In Praise of Ekiden

Japanese should not take the “ekiden” for granted. It is not simply a long-distance relay that is held in various parts of Japan throughout the year. Nor is the biggest event simply a way to devote portions of January 2nd and 3rd watching television. It is more than that.

Few athletic events have so many aspects to cheer for. From the perspective of an outsider—meaning someone who did not graduate from a participating university—there is, first of all, the competition between runners in each of the ten legs of the race. You can cheer for a runner who is able to pass his competitors. Then you watch him collapse after he passes the tasuki, a cloth sash, to the next runner on his team. Will the next runner be able to maintain the advantage, or will he be passed by a competitor during the following leg? The tension builds.

Beyond being an individual competition, it is a team competition. And a very long relay that is affected by temperature and weather changes through the event. We can cheer for our favorites, but we also admire opponents who overcome exhaustion to give their next teammate even a seconds-long advantage. And we feel sorrow for a runner who is unable to pass the tasuki to his teammate before a set time limit.

The Hakone Ekiden is especially appealing because the ten fastest teams automatically qualify their schools for the next year’s event. The other finishers will have to qualify by placing high up in rankings during the year. In essence, the competitors this year are directly connected with those who will compete next year.

Be proud of the ekiden. And hope that people outside Japan catch on to its appeal and create their own.

(294 words)