Karate, Judo, Kendo.. I am sure you have heard of these sports from Japan. However, I think most people have not heard of “Ekiden” before.
“Ekiden” is a long-distance sport that originated in Japan, where multiple people run in stages to race for the finish line, much like a traditional relay.
Ekiden, which is distinct to Japan, is a popular sport with TV viewer ratings that can exceed 30% depending on the tournament, and this time I would like to explain why it is so beloved by the Japanese people.
【Difficult to predict race developments】
“Ekiden” primarily takes place from October to March, when Japan is coldest, and it is more difficult to manage your physical condition.
In general Ekiden teams number between 5 to 10 people who run in a relay torwards the goal. The fact that just one unwell athlete can have a big impact on the rankings makes Ekiden an eventful race with many possible developments.
[Course Diversity]
Ekiden courses run a wide variety of settings, from mountains, coastal areas, to running uphill and downhill. The necessary qualities to succeed as a competitive racer vary depending on the terrain and distance of each section. This results in a race that does not just reflect track performance, and the outcome is instead also decided by the strategies of runners who carefully assess the course. This adds a new layer of fun, since you can enjoy the strategic aspects of the race while having fun watching the racing itself.
[The ultimate team battle]
In general, track and field events are individual competitions, but the main goal in “Ekiden” is to reach the next runner as quickly as possible, so that all runners are required to have a spirit of unity and self-sacrifice as they work together towards a common goal.
Because of this, runners sometimes push themselves beyond the limits of what they are capable of, resulting in underdog stories of overachieving runners that excite the audience.
From wider global view, where individuality is more important, the group mentality behind “Ekiden” may be difficult for foreigners to understand, but if you happen to come across “Ekiden” on the streets when visiting Japan, please look on it warmly, or even try calling out “Fight!” to the runners doing their best.