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What’s “Man” Got to Do With It? Challenging Gender Stereotypes in Ekiden

jeremy kuhles

Updated: May 24, 2023


I'm a big fan of Ekiden, the long-distance relay road racing born out of Japan. The blend of rich tradition with constantly shifting dynamics as ultra-fast runners battle it out over grueling distances at eye-watering speeds is high drama. As a keen runner, watching these elite athletes empty the tank for themselves and their teams is hugely inspiring.


Perhaps the most famous race is the Hakone Ekiden, held on the 2nd and 3rd of January every year, where teams of gazelle-like University students bound from central Tokyo to the base of Mt. Fuji — and then back again — living out their athletic dreams over 220 kilometers on the grandest of stages.


During the race, Ekiden team managers ride behind in boxy people carriers equipped with loudspeakers to urge their steeds on. And while these barks of encouragement can be quite heartfelt and emotional, there is an element that has always grated with me — the tendency to use phrases like "男だろ!" meaning, "You're a man!" or, depending on the nuance, "You're a man, aren't you!?"


I deeply question the psychology of using an outdated gender stereotype to encourage someone to dig into their deepest physical and mental reserves.

In a recent Q&A interview for Sports Graphic Number magazine, Hiroaki Oyagi, the team manager of Ekiden powerhouse Komazawa University, discussed this aspect in response to a woman athlete's question about how he would motivate the women's team. Oyagi's approach involves tapping into the unique characteristics of his team members and adjusting his language accordingly. He illustrates this with an example involving Ren Tazawa, the Japanese 10,000-meter speedster. Recognizing that Tazawa had recently experienced a challenging period due to contracting coronavirus, Oyagi refrained from using phrases like "You're a man" on that occasion as that would fail to resonate with Tazawa's circumstances. Instead, he provided encouragement by expressing his belief in Tazawa's abilities and urging him to persevere by stating, " I believe in you."


While I respect Oyagi's approach, I still deeply question the psychology of using an outdated gender stereotype in any situation to encourage someone to dig into their deepest physical and mental reserves. With a race that plays out in front of millions of spectators across Japan, I hope we start to see a greater shift away from gender-based encouragement and, for the benefit of society and mental health, a move towards celebrating these very talented athletes as individuals.


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