[Hakone Ekiden] Announcement tomorrow! Section entries and highlights for this year’s record-seeking tournament.

The section entry for the 102nd Hakone Ekiden will finally take place on December 29, 2025. While there are rules for changes on the day, which athletes will come for which sections? In this year's competition, where awareness of records is felt even more than usual, I would like to focus on three sections: the 2nd, 5th, and 9th.

In a competition aiming for records, where does the battle begin?

The 102nd Tokyo-Hakone Round Trip University Ekiden, commonly known as the Hakone Ekiden. This year, it seems that the "record" will be more strongly emphasized than in previous years.

Will Aoyama Gakuin University achieve a three-peat? Will Komazawa University reclaim the throne? Is there hope for Kokugakuin University to achieve its first championship? A fierce competition with multiple championship scenarios is anticipated. The background behind this is the view that many universities are adopting a race strategy focused on records.

As the analysis of strengths and championship predictions are already taking shape, let's organize three perspectives to enjoy this year's Hakone Ekiden while paying attention to the moment when the race actually begins to unfold.

Highlight 1: The 2nd section's "Determination to Challenge the Record" will change the flow

In this year's Hakone Ekiden, the 2nd section is where the atmosphere of the race is likely to change first. This section, which is traditionally called the "Flower Section," is now more infused with the determination to aim for records rather than just spectacle.

At the center of this is Aoyama Gakuin University's captain, Asahi Kuroda. Until now, in the 2nd section, he has deliberately avoided referring to records, stating, "I'll give my 100% at that moment." However, in this tournament, which will be his last run in Hakone, his stance has clearly changed with the declaration, "I want to aim for a new section record."

The uphill slope waiting in the latter half of the 2nd section is not only physically demanding, but it is also a tricky spot that can easily disrupt rhythm. Kuroda has achieved six consecutive victories in the university's uphill time trials, demonstrating a reproducibility that allows him to maintain pace without slowing down on climbs. From his words, "I want to achieve a time that won’t be broken for a while," one can clearly sense his strong willingness to challenge records if conditions are right, beyond just mere enthusiasm.

On the other hand, it's not just Aoyama Gakuin University that sees the second segment as a competitive zone. Komazawa University has also made it public that their key athletes are hoping to run the second segment. Among them, Keiita Sato, who set a sectional record in the last tournament, expressed, “I want to create momentum for the team by running,” and wishes to face off against the aces from other schools directly.

As of this writing, who will run which segment has not been officially announced. The segment entries (10 official runners and 6 substitutes) will be revealed on December 29. Until then, it's merely a stage of hopes and strategies.

If it comes to a showdown between the aces of Aoyama Gakuin University and Komazawa University in the second segment, the outcome will serve as a signal indicating “which team is truly aggressive in this tournament,” beyond just the rankings. The second segment of the 102nd Hakone Ekiden should be noted as a quiet turning point where the challenge for records will directly influence the overall flow of the tournament…<

Highlight ② The fifth segment tests “reading power” more than leg strength

The fifth segment of the Hakone Ekiden is a mountain climb that runs 20.8km from the Odawara relay station to Lake Ashi. It's not merely a section that competes on “mountain strength,” but rather focuses on the accuracy of “understanding the course and running as anticipated,” which will be more important in this tournament.

A symbolic figure of this is Shinsaku Kudo from Waseda University. He has been entrusted with the mountain climb for two consecutive years, known by the nickname “Mountain Master Detective.” His style of memorizing changes in slope, wind patterns, and points where leg strength is depleted, while making adjustments during the run, showcases a different strength than one reliant solely on instincts.<

The origin of his nickname is also striking. It became established naturally as it resembles the name of the protagonist from the popular manga “Detective Conan,” Shinichi Kudo, along with the fact that he dons glasses during the race. His running style, memorizing the ups and downs of the course and progressing as if solving each puzzle, truly fits his nickname.<

Shinsaku Kudo has proven achievements, finishing sixth in the segment in his first year and second in his second year, improving his ranking with experience. Furthermore, this season in the All Japan University Ekiden, he updated the best time for a Japanese runner in the eighth segment, a record unbroken for 30 years. His desire to run the fifth segment despite already achieving results on flat ground illustrates the nature of this segment.

Kudo’s insistence on the mountain stems from his future ambition to challenge in marathons. He positions the fifth segment of Hakone not merely as a section competition but as a practical stage to advance to the next level.

In this tournament, where many teams are aiming for record-breaking, even a slight judgment error in the 5th section can lead to significant deceleration. That's why in the 102nd edition, the climb at the 5th section will emphasize preparation and understanding over speed. It's important to focus on whether or not a runner can "read the situation," rather than just their physical strength, as this quietly creates a difference.

Highlights ③ The 9th section is not the final ace; the weight of one second can create a major turnaround.

One of the sections in the Hakone Ekiden where the most drama has unfolded is the 9th section, which runs from the Totsuka relay station to the Tsurumi relay station. The competition for victory and seed rights shifts dramatically, with numerous moments of major turnarounds occurring at the Tsurumi relay station.

This 9th section is the longest of the return trip at 23.1 km. In addition to the distance, the course characteristics that lead into the urban area from Yokohama make this section prone to being influenced by cheers along the route and movements around you. Here, the ability to manage how well you can maintain your own running pace is a key focus.

The essence of this section is best represented by the recent battles of Juntendo University. In the 2024 Hakone Ekiden qualifying round, they qualified for the main event in 10th place, just 1 second behind 11th place. In the main race, they finished 11th, falling 7 seconds short of the 10th place seed zone. For Juntendo University, 2024 has truly become a year where they keenly felt the "weight of one second."

The embodiment of that frustration is represented by Daisuke Ishioka, who ran the 9th section. Despite facing tough situations repeatedly, he steadily closed the gap with those ahead and maintained his resilience, holding value beyond just position. As Coach Shunsuke Nagamoto stated, "I am convinced he is a man who can truly perform," the 9th section is also where a runner's essence is most exposed.

In this tournament, the capabilities are evenly matched. By the time many teams reach the 9th section, the likelihood of a critical gap is high. At that moment, the 9th section will not be a "section to determine the outcome" but rather one to avoid breaking the competitive spirit.

For teams vying for a qualifying position, avoiding a delayed start (when more than 20 minutes behind the leader) is the top priority. For teams aiming for victory, it is also crucial to earn time reliably here. This is a section where aggressive judgment is accumulated down to the second.

Looking at the registered members, powerhouse schools such as Aoyama Gakuin University, Komazawa University, Kokugakuin University, and Chuo University have all prepared impeccable line-ups. However, what's required in the 9th section is not being the "face of the team" or the "final ace." What is needed are athletes who can read the situation and run without losing a single second.

As Aoyama Gakuin University coach Shin Hara says, "There is no significant power difference among the top four" in this tournament. Therefore, the outcome of the 102nd Hakone Ekiden may be determined not in the flashy sections, but rather in the quietly enduring 9th section. Laughing at a second lost, crying over seven seconds. Because there are teams that understand this reality, the 9th section can again become a stage for a stunning turnaround this year.

In a year aiming for records, the Hakone will be decided by "quiet judgments."

While the Hakone Ekiden is a competition of speed, it is not simply a tournament where the fastest athlete wins. Each team aims to "target records," making the race fast from the beginning, and at the same time, each judgment weighs heavily on the teams. In the 2nd section, the resolve to challenge the record creates the flow, in the 5th section, preparation and understanding connect the flow, and in the 9th section, the ability to endure will influence the final results.

Not just flashy comebacks or dramatic anchors, but whether to attack, hold back, or aim for that second. The accumulation of these quiet choices will be one of the highlights of the 102nd Hakone Ekiden. The official announcement of the section entries will be on December 29. When it becomes clear who will run where, if you watch with these three perspectives, the Hakone route will appear more three-dimensional than ever before.

The 102nd Hakone Ekiden seems likely to be a match to savor from an adult perspective.

Reporting/Article by SYURI