Jake interviews an elite Japanese runner in japanese… no one else is doing this stuff. Thanks for the extra insight into the fascinating Japanese running culture. Top work Jake 🙌
Just found this channel a week ago, and I have already binged the entire catalogue😂. Keep up the great work mate, really like the storytelling and editing in these videos. I'm looking forward to what's to come next for this channel👍
You are doing some very important work here Jake and I'm not just glazing you. It is truly baffling how there's almost zero universal coverage on the activities of what many would consider the greatest running nation in the world. Sure there is no Kipchoge and Kiptum in Japan but the running knowledge, passion, and depth of the japanese are second to none. I specifically love how you take the time to briefly introduce the Japanese talents like Suguru and Hirabayashi to those who aren't familiar, and the nuances like the sub 60 performances at the uni level. This channel could go so far and the potential is seemingly endless. Thanks for what you do and I wish you great success, you do deserve it Jake.
One big reason the Hakone Ekiden is so popular is that it’s held across New Year holidays (Jan 2nd & 3rd) - which is celebrated akin to western Xmas - when nearly the whole country is with family, relaxing, and can watch this on tv. Also, the fact that this is between the Kanto universities (ie. greater Tokyo) and runs from central Tokyo to a famous hot spring/resort town adds to the interest.
Underrated video as ever! A televised Hakone like event would be awesome here in the UK and Europe, would certainly being some more excitement and tension to long distance events!!
I love these videos, keep at it! Coming back from a long run and watching this, while eating is a dream. Today was a 10K time trial, aim was 45:00, I did it in 45:55 (ice and snow sadly), feeling good about it.
Hah. Thats the race the Anime Run With The Wind is based on?! Crazy, didnt know its soooo popular. Thought the guys in the anime are lying when they said that it has a big impact on a CV if you were a Hakone participant. They didnt lie. Thanks for covering this mate!
Perfect video drop, I watched this as inspo before my 10K race today. I went kamikaze and PB’d a 30 second 5K PR before finishing in 39:44. About to go double run and watching this again for motivation!
Lovely to see this being a thing in europe as well! We do have national student Ekiden champs every year in the netherland (teams of 6 total distance 42.2k). It is a total blast to run these events!
Nice. Was watching coverage of the Ekiden this week. But great to see behind the scenes footage and some explanation in English. Keep up the great work Jake
Mate so happy to see another upload! Your videos are a highlight of the week! You really inspire me to run more than I’ve done so far! Amazing vid once again, keep up the great work! You’re killing it🙌🏻
Great video again Jake! Thank you. Keep up the good work. Inspiring and entertaining. Just finished reading the book, "The way of the runner" (Adharanand Finn), and your video really brought to life what was written about the Hakone Ekiden. All the best with your running in Japan!
So pleased i found this channel, love your content mate! Recently took up running to shift some timber and the wife and I are planning a trip to Japan this year, think thats why youtube brought me here! keep up the content, another sub here, peace!
We used to have an ekiden style race in Hawaii every year. A lot of Japanese participants. But the race has not restarted since covid. Probably because there are a lot less Japanese travelers. It was a 6 person team with a total distance of a marathon. Each year the winning team was usually a Japanese high school. They were always so fast.
Great editing! Yeah we Japanese basically have culture to watch Hakone Ekiken TV program in our parents house during new year vacations. Because we have nothing to do in our hometown in such vacation 😂. But maybe because of this we gradually come to love Ekiden culture, team work and to be patient, like me😅
Nice one Jake - good to hear about the Japanese running culture without subtitles! Love the interview and hope the sickness is behind you… if these guys are knocking out ridiculous times then sushi is sure to bag you a 2:12 👊🏻 Running and Japan… what’s not to like? 🏃 🇯🇵 👍🏻
Thanks for sharing Hakone Ekiden! Happy to know there is a country in the world celebrating running in such a fascinating and passionate way! Keep sharing the Japanese running culture Jake!😁
that race is super duper cool, but a cycling grand tour is impossible to beat in my opinion. 3 weeks, multiple epic huge mountains on the same day, team tactics AND single individual wins daily and overall, gravel and cobble and paved roads, 4 and 5 hours per day, sprints and breakaways and hour long mountain time trials, it really has it all. and you see the entire country pretty much! its unbeatable.
This is brilliant, thanks Jake. Where I think the Hakone Ekiden can take off more internationally is by providing more content in English. Spent so long trying to find content to learn more about the unis, winners, history, etc. thanks again
Nice video..Japanese running and races are my inspiration for my own running..winter is mostly treadmill season and the big screen TV are what gets me thru the winter..there is something always on to watch while grinding out the miles..been doing it for years and some of the top Japanese runners of today I saw as middle schoolers beginning their careers in school ekiden races..thanks for sharing 😊
I've been watching an anime about a running team trying to qualify for the Hakone Ekiden Race (which I knew nothing about until now), and today I opened UA-cam and saw a new video from you about it. Such a nice coincidence. P.S. The anime is Run with the Wind.
This is a race I’ve been watching almost every year since I started running. Everytime I watch this race I will feel “a beast in basement “ urging me to run.
A relay race with long legs is a great race format. I love taking part in the local long relay races with my running club, although they are considerably more low key affairs than the Ekiden 😆 Perhaps it's harder to get people to stand around and spectate when the location is a damp hill between Sheffield and Rotherham.
In Wales they run the castle relays which is very similar to the Ekiden. Corporate and club runners race over various stages across the country. You should check it out
Fantastic video Jake. Really insightful and your enthusiasm for, and knowledge of, Japanese running culture shines through. Thank you. One question: how does day 2 start - is it a mass start or do they start with the time intervals gained from day 1?
Cheers, good question. So it’s a staggered start based off the time difference from the leader of day 1, but there’s a mass start for any teams that are 20 mins (I think) behind
Have you watched run with the wind its a amazing anime about the hakone ekiden. Been loving these videos, Keep it up and I'll be watch for a long time ♥
Great video as always, Jake 😄The interview with the Japanese runner was awesome. I was just wondering, what happens to the bottles that you take to your marathons? Do you throw them away and pick them up afterward, or do you just get new ones for next race? Thank you!
Great video!! I learned about Hakone in The Way of the Runner, like most Brits and absolutely love the concept. Just wish it was broadcast with English commentary - I’d pay to watch that! Business idea for a western runner in Japan? 😊
Sadly that specific UK Ekiden is almost all trail which makes it a lot less interesting. Also this is not the only one, there is also the Ipswich Ekiden in the UK which has been going for over 20 years. But it's quite short, only a marathon distance in total divided into 6 stages.
More elite runner interviews while running! Awesome stuff. Can you buy school/team clothing? I noticed lots of flags/banners but didn't see anyone wearing team colors/gear.
Actually just filmed a couple more of those interviews for this week’s vid! Atm it’s basically impossible to buy team kits but Tempo Japan (they’ve got an Insta/UA-cam channel) are working on it to try bring that team gear to the public soon
I think relays used to be more of a thing in the UK. Ron Hill mentions lots of them in his book. But we seem to have a very individualistic self-centred approach here (there's probably a thesis in that tracking back to the 1980s) whereas in Japan self is subsumed into the collective.
Hey Jake, been loving your videos big fun. I had a debate yesterday with my friend on the best way to breath while running. Nose, mouth, mix of both and there are not much information about the topic from elite runners like your self. Whats your take on the subject? Keep going hard!! Looking forward to the sub12
Stages 5 and 6 are absolutely mental. How do they train for them?? There must be some very specific workouts that they do. And think didn’t Kawauchi run for the Kanto union team stage 5, fascinating race
I heard the course record breaker on the 6th stage spent the entire year training specifically for it to run a 57 downhill half - no idea what exactly but assume an absolute tonne of hill work! Yeah Kawauchi ran for the Kanto team - think on the 6th stage twice?
Loving the passion you're transmitting ! New camera is doing really good but you might want to reduce the auto centering feature, it's a bit too sensitive (constantly correcting at the end on the overpass).
You’re a man who gets the way to train properly, harder not smarter. I’ve recently ran a half marathon around the town I live 1.35. Not setting any records by all means, but yesterday I signed up for the Bath half in March. Do you think I can kamakzi train to try and get a 1.30, maybe even 1.25?
I don’t see why not! Careful with increasing volume and intensity of training tho - that’s an injury recipe. Still got plenty of time for improvements before that race, good luck mate 👊
Have you read the novel Run With the Wind that chronicles the story about a group of underdogs running the Hakone Ekiden? It was just translated into English this past October.
Great job mate. Have you watched the もう一つの箱根駅伝 on UA-cam? Great insight into the backstories of the teams and runners. Running that 5th stage is still on my bucket list
Oh I haven’t yet but that’s this evening’s entertainment sorted, cheers👌 Good bit of Japanese listening practice too by the look of it! Yeah the Hakone climb does look pretty legendary
Jake interviews an elite Japanese runner in japanese… no one else is doing this stuff.
Thanks for the extra insight into the fascinating Japanese running culture. Top work Jake 🙌
Thanks buddy, glad you enjoyed!🫡
I'm in awe as I'm in the process of learning Japanese too.
Just found this channel a week ago, and I have already binged the entire catalogue😂. Keep up the great work mate, really like the storytelling and editing in these videos. I'm looking forward to what's to come next for this channel👍
Just like me haha, such an awesome channel.
You are doing some very important work here Jake and I'm not just glazing you. It is truly baffling how there's almost zero universal coverage on the activities of what many would consider the greatest running nation in the world. Sure there is no Kipchoge and Kiptum in Japan but the running knowledge, passion, and depth of the japanese are second to none. I specifically love how you take the time to briefly introduce the Japanese talents like Suguru and Hirabayashi to those who aren't familiar, and the nuances like the sub 60 performances at the uni level. This channel could go so far and the potential is seemingly endless. Thanks for what you do and I wish you great success, you do deserve it Jake.
You’re glazing AF 😂😂
@@Franz_giblet Just enough to keep the small youtuber running
One big reason the Hakone Ekiden is so popular is that it’s held across New Year holidays (Jan 2nd & 3rd) - which is celebrated akin to western Xmas - when nearly the whole country is with family, relaxing, and can watch this on tv. Also, the fact that this is between the Kanto universities (ie. greater Tokyo) and runs from central Tokyo to a famous hot spring/resort town adds to the interest.
Learned about Hakone recently after i started running from watching Run with the Wind. Sounds an amazing event!
That atmosphere is mental, can’t imagine what it’s like to be competing there. Great vid as always
Favourite channel on UA-cam! Let's gooo
東京生まれの59歳ですが子供の頃家族で箱根駅伝の時期は箱根の温泉宿に泊まるのが毎年の習慣でした。
当時はテレビ放送はなかった(競技時間のあまりの長さのため)ですが駅伝のラジオ放送に聞き入り箱根の温泉宿に着いたら沿道に応援に行ってました。あくまで関東ローカルの大会なのですが50年前でも大変な人気でした。
ちなみに私は中央大学(最近は優勝から遠ざかっていますが箱根駅伝最多優勝の名門)出身ですが大学時代の体育の授業は当時の駅伝部の監督が担当しており、中央大学の駅伝の栄光の時代の話をよく聞かされました。
great video, i just finished watching "run with the wind" and the hakone ekiden is super popular over there, thanks for the coverage!
This is one of the coolest running videos on this website without a doubt.
箱根駅伝の素晴らしさを発信してくれてありがとうございます
よくここまで詳細に箱根駅伝について調べてくれましたね
UK駅伝がますます発展するようお祈り申し上げます
Underrated video as ever! A televised Hakone like event would be awesome here in the UK and Europe, would certainly being some more excitement and tension to long distance events!!
It would be exciting if Ekiden were adopted as an Olympic sport.
Thanks for the great video. Greetings from Japan🇯🇵
It's a pleasure following you and you always got a smile on your face
I love these videos, keep at it!
Coming back from a long run and watching this, while eating is a dream. Today was a 10K time trial, aim was 45:00, I did it in 45:55 (ice and snow sadly), feeling good about it.
I suggest people to watch the anime "Run with the Wind"! It portrays the hakone ekiden pretty well.
Hah. Thats the race the Anime Run With The Wind is based on?! Crazy, didnt know its soooo popular. Thought the guys in the anime are lying when they said that it has a big impact on a CV if you were a Hakone participant. They didnt lie. Thanks for covering this mate!
sam here, watched the anime recently and didn't think that it's this popular
Perfect video drop, I watched this as inspo before my 10K race today. I went kamikaze and PB’d a 30 second 5K PR before finishing in 39:44. About to go double run and watching this again for motivation!
New camera is definitely an upgrade in quality 👌🏼 killer video, what a mad race!
Lovely to see this being a thing in europe as well! We do have national student Ekiden champs every year in the netherland (teams of 6 total distance 42.2k). It is a total blast to run these events!
We also have the Batavierenrace, which is kind of more like the original Ekiden in Japan
Love the video's Jake! Keep grinding!
You're an amazing story teller. So refreshing not to watch shoes reviews!
Could not agree more!!
Amazing! Love that you actually went there to film the race!
Nice. Was watching coverage of the Ekiden this week. But great to see behind the scenes footage and some explanation in English. Keep up the great work Jake
Mate so happy to see another upload! Your videos are a highlight of the week! You really inspire me to run more than I’ve done so far! Amazing vid once again, keep up the great work! You’re killing it🙌🏻
I’ve learned more about Ekiden from Jake than anyone else, thanks for making this vid 🙏
Another entertaining video, great work
They're so fast, the PBs screenshot was mind blowing. You know its competitive when the worst guy at 5K completed at early 14 mins lol
Always look forward to your uploads champ!
Great video again Jake! Thank you. Keep up the good work. Inspiring and entertaining. Just finished reading the book, "The way of the runner" (Adharanand Finn), and your video really brought to life what was written about the Hakone Ekiden. All the best with your running in Japan!
No idea how you find the time to produce so much quality content with how much you run😂
There’s not much time for anything else! Feels like a full time job this 🤣
So pleased i found this channel, love your content mate! Recently took up running to shift some timber and the wife and I are planning a trip to Japan this year, think thats why youtube brought me here! keep up the content, another sub here, peace!
What a VIDEO. Always look forward to your stuff!
Such a professional video package Jake, well done. Hakone is a nice place to stay and they have a museum to the race there.
Best UA-camr ever
We used to have an ekiden style race in Hawaii every year. A lot of Japanese participants. But the race has not restarted since covid. Probably because there are a lot less Japanese travelers. It was a 6 person team with a total distance of a marathon. Each year the winning team was usually a Japanese high school. They were always so fast.
This is now the best running youtube channel 🔥
Great editing! Yeah we Japanese basically have culture to watch Hakone Ekiken TV program in our parents house during new year vacations. Because we have nothing to do in our hometown in such vacation 😂. But maybe because of this we gradually come to love Ekiden culture, team work and to be patient, like me😅
Nice one Jake - good to hear about the Japanese running culture without subtitles! Love the interview and hope the sickness is behind you… if these guys are knocking out ridiculous times then sushi is sure to bag you a 2:12 👊🏻 Running and Japan… what’s not to like? 🏃 🇯🇵 👍🏻
Favorite running samurai UA-camrs for me ❤ fly higher jake🎉
Thanks for sharing Hakone Ekiden! Happy to know there is a country in the world celebrating running in such a fascinating and passionate way! Keep sharing the Japanese running culture Jake!😁
こんなにも大きくて日本の伝統的な大会が今まで外国で話題にならないのはなんでだろう？と思っていました。
各大学やランナーがこの駅伝にかける想いはとても大きいもので、その熱は観客をも巻き込み魅了します。
今回取り上げてくださってとても嬉しく思います。
本当にありがとうございます。
Hopefully this video pops off. Ekiden is soooo intense!
Hope you get 50 million views! ,, cracking new camera BTW..., looks good
that race is super duper cool, but a cycling grand tour is impossible to beat in my opinion. 3 weeks, multiple epic huge mountains on the same day, team tactics AND single individual wins daily and overall, gravel and cobble and paved roads, 4 and 5 hours per day, sprints and breakaways and hour long mountain time trials, it really has it all. and you see the entire country pretty much! its unbeatable.
Amazing video, and what an amazing part of the culture in Japan, makes me wants to be there to experience it.
Your channel is next level.
This is brilliant, thanks Jake. Where I think the Hakone Ekiden can take off more internationally is by providing more content in English. Spent so long trying to find content to learn more about the unis, winners, history, etc. thanks again
Nice video..Japanese running and races are my inspiration for my own running..winter is mostly treadmill season and the big screen TV are what gets me thru the winter..there is something always on to watch while grinding out the miles..been doing it for years and some of the top Japanese runners of today I saw as middle schoolers beginning their careers in school ekiden races..thanks for sharing 😊
Really great video again! Thanks Jake!
The new camera is so much better! That tracking feature works so well too as you finish off the video with a monologue.
I've been watching an anime about a running team trying to qualify for the Hakone Ekiden Race (which I knew nothing about until now), and today I opened UA-cam and saw a new video from you about it. Such a nice coincidence.
P.S. The anime is Run with the Wind.
This is a race I’ve been watching almost every year since I started running. Everytime I watch this race I will feel “a beast in basement “ urging me to run.
Great motivation for my Sunday long run!
1:46 that guy Hirabayashi won Osaka wearing a takumi sen 9 lol
A relay race with long legs is a great race format. I love taking part in the local long relay races with my running club, although they are considerably more low key affairs than the Ekiden
😆 Perhaps it's harder to get people to stand around and spectate when the location is a damp hill between Sheffield and Rotherham.
In Wales they run the castle relays which is very similar to the Ekiden. Corporate and club runners race over various stages across the country. You should check it out
I took part in that one year. Great fun - the camping less so!
I learned about this race from 'Run with the wind' anime. It motivated me to start running
Excellent work! Would love to see a video about one of the Japanese Parkruns!
Fantastic video Jake. Really insightful and your enthusiasm for, and knowledge of, Japanese running culture shines through. Thank you.
One question: how does day 2 start - is it a mass start or do they start with the time intervals gained from day 1?
Cheers, good question. So it’s a staggered start based off the time difference from the leader of day 1, but there’s a mass start for any teams that are 20 mins (I think) behind
@ have you bought yourself a rice cooker yet?
@ got a cooking segment in next week’s vid so you’ll find out then 👀
Have you watched run with the wind its a amazing anime about the hakone ekiden. Been loving these videos, Keep it up and I'll be watch for a long time ♥
Great video as always, Jake 😄The interview with the Japanese runner was awesome. I was just wondering, what happens to the bottles that you take to your marathons? Do you throw them away and pick them up afterward, or do you just get new ones for next race? Thank you!
Glad you liked it! Yeah have to just throw the bottles away on the side of the road during a marathon and buy cheap new ones
Great video!! I learned about Hakone in The Way of the Runner, like most Brits and absolutely love the concept. Just wish it was broadcast with English commentary - I’d pay to watch that! Business idea for a western runner in Japan? 😊
We need all Run with the wind fans here!
Congrats for your Japanese, seems to be getting really good now 👍🏻
Loving your content man! I’ll be running the Tokyo Marathon this year as well…would be cool to run into you! I’m aiming for a 2:5X:XX. Good luck!
Chicken hearts, if done right, are SO GOOD! They're a staple in Brazil
The tasted great at the time tbf… it’s was the aftermath that wasn’t too pretty 🤣
I watched the anime Run With the Wind a few weeks ago. Great watch to get a bit of an understanding into this race.
Osmo taking those vids to the next level 🎉
Great video!
Sadly that specific UK Ekiden is almost all trail which makes it a lot less interesting.
Also this is not the only one, there is also the Ipswich Ekiden in the UK which has been going for over 20 years. But it's quite short, only a marathon distance in total divided into 6 stages.
I think it’s better than tryna copy the Hakone Ekiden exactly - makes it interesting with a different dynamic of the surface!
Love the videos!! Would you not say the 12 stage and 6 stage relay are the uk equivalent of ekiden?
Fantastic video. Thanks for putting this together! Do you know of any big ekidens in Japan in which a foreign masters team can race?
Cheers buddy! Sorry I have no idea, could try the Namban Rengo website - they have a race list with tonnes of different options so could be one there
More elite runner interviews while running! Awesome stuff. Can you buy school/team clothing? I noticed lots of flags/banners but didn't see anyone wearing team colors/gear.
Actually just filmed a couple more of those interviews for this week’s vid! Atm it’s basically impossible to buy team kits but Tempo Japan (they’ve got an Insta/UA-cam channel) are working on it to try bring that team gear to the public soon
I think relays used to be more of a thing in the UK. Ron Hill mentions lots of them in his book.
But we seem to have a very individualistic self-centred approach here (there's probably a thesis in that tracking back to the 1980s) whereas in Japan self is subsumed into the collective.
Hey Jake, been loving your videos big fun. I had a debate yesterday with my friend on the best way to breath while running. Nose, mouth, mix of both and there are not much information about the topic from elite runners like your self. Whats your take on the subject?
Keep going hard!! Looking forward to the sub12
Have you watched the qualifier of ekiden? it is even more tense!
Thank you
Stages 5 and 6 are absolutely mental. How do they train for them?? There must be some very specific workouts that they do. And think didn’t Kawauchi run for the Kanto union team stage 5, fascinating race
I heard the course record breaker on the 6th stage spent the entire year training specifically for it to run a 57 downhill half - no idea what exactly but assume an absolute tonne of hill work! Yeah Kawauchi ran for the Kanto team - think on the 6th stage twice?
Was pretty hopeful for Chuo to steal day 1, but Aoyama did their thing. The race for 10th was pretty hype this year.
Dude's talking pace is my vo2max lmao.
Loving the passion you're transmitting ! New camera is doing really good but you might want to reduce the auto centering feature, it's a bit too sensitive (constantly correcting at the end on the overpass).
You’re a man who gets the way to train properly, harder not smarter. I’ve recently ran a half marathon around the town I live 1.35. Not setting any records by all means, but yesterday I signed up for the Bath half in March. Do you think I can kamakzi train to try and get a 1.30, maybe even 1.25?
I don’t see why not! Careful with increasing volume and intensity of training tho - that’s an injury recipe. Still got plenty of time for improvements before that race, good luck mate 👊
Have you read the novel Run With the Wind that chronicles the story about a group of underdogs running the Hakone Ekiden? It was just translated into English this past October.
I’ve watched the anime 🔥
会話が上手くなった👍👍
I live really close to ao gaku
japanese runner: yeah gonna aim for a 2hr ish marathon
me: Im gonna aim for a 10km run this week and survive that xD
2:06 at the debut??? Daaamn
great work thanks. on day 2 does the leading team get a heead start?
Yeah so it’s staggered based on the time gaps from the first day!
THE MOUNTAINS OF HAKONE ARE THE STEEPEST IN THE WORLD!
Onigiri🍙 gang represent! One of the best things about Japan🔥
If Ekiden were not a team race, it would not be as popular as it is.
i got to know about this race through anime
LETS GO
駅伝はおもしろい!
❤
Any chance you can challenge yourself to run the Ekiden?
I can’t run Hakone as its students only, but I did an ekiden last year for corporate teams - was great fun 🔥
@RanToJapan Maybe try out the Ekiden route as a form of training? The uphill seems brutal.
Great job mate. Have you watched the もう一つの箱根駅伝 on UA-cam? Great insight into the backstories of the teams and runners. Running that 5th stage is still on my bucket list
Oh I haven’t yet but that’s this evening’s entertainment sorted, cheers👌 Good bit of Japanese listening practice too by the look of it! Yeah the Hakone climb does look pretty legendary
I run at work but not a company runner.
I guess we have the road relays in rhe uk but they're nothing on the level of this
How do you run in a coat!? I get hot with any more than shorts and a T-shirt 🇬🇧
Bloody freezing in Tokyo atm!