On March 16, 2025, history was made as the ACN Expo Ekiden took place at the Expo Memorial Park, running from the park to the Osaka/Kansai Expo venue. This event marked the first time ever where corporate teams competed against top university teams.
Among the participants was Aoyama Gakuin University, which had previously dominated the Hakone Ekiden, managing to secure the overall title consecutively this year. Unfortunately for them, the team finished this race at 7th place, clocking 2 hours, 35 minutes, and 58 seconds, trailing the winning team, Toyota Motor, by 3 minutes and 10 seconds.
Director Hara of Aoyama Gakuin issued a bold "Wanpaku Strategy" for the event. Early on, the team's runner, Yuzuki Hatakawa, came through to keep them competitive, finishing third in the first section. Hara had previously expressed his discontent with corporate teams' dominance, stating, "I’m not such a bad guy by nature. I deliberately say provocative things to gain media attention. If the ratings increase, the sponsors will get excited, leading to increased interest for the event next year." His comments exemplified his strategy to push for greater media exposure for the ekiden race.
After the marathon race finished, Director Hara conveyed, “It was really enjoyable. I would like to express my gratitude for being able to hold this event. Running right down the middle of Midosuji was quite the experience.” He also rated his strategy, saying, “I’d say the ‘Wanpaku Strategy’ received about 50% efficacy. I would’ve liked to see bolder risks.”
Finishing behind Toyota Motor, who took home the championship belt with strong performances throughout, were the teams from Fujitsu, Kokugakuin University, Teikyo University, and GMO Internet Group, respectively. With Aoyama Gakuin finishing seventh, behind teams like Keio University and Logistics, the results revealed the stiff competition and positioning of university teams against long-established corporate teams.
Post-race analysis indicated the impact of the director's comments and strategies, particularly with regard to promoting university teams’ strengths against corporate rivals. Hara insisted, “This should not be merely a one-off event; we need consistency to promote the sport nationwide,” highlighting both the competitive spirit and the community’s interest at play.
Emphasizing the harsh realities of competition, the director pointed out lackluster performances, particularly from his team who fell back sequentially during the race due to various runners' time lapses. Aoyama Gakuin slipped from the 4th to 8th place during sections 4 and 5, unable to reclaim footing thereafter as competitors surged forward. “I hope we can build on this experience for next year and raise the bar,” Hara stated.
The champion’s belt was presented to Toyota Motor, whose team, spearheaded by Daigo Yoshii, showcased outstanding consistency and speed across the sections. Yoshii, reflecting on the competition, commented, “I was feeling the pressure, wondering what would happen if we lost. Thankfully, we managed to secure the section prize too and achieve victory.”
This monumental race also marked another notable occurrence—Aoyama Gakuin University dealing with the influx of student athletes facing the formidable corporate contenders for the first time. Hara remarked on the importance of this exposure as experience for university runners, creating greater interest from youth athletes to engage with community-based competitions.
While multiple teams showcased their potential including Fujitsu, whose Kazuyoshi Shiojiri, the national record holder, displayed strong efforts to propel his squad upwards through various sections, they eventually secured second place, reaffirming their competitive prowess. Relevantly, the races also featured significant milestones like the deepening rivalry between university and corporate teams, eagerly awaited to progress with future iterations and potentially re-establish team dynamics.
The Tokyo Metropolitan team selection also saw significant achievements on the same day. Rio Nishigori and Kazuya Sato emerged as victors in their respective judo competitions, and there were reported incidents involving curling matches where Japan triumphed against strong competitors.
Reflecting on the day's outcomes, Hara shared, “We need to develop this format to attract larger audiences and potential sponsorship opportunities. This will not only benefit our teams but also ignite the interest of future athletes within the ekiden framework.”
All considered, the trailblazing ACN Expo Ekiden of 2025 has opened up new avenues for competitive running among teams, not just as isolated athletics but as communal sporting events to captivate generations. With media attention imminent for the coming years, it remains to be seen how this will reshape relationships between corporate and university factions within the sport.