We bring you information on the schedule and participating schools for the Hakone Ekiden 2025! Introducing how to support Ekiden and how to enjoy your favourite!
Have you ever watched the "Hakone Ekiden", which is a traditional New Year's tradition?🎍
“Every year, I have fun with my family while watching the Hakone Ekiden.📣」
“When you think of the New Year, you think of Hakone Ekiden.🏃♂️” Some people may say “💘🙄
In this article, we will introduce information on the 2025 Hakone Ekiden schedule, participating schools, and how to support the Ekiden🥰🙌
The sight of players working together as a team and pouring their passion into “tying the knot” gives us courage and inspiration.🔥✊
It's a great sight to see handsome athletes who rival idols sprinting, so be sure to look for your favorite at the Hakone Ekiden.👀💓
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Table of contents
What is Hakone Ekiden?
"Tokyo-Hakone round-trip relay race (commonly known as Hakone Ekiden)"has a long history as one of the three major relay races, and will be running for the 101st time in 2025.🏃♂️🎍
Many people think that the Hakone Ekiden, which is the driving force behind the popularity of the University Ekiden, is the tournament that determines the best university in Japan.🙌🔥
The race will be competed in a total of 10 sections (217.1 km), with 5 outbound sections (107.5 km) and 5 return sections (109.6 km) from Tokyo's Yomiuri Shimbun-mae to Hakone and Lake Ashinoko.The longest long-distance student relay raceIt is🙄☝️
Among the universities affiliated with the Kanto Student Athletics Federation, a total of 21 teams will participate, including the top 10 schools that obtained seeding rights in the previous year's tournament, 10 schools that passed the October qualifying round, and the Kanto Student Union.
The Kanto Student Union team will be selected from the students with the best records from universities that unfortunately did not pass the qualifying round.👀(*Limited to one student per school, times are for reference only)
We will introduce information that you should know before watching the Hakone Ekiden to enjoy the Hakone Ekiden even more, so be sure to check it out.💡
What are the three major university relay races?
Track and field events such as relay races and marathons are among the sports that become more active from fall to winter every year.☝️💘
Among them,“Three major university relay races”calledIzumo Ekiden, All Japan University Ekiden, Hakone Ekidenis a tournament that both players and fans are putting a lot of effort into.👀
If you win these three tournaments,University Ekiden 3rd placeYou can earn the title of🙌
We will explain the characteristics of each tournament, so please refer to it.🎀
Izumo Ekiden
The beginning of the Ekiden season“Izumo All-Japan University Selection Relay Race (commonly known as Izumo Ekiden)”will decorate💓
It is the newest of the three major university relay races, having started in 1989, and is held every year on Sports Day.📣😋
The biggest feature of the Izumo Ekiden is that it is a “high-speed relay race.”And,Inviting overseas universities to build a global worldviewHere it is 🤔✨
There are 6 sections (45.1km) in total, and many teams race from the beginning, and the rankings change rapidly in each section.🌀
All Japan University Ekiden
The following event will be held in early November:“Chichibunomiya Cup All-Japan University Ekiden vs. School Championship (commonly known as All-Japan University Ekiden)”It is✊🔥
Seeds will be given to the top 8 schools from the previous year, and 27 teams will participate, including the 17 schools that passed the qualifying rounds in the 8 regions nationwide, as well as the Japan Gakuren Selection and Tokai Gakuren Selection.💡
Unlike the Hakone Ekiden, where only universities from the Kanto region participate,Compete with universities that have won preliminary rounds across the countryIt is characterized by👀🙌
Run through 8 sections (106.8 km) from Nagoya/Atsuta Shrine to Mie/Ise Grand Shrine.💕
Hakone Ekiden
The Hakone Ekiden is a tournament that is driving the popularity of the University Ekiden, and looking at the excitement of the athletes and the tournament, it seems like the winner of the Hakone Ekiden will be the best in Japan. Many people probably think that 🤔
However, it is difficult to say with certainty that this is the case, as the event is sponsored by the Kanto Student Athletics Federation and only universities in the Kanto region are eligible to participate in the Hakone Ekiden.😣💦
To commemorate the milestone of the 100th competition, eligibility to participate in the qualifying round held in October has been expanded to include athletes from the Japan Intercollegiate Athletics Federation.🙄📣
Although 11 schools participated from all over the country, from Hokkaido to Kyushu, none of them made it past the preliminary round.😭
Regarding the return of participation qualifications from the 101st meeting, Kanto Gakuren said:"Athletes are working hard every day to earn the right to compete within the limited number of spots available, so our federation would like to provide as many spots as possible to student-athletes from the Kanto region."It explains👀
Many athletes who dream of participating in the Hakone Ekiden go on to universities in the Kanto region, so it may still be a while before the tournament becomes national.☝️
Introduction to the Hakone Ekiden course and characteristics of each section
First, I will introduce the characteristics of the outbound section.✨😍
-
■District 1 (21.3km)
・Assign one of the team's best speed runners
・The key point is around Rokugo Bridge after 17km. -
■2nd Ward (23.1km)
・“Gonta-zaka” from 13km, the last 3km is a section with many ups and downs
・Ace players from each school are assigned, and physical strength, mental strength, and competitive instincts are required.
・A section where record-breaking “burdock removal” can be seen -
■3rd ward (21.4km)
・The first half is about 9km of gentle downhill.
・The most scenic spot in the Hakone Ekiden, with Mt. Fuji in front and Sagami Bay on the left after 11km.
・Sometimes strong headwinds blow -
■4th ward (20.9km)
・Run the shortest distance between flat areas
・Important section to connect to Ward 5 (mountain climbing) in a good location
・At the end of the race, the key is how to finish the gentle uphill slope of approximately 3 km. -
■5th Ward (20.8km)
・Run up to the highest point on National Route 1 at an altitude of approximately 874m
・After passing the highest point at 16.2km, it is necessary to completely turn around and conquer the descent to Hakone Shrine Otorii, which is just past 19km.
・In the past, players with the nicknames ``Mountain God'', ``Mountain Prodigy'', and ``Mountain Fairy'' have appeared.
Click here for the characteristics and winning points of the return leg.🔥🙄
-
■6th ward (20.8km)
・The course starts with a 4km climb and then descends all at once.
・Driving through sharp curves with a sense of speed, positioning is important
・It is very cold in the Hakone Yamanaka area in the morning, so the key is to manage your pace and physical condition. -
■7th ward (21.3km)
・After 9km, there are small ups and downs, making it difficult to find the pace.
・At the beginning, it is cold due to the mountain wind, and when the sun rises, the sunlight is strong and the temperature changes drastically. -
■8th ward (21.4km)
・The 9km uphill slope that includes ups and downs after entering the Shonan Shindo road takes away the stamina of the athletes as the temperature rises.
・When a tailwind blows, the rider and the wind reach the same speed, forcing him to run in windless conditions, making the rider feel even warmer. -
■9th Ward (23.1km)
・There is a possibility that it will become the stage for a major reversal in the battle for the championship seeding right.
・Avoid early starts (*) and connect the sash to the last athlete. -
■10th Ward (23.0km)
・The final section passing through Chuo-dori and Nihonbashi towards the finish
・Unexpected accidents and reversals may occur depending on mental health and weather conditions.
*Advanced start means that if you are more than 20 minutes behind the 1st place runner, the next runner will start with a spare sash.💦😣
Hakone Ekiden 2025 schedule
The 101st Hakone Ekiden will be held on Thursday, January 2nd and Friday, January 3rd, 2025.will be held on💓🏃♂️
10 representatives from each school will run 107.5km outbound and 109.6km back, totaling 217.1km 🥰
It will be aired on Nippon Television from 7am on both days.★It will be broadcast live as "SAPPORO New Year Sports Special 101st Hakone Ekiden" and will be streamed for free on TVer.📺📲
Since the start of live broadcasting of the 63rd Hakone Ekiden, the program has boasted a high viewership rating of over 20% every year, and is attracting attention as a popular New Year's content.😘
Hakone Ekiden qualifying round will be held on October 19, 2024
A total of 21 teams can participate in the Hakone Ekiden: 10 seeded schools from the previous year, 10 schools that made it through the preliminary rounds, and the Kanto Student Union team (open participation).☝️🤗
The qualifying round for Hakone Ekiden 2025 will be held on October 19, 2024, and the following 10 schools successfully passed the qualifying round and obtained tickets to participate in the Hakone Ekiden🫧
🔎10 schools that passed the preliminary round🔎
- Rikkyo University: 10 hours 52 minutes 36 seconds
- Senshu University: 10 hours 53 minutes 39 seconds
- Yamanashi Gakuin University: 10 hours 54 minutes 06 seconds
- Nippon Sport Science University: 10 hours 55 minutes 58 seconds
- Chuo Gakuin University: 10 hours 56 minutes 01 seconds
- Chuo University: 10 hours 56 minutes 03 seconds
- Nihon University: 10 hours 56 minutes 53 seconds
- Tokyo International University: 10 hours 58 minutes 53 seconds
- Kanagawa University: 10 hours 59 minutes 12 seconds
- Juntendo University: 11 hours 01 minutes 25 seconds
In the preliminary round, up to 12 students from each school will run 21.0975km and compete for the total time of the top 10.🔥🙄
Since it is not a relay race, the strategies of each school will also attract attention, such as the strategy of improving everyone's time by running as a group, and the ace jumping out and showing their individual strength.👀💡
- ■ Ground Self-Defense Force Tachikawa Garrison (8.2km from the start)
The race starts at the airstrip inside the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Tachikawa Garrison, and after running about 3 laps, it heads out into the city.☝️
Because the course is flat and there are no landmarks such as buildings around it, it is difficult to get a sense of distance, and many athletes lose their pace.💦 - ■Urban area (8.2km to 13.8km)
In the early stages, there are many turns to the left and right, making positioning difficult, so be careful not to collide or fall.😣
The key is to form a group run as a team and be able to conserve your physical strength until you enter Showa Kinen Park.✨ - ■Showa Kinen Park (13.8km ~ finish)
The park will be a tough stage with many ups and downs.⛰️
In situations where the difference in individual strength is revealed, the outcome will be determined by how long the 9th or 10th player on the team can persevere.✊
The temperature at this qualifying round was extremely high compared to previous years, reaching 23.2 degrees just before the start at 9:00 AM, and then approaching 30 degrees, making us compete in conditions that were said to be the worst.💦😫
There are many teams who have had tears in their eyes due to the players and international runners who are the pillars of the team not being able to keep up with the pace, and falling accidents.🍂
I hope that the teams that have made it through the qualifying round will prepare well so that they can demonstrate their strengths in Hakone.🙌
List of schools and teams participating in Hakone Ekiden 2025
Click here for a list of schools participating in the 2025 Hakone Ekiden, including seed schools.🙌😘
💓2025 Hakone Ekiden participating schools💓
- Aoyama Gakuin University (30th time for 17 consecutive years)
- Komazawa University (59th consecutive year)
- Josai University (3rd consecutive year, 19th time)
- Toyo University (23 consecutive years, 83rd time)
- Kokugakuin University (9 consecutive years, 18th time)
- Hosei University (85th time for 10 consecutive years)
- Waseda University (49th consecutive year, 94th time)
- Soka University (8th time in 6 consecutive years)
- Teikyo University (26th time for 18 consecutive years)
- Daito Bunka University (3rd consecutive year, 53rd time)
- Rikkyo University (30th consecutive year)
- Senshu University (72nd time in 2 years)
- Yamanashi Gakuin University (38th time for 5 consecutive years)
- Nippon Sport Science University (77th consecutive year)
- Chuo Gakuin University (24th consecutive year)
- Chuo University (8 consecutive years, 98th time)
- Nihon University (2nd consecutive year, 91st time)
- Tokyo International University (8th time in 2 years)
- Kanagawa University (2 years in a row, 55th time)
- Juntendo University (66th time for 14 consecutive years)
While there are many universities that participate consecutively,Senshu University and Tokyo International University passed the preliminary round and returned to Hakone for the first time in two years.😭💕
This time, we will introduce three schools that are touted as winning candidates.💡
team entry tableOfficial websiteIt has been uploaded to , so if you are interested in the university, please check it out.👀
Kokugakuin University: Aiming for first victory in Hakone and first triple title in University Ekiden
Kokugakuin University, which won the Izumo Ekiden held in October 2024, also won the All-Japan University Ekiden for the first time, gaining momentum towards their long-awaited triple University Ekiden title.💓😎
Ace player Kiyosumi Hirabayashi (4th year) ran through the 2nd ward of Hana at the Hakone Ekiden 2024 and won the 42.195km race for the first time at the 12th Osaka Marathon held in February 2024.🙄
It is said to be the team with the most athletes at the moment, including Rui Aoki (3rd year), who won the Japan Student Half Marathon, Tsunetoru Nonaka (2nd year), who won the section award at Izumo & All Japan, and Ayumu Yamamoto (4th year), who broke a new section record at the All Japan.🏃♂️🔥
Expectations are high as to whether Hakone will be able to achieve the third university title with their first win.☝️
Aoyama Gakuin University: Aiming for second consecutive Hakone Ekiden overall victory
Aoyama Gakuin University, led by coach Susumu Hara, who has led them to the Hakone Ekiden championship seven times in the past, will take on the challenge of winning their second consecutive Hakone overall championship.💕✊
Although they finished in 3rd place behind Kokugakuin and Komazawa in the 2024 Izumo Ekiden and All Japan University Ekiden, there is no team that can match Seigaku in special courses such as climbing and descending mountains.
We have a lineup of top-class athletes, including Asahi Kuroda (3rd year), who won the section prize in the 2nd section last time, Aoi Ota (4th year), who won the section prize in the 3rd section, Hiroki Wakabayashi (4th year), who is good at mountain climbing and took 2nd place in the 5th section, and Masaya Tsurukawa (4th year), who won the section award in the 2024 Izumo & All Japan race.🏃♂️
Throughout the year, Seigaku is mainly practicing long-distance running in preparation for conquering Hakone, so I'm looking forward to seeing how Coach Hara will take charge.💡✨
By the way, my favorite is Seigaku's Ota, and I've been rooting for him ever since he debuted in Hakone as a freshman! lol📢
Komazawa University: Aim for the championship with revenge
Komazawa University was aiming to become the first in history to win ``2 consecutive seasons'' and 3 titles in the University Ekiden at the 100th Hakone Ekiden, but unfortunately lost to Aoyama Gakuin University.😣🌀
He has taken over from the great master Hiroaki Daiyagi, who retired in 2023, and has been practicing hard under the guidance of coach Atsushi Shin Fujita to avenge the previous tournament.🔥
The strength of the team is on par with other teams, including Takuma Yamakawa (3rd year), who is calling himself a new generation of mountain gods, Kotaro Shinohara (4th year), the ace who won the 1st section award in the last tournament, and Keita Sato (2nd year), who holds the record for the 2nd place in Japan's U20 10,000m.😘🙌
Whether or not the players who missed Izumo and All Japan due to injuries will be able to prepare for Hakone in good condition will likely be the deciding factor.📢
Let's support Hakone Ekiden! Ekiden otaku introduces how to push!
The author, an Ekiden otaku, will tell you how to enjoy and support the Hakone Ekiden.🎁
Everyone's preference is different, so please use this as a reference only.✨🥰
Watching the Hakone Ekiden
First of all,“Watching the Hakone Ekiden”That's it.📺📲
It will be aired on Nippon Television from 7am on both Thursday, January 2nd and Friday, January 3rd, 2025.★SAPPORO New Year Sports Special 101st Hakone Ekiden will be broadcast live🏃♂️💕
The race starts at 8 o'clock, so be sure to watch the Hakone Ekiden at home while eating New Year's food.😘✨
In addition, free live streaming is planned on TVer, so those who are on the move can watch it on their smartphones or tablets.😎📣
If you are able to visit the Hakone Ekiden course, cheering along the route will give you a sense of realism and excitement.🙌
Notes such as traffic regulations are posted on the official website, so we recommend checking them in advance.👀☝️
Purchase goods
Next,“Purchase support goods”It is🙌
T-shirts, towels, key chains of participating universities, etc. are on sale.💕🥰
If your alma mater is participating, we recommend purchasing one as a souvenir.✨
Let's liven up the Hakone Ekiden with cheering goods so that the athletes can show their 120% potential.🏆🎶
Favorite advertisement (Birthday/Support advertisement) to support your favorites!
One of the oshi-katsu cultures that started in Korea is the ``oshi advertising''.BirthdayThere is a support method called ``/support advertisement)''.✨
The recommended advertisement is"Advertisement for fans to support their favorites"It is📣💕
You can place advertisements in various places such as city visions, station premises, and SNS.☝️
To support the teams and players participating in the Hakone Ekiden, why not use promotional advertising to support them?
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Every year, an event is held where the inside of the train such as the Yamanote Line is completely decorated with the Hakone Ekiden, so be sure to pay attention to it when you get on the train.😎🎶
[100th #Hakone Ekiden ️ 1⃣4⃣ days left until🏃♂️】
— Hakone Ekiden program official (@hakone_ntv) December 19, 2023
Advertising on the train for the 100th Hakone Ekiden🚃
"AD Train" (Ad Train) starts📣
✅A bag designed with the sashes of the 23 participating teams
✅countdown video
The inside of the JR Yamanote Line/Chuo Line Rapid train is completely decorated with Hakone Ekiden! pic.twitter.com/5gliAL8Emw
Summary
This time, we introduced information on the 2025 Hakone Ekiden schedule, participating schools, and how to support them.💕🙌
Early in the new year, a heated battle is unfolding between athletes with university pride on the line.👀☝️
The Hakone Ekiden, which has a long history among all Ekiden tournaments, is full of highlights, including various dramatic turnarounds.🎶😎
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