Day one of the 2025 Hakone Ekiden was a stark reminder that fairytales rarely come true.
This was supposed to be Kokugakuin University's year. After triumphant wins in the Izumo Ekiden and the All Japan University Men's Ekiden, the stage seemed set for their crowning glory at Hakone. A victory here would have been the perfect send-off for their seniors. But, as always, the fresh-green challenge of Aoyama Gakuin University can never be underestimated. After a slow start by their standards, they used skill, strategy, and the brilliance of their coaching to rise through the field and take the lead during the iconic mountain stage and, ultimately, the race.
The sight of the bold red "C", the billowing white shorts, and the compact, smooth-running style transported us back to 2022.
The day began with fireworks as Chuo University's Shunsuke Yoshii launched an all-out solo attack on the 1st stage. His audacious run immediately put a significant gap between himself and the rest of the field. For spectators, it was a surreal moment of déjà vu. The sight of the bold red "C" on his chest, the billowing white shorts, and his compact, smooth-running style transported us back to 2022 when his older brother Yamato ran for Chuo in an almost identical manner, setting the current course record.
The sweetest moment came during the broadcast when Yamato, in the studio, spoke with Shunsuke after his run. Both giggled nervously, clearly unsure how to react to the attention.
Dreams unraveled on the infamous Totsuka Wall, a punishing incline that tests even the best.
The 2nd stage, as always, brought out the aces, showcasing many of Japan’s top university runners in what would be their final Hakone Ekiden. Among them, Waseda’s Tomonori Yamaguchi went out all guns blazing but ultimately paid the price, falling back after a bold start. His effort was emblematic of seniors striving to push their teams to victory, often at significant personal cost. Similarly, the captains and star runners from Kokugakuin University and Komazawa University may have buckled under the pressure. Their dreams unraveled on the infamous Totsuka Wall, a punishing incline that tests even the best.
Amidst the struggles of many, Tokyo International University's Richard Etir delivered a standout performance, overcoming years of misfortune that included a tumble in his first Hakone qualifiers and a stitch in the second. Gliding effortlessly through the field, he exuded calm as he casually checked his watch. The only hint of tension came with a quick glance over his shoulder to gauge how much ground Aoyama Gakuin had gained. Ultimately, Etir crushed the course record, delivering one of the performances of the day.
A master of steady execution, Kuroda systematically passed his competitors, bringing his team firmly back into contention.
The turning point came with Aoyama Gakuin's Asahi Kuroda. A master of steady execution, Kuroda systematically passed his competitors, bringing his team firmly back into contention. His decisive overtakes of Kokugakuin's Hirabayashi and Komazawa's Kotaro Shinohara signaled that Aoyama had seized control of the race.
From the 3rd stage onward, Aoyama began to tighten its grip. Chuo University, which led for most of the day, found itself methodically hunted down at well under sub-three-minute-per-kilometer pace. The connection between Aoyama's star runners, Masaya Tsurukawa and Aoi Ota, proved too strong, setting up mountain specialist Hiroki Wakabayashi for the decisive move. Wakabayashi overtook Chuo's runner early in the 5th stage and powered up the lung-busting slopes to secure the lead.
While the spotlight often shines on the seniors, it was the first and second-year students who delivered some of the day's memorable performances. Shunpei Yamaguchi of Waseda University was a prime example. His incredible 3rd-stage run propelled the perennial fifth-/sixth-place team into a well-deserved third by the end of the day.
So, onto Day Two. Can Aoyama maintain their lead and break the tape back in Otemachi? Or will Kokugakuin pull off a fairytale comeback and overcome their five-minute deficit? We'll have to wait and see. But if Day One has taught us anything, Hakone fairytales rarely come true.
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