The Hakone Ekiden and Keio University

2021/02/27

Image: Mr. Masamichi Kitamoto's Hakone Ekiden stage record medal (1931) (Donated by Mr. Masatoshi Kitamoto, collection of the Keio University Fukuzawa Memorial Center for Modern Japanese Studies)

In January 2021, at the 97th Hakone Ekiden, Kei Sugiura of the Juku Track and Field Team ran vigorously in Section 5 of the outbound leg as the captain of the Kanto Student Union team. This was the first time in three years that Keio students participated in the Hakone Ekiden, following Kenichi Kameda in the 81st and 82nd races and Yuta Negishi in the 94th race as part of the Kanto Student Union Select/Student Union teams. Unfortunately, the university has been away from competing as a team for more than a quarter of a century; the most recent three appearances were the 70th (1994), 60th (1984), and 50th (1974) races, all of which had expanded entry quotas.

The Hakone Ekiden was planned based on an idea by Shiso Kanakuri, whose name became widely known through the NHK Taiga drama "Idaten," and the first race was held in February 1920. The four participating schools were Waseda, Meiji, Tokyo Higher Normal School (now the University of Tsukuba), and Keio. There were almost no spectators along the route; the race started at 1:00 p.m., and the sun set during Section 4. In the darkness, while managers accompanying on bicycles bought lanterns and local youth groups held up torches, Kenzo Futaki, who was also the captain of the Mountaineering Club, ran Section 5 and reached the finish line of the outbound leg in 4th place just before 10:00 p.m. It was a grueling race that started before dawn the next day as well, and Keio finished 4th overall in its debut.

Since then, Keio participated in 18 of the 22 races held before the war and 12 races after the war (including 6 since the start of the qualifying trials in 1956), boasting a total of 30 appearances. In fact, there were many years when the school chose not to participate rather than failing the qualifiers, based on the judgment that excessive road racing in winter would adversely affect the track and field season.

The golden age of the Juku Track and Field Team at Hakone was likely the period when it produced middle- and long-distance runners such as Seiichiro Tsuda, Masamichi Kitamoto, Shoichiro Takenaka, and Tetsuo Imai for three Olympic Games: Amsterdam (1928), Los Angeles (1932), and Berlin (1936). Keio's only overall victory came in the 13th race in 1932, and Captain Kitamoto's run in Section 10 at that time is particularly legendary in the history of the Hakone Ekiden.

Anchor Kitamoto, who took over the light blue Keio sash (described as "green" at the time) in 3rd place, 6 minutes and 29 seconds behind the leader, first caught Waseda near Rokugo Bridge to move into 2nd place. He then fiercely pursued the leading Nihon University, finally overtaking them in front of Shiba Zojoji Temple to secure the victory. In 2021, Komazawa University's run in Section 10, which overturned a gap of more than three minutes against Soka University, was reported as the first such comeback since this dramatic reversal 89 years ago.

The Juku Track and Field Team is not only expected to participate in and win at Hakone but is also required to compete in a manner befitting Keio University. The Keio Gijuku Shachu quietly and fervently hopes for the day when they will overcome difficulties twice as great as those of other schools and break the finish line tape in Otemachi.

(Takeyuki Tokura, Associate Professor, Keio University Fukuzawa Memorial Center for Modern Japanese Studies)