Hakone Ekiden - The Premier University Relay Race Held During New Year

Hakone Ekiden is the pinnacle of university long-distance relay racing, connecting Tokyo's Otemachi to Hakone in Kanagawa Prefecture over a total distance of 217.1 kilometers divided into 10 sections passed by a relay sash. Officially called the "Tokyo-Hakone Round-Trip University Ekiden Race," this event has over 100 years of history as a representative national event of Japan's New Year, held over two days on January 2nd and 3rd each year. Founded in 1920 by Kanaguri Shizo, known as the father of Japanese marathon running, and others, this competition is beloved as a gateway for student runners that has produced numerous Olympic athletes. The tradition that has continued for over a century, excluding periods of wartime cancellation, has created many legendary athletes and dramatic stories, with famous scenes and nicknames like "God of the Mountains" and "Flower Zone 2" being passed down through generations. Twenty universities from the Kanto region plus the Kanto Student Combined Team, totaling 21 teams, participate in the competition across 10 sections - 5 outbound and 5 return sections. Each section is set at approximately 20 kilometers, and the varied terrain from high-rise buildings in the city center to the Shonan coastline and the steep mountain roads of Hakone presents different challenges to the runners. Particularly, the uphill climb from Odawara to Lake Ashi in Section 5 and the downhill run from Lake Ashi to Odawara in Section 6 are known as the most difficult sections with an elevation difference of approximately 874 meters, and the dramatic position changes that occur here are the race's greatest highlight. During the competition period, it is broadcast nationwide on television, attracting national attention, and over 1 million spectators gather along the course. The cheering competitions by each university's support groups, passionate cheers from the athletes' alma maters and hometowns, and the feelings for teammates embodied in the single relay sash create emotional stories that transcend mere sporting events. The strict promotion and relegation system, where the top 10 schools receive seeding rights for the following year while universities ranked 11th and below must restart from qualifying rounds, creates new dramas every year. Along the course, there are scenic viewpoints overlooking Mount Fuji and Sagami Bay, Hakone's hot spring resorts, and tourist destinations including historic Tokaido post towns. By combining spectating with sightseeing, visitors can experience Japan's New Year culture and traditional landscapes all at once, creating unforgettable memories for many visiting tourists to Japan.