manga artist With regard to the reason for the withdrawal, the organizing committee has repeatedly said, "We have been unable to obtain the understanding of the public," but with no independent review they have simply left this issue to the court of public opinion.  Going ahead now with no determination of where responsibility lies for, say, the selection process the first time, means that even if there are public contributions this time there will be some suspicion somewhere, and that raises the risk of stepping on the same landmine again.  In the first place, we already have the 1964 Tokyo Olympics logo, so why do we need to re-design a new one?  It has clarity and majesty.  No des...