On March 16, 2025, the ACN EXPO EKIDEN 2025 showcased the competitive spirit of both corporate and university teams as they raced over seven sections totaling approximately 55 kilometers, from Expo Memorial Park, the site of the 1970 Osaka Expo, to Yumeshima, where the 2025 Osaka/Kansai Expo will be held. This marks the first time university and corporate teams competed together, and Komazawa University emerged with notable achievements: it finished third among universities and sixth overall.
The race unfolded with Toyota Motor Corporation sealing the victory with a remarkable time of 2:32:48, followed closely by Fujitsu at 2:34:02, and Kokugakuin University at 2:34:18. Komazawa University’s time was noted at 2:35:50, highlighting their commendable performance against tough competition. After the race, team captain Yamakawa Takuma reflected on their strategy, stating they aimed for victory, focusing on collaboration and strong individual performances.
Starting strong, Ito Ryuei, representing the Political Science department and running for his third year, laid the groundwork during the first section, clocking in 25:02. He placed second overall and was instrumental for his team. Although he noted, "I ran on adrenaline, perhaps too much," he felt satisfied to end as the fastest among university participants during his section.
Moving to the second section, Yoshimoto Masaya, in his final university race, maintained good form but admitted he struggled toward the end, stating, "The last part was tough, and I wish to improve my stamina moving forward." The third section also saw strong performance from Yamakawa, who, trying to push his limits, said he was somewhat unprepared but handled it well. "I didn't plan to push hard for speed, but I ended up managing the best I could under the circumstances, learning much from the race," he shared.
Shirai Kota, who ran the fourth section, admitted to feeling the weight of the Komazawa uniform, expressing, "It felt heavy; I was lucky to be there and regret not making the most of my opportunity." Despite his struggles, he remained appreciative of the support from fans and teammates. Kuwata Kyosuke, the first-year runner, performed admirably, garnering attention for his aggressive strategy to attack from the start. He stated, "I succeeded early, but my pace dropped later. I need to work on my pacing for future races".
Kudo Shintaro, competing in the sixth section, was noticeably anxious but aimed to gain speed later. "I was nervous and didn’t execute my plan as expected, yet I gained insights from this experience." Lastly, Yasuhara Kaiharu, the second-year commerce student, shared about his mixed experience. He said, "I could have done much more, but I hope to prove myself stronger when the next track season starts." His goal remains to boost his speed and endurance.
Coach Toshifumi Fujita conveyed his mixed feelings about the race afterward, noting, "The runners at the front (1st, 3rd, 5th sections) did well, but we could not maintain momentum during the latter sections. We will accept this as feedback and work diligently on improving". He particularly highlighted Ito’s performance, stating, "His early leadership created the momentum we needed, and he executed our plan well. We need to build from here for future competitions. This isn’t the end, but rather, it’s part of our growth process." The entire team is now gearing up for the upcoming station—the Kanto Intercollegiate Championships—where they aim to showcase their true potential.
