2022.12.30
Road to Hakone Ekiden 2023
Text by Masato Sakai
January 2, 2022, 98th Hakone Ekiden, Director Hiroaki Oyagi of Komazawa Univ. Photo: Matsuo/Afro Sports/Japan Sports Press Association
Who are the top two uniforms?
Many people are looking forward to watching the Hakone Ekiden on TV. Therefore, in order to enjoy the tournament more deeply, I would like to introduce some trivia that you should know.
This time, attention is focused on the battle between Seigaku University, which is aiming for consecutive victories, and Koma University, which is aiming for the triple crown of Ekiden. The two schools are “rivals” even when viewed from a different angle. This is because Seigaku University receives uniforms from Adidas and Koma University receives uniforms from Nike.
Since 2018, the Hakone Ekiden has been winning alternately between Adidas (Seigaku University), Nike (Tokai University), Adidas (Seigaku University), Nike (Komadai), and Adidas (Seigaku University). Will it be Nike’s turn this time?
Komadai’s ace Ren Tazawa (4th year) has not lost to Japanese students in all races, including track and ekiden, since the Hakone Ekiden (7th place in Section 2) in his sophomore year. The person who pushed Tazawa the most was Kotaro Kondo (Seigaku University 4), who was close to 1 second behind in the Izumo 3rd district this year, when Tazawa was in poor physical condition. The two are competing four times in a row in the Student Ekiden. This time, the clash in the second ward of flowers is intense, and will Tazawa be able to win and escape?
Pay attention to the director’s “calling”
Hiroaki Oyagi of Koma University and Susumu Hara of Seigaku University, the commanders of rival schools competing for the championship, have quite different characters. During the race, the voices from the operation management car to the athletes are also different. Manager Oyagi said, “It’s a man!” Hara’s style is to raise the spirits of the athletes by yelling “Good!” when the athletes respond to the cheering along the road.
There is also a secret in the management vehicle that the commanders board during the race. You may have an image that you are talking freely, but it is decided to be “1 minute” at the timing of 1, 3, 5, 10, 15 km, remaining 3 km, remaining 1 km. The placement of the 21 teams will change according to their ranking. The vehicle is provided by Toyota Motor Corporation, which sponsors the Hakone Ekiden. Instructors from the driving school with which the company is affiliated act as drivers, so no matter how hot the commanders get, of course, drive safely.