Tokyo International News Agency

Shota Shiode of Aoyama Gakuin University achieved a historic feat in the 8th leg of the 102nd Hakone Ekiden. Shiode recorded an astonishing time of 1 hour, 3 minutes, and 45 seconds (preliminary), setting a new section record ('kukan-shin') for the first time in seven years. Furthermore, he accomplished the remarkable achievement of winning the section award for the third consecutive year in this leg, thrilling many track and field fans. Shiode's run was more than just fast; it was deeply moving. After the race, he expressed profound gratitude to Tanaka-san, who was unable to run the section. "Tanaka-san injured his leg and couldn't run the 8th leg, so I ended up running it. He sent me off with such good spirits, which allowed me to win the section award. If I ever win the section award for the 8th leg again, I want Tanaka-san to be the commentator," Shiode said, expressing his strong bond with his teammate and his gratitude. In response, announcer Tanaka-san ...

Waseda University's Shinsaku Kudo, affectionately known as the "Mountain Detective," once again ascended the Hakone mountains in Stage 5 of the 102nd Hakone Ekiden, a quintessential New Year's tradition. His impressive run garnered significant attention across social media platforms. A fourth-year student, Kudo had expressed confidence on his X (formerly Twitter) account, posting, "I'm back again this year as the 'Mountain Detective' for Stage 5 of the Hakone Ekiden ⛰️! Let's show them a detective who finds no labyrinths, even when climbing mountains." True to his word, as he entered the mountain climb, he began closing the gap on the leading runners at an astonishing pace. Comments like "The Mountain Detective is fast after all" and "He's incredibly fast" flooded social media, captivating many viewers with his powerful performance. Posts specifically described his pursuit of Chuo University's Shibata as "The ...

At the 〇〇th Hakone Ekiden, held on January 2, 2026, Chuo University's Honma-kun delivered an astounding performance in Section 3 of the outbound leg, sending shockwaves through the Japanese athletics community. Honma-kun recorded an astonishing time of 60 minutes and 8 seconds in Section 3. This remarkable achievement ranks as the second-fastest time ever by a Japanese runner in that section. Although he narrowly missed his target of breaking the 59-minute barrier, his exceptional display captivated countless ekiden fans. On social media, "Honma-kun" briefly trended at number four on X (formerly Twitter) in Japan, as news of his triumph spread rapidly across the nation. Praise poured in, with comments like "What a superb run!", "I was mesmerized by his light form and powerful stride," and "He's truly on another dimension." Furthermore, post-race interviews revealed endearing remarks about his personality, such as "He's adorable...