With the dust settled on the Hakone Ekiden 2025, the morning papers are splashed with the distinctive fresh green of Aoyama Gakuin University. One headline stands out: やっぱり箱根は青学 ("Inevitably, Hakone is all about Aoyama").
This title is slightly disingenuous on first reading, given that this year's race was billed as a showdown among the three powerhouse schools: Aoyama, Komazawa, and Kokugakuin. No one could confidently predict a winner leading up to the big dance in Hakone. Well, almost no one.
Aoyama's head coach, Susumu Hara, boldly declared that despite his team's third-place finishes in the season's other major Ekidens — Izumo and All Japan — Aoyama had the team to win Hakone. Even after a crushing moment at All Japan, when Komazawa's Takuma Yamakawa overtook Aoyama's runner with just a few hundred meters to go and snatching second place, Hara maintained his confidence.
His team delivered, securing their eighth win in 11 years. So, what is it about Aoyama Gakuin that makes them nearly unbeatable in this iconic race?
Culture and Accountability
We can find a significant clue to understanding Aoyama's dominance in a video that emerged online in January 2023, after the team finished third in Hakone. In it, we see a tense meeting at Aoyama headquarters, capturing a quiet, almost somber gathering. Hara asked the team to lay out the prizes. Usually, as in 2025, the tables would groan under trophies for victories on both days and individual awards for the fastest stage performances. However, in 2023, there was just one lonely trophy — awarded to fourth-year runner Hironori Kishimoto for the speediest ninth-stage performance.
Hara's reaction was pointed: “Is that it?”
He felt that the 2023 lack of success could be attributed to the fact that the Aoyama spirit and culture were not being passed down effectively, and he demanded improvement. This moment highlights the importance of culture within Aoyama's squad. While culture is critical for any team, perhaps Aoyama’s ability to internalize and act on this feedback sets them apart.
All Roads Lead to Hakone
Fast forward to January 2025, and insights from Aoyama Gakuin legend Daichi Kamino, the third-generation 山の神 ("Mountain God") — a rarefied group of athletes who achieve success on the mountain stage — provide a deeper understanding. Kamino remarked in a podcast a few days before the 2025 event that 青山学院大学は箱根駅伝が全て ("For Aoyama Gakuin, Hakone is everything"). Unlike other teams, Aoyama tailors their entire year's practices toward excelling in Hakone.
Hara's unorthodox approach is another factor. In an interview in the magazine Sports Graphic Number in January 2024, Hara threw some shade — politely, it's Japan after all — at arch-rival school Komazawa, questioning the logic of pushing their top three runners to achieve collegiate records in the 10,000 meters just weeks before Hakone as he explained, "27分台はレース前に練習量を落とし、調子を合わせないと出ないタイムです" ("To run 27 minutes, you need to reduce your training volume and peak for the race"). While impressive on the track, this focus on short-term goals may not translate to success in the grueling 20-kilometer stages of Hakone. While those athletes set incredible times, Aoyama ultimately triumphed at Hakone, denying Komazawa their second consecutive triple crown.
Hara's willingness to challenge tradition is evident in his view of the second stage — long considered the ace's domain. Hara doesn't believe in this conventional approach, favoring strategies that emphasize the team’s collective strength.
The Mountain Factor
Kamino’s podcast insight further highlighted that while the three powerhouse schools are evenly matched on flat courses, 山を制する者が箱根を制す (“The one who conquers the mountain conquers Hakone”). This proved prophetic. This year, Aoyama dominated the notorious 5th mountain stage on Day One and shattered records on the downhill 6th stage on Day Two, thanks to Akimu Nomura’s awe-inspiring performance. From the seventh stage onward, the race felt academic, with Aoyama’s victory all but secured.
The Bigger Picture
While Aoyama's focus on Hakone is unmatched, it's worth considering Kamino's observation about the school's lack of Olympians. Despite dominating Hakone, Aoyama has produced no Olympians in the cycle of the past two Games. Does this singular focus on Hakone come at a cost to individual athletes? Perhaps. But as the team crossed the finish line in Otemachi, claiming another overall victory, it’s hard to argue with the results. For Aoyama Gakuin, Hakone isn’t just a race — it’s a way of life.
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