100th Hakone Ekiden: Juntendo University’s Miura and Fujiwara on Track for Success

Special feature: 100th Hakone Ekiden

Shinichi Uehara

2023/12/25

(Final update: 2023/12/25)

Juntendo University’s Miura ran in the second section of the last Hakone Ekiden for the second time in a row (Photo by Misa Fujii)

Juntendo University, whose goal is to finish within 5th place overall in the Hakone Ekiden, has two captains. Ryuji Miura (4th year, Rakunan), who is a leading 3000m steeplechase (SC) and finished 6th in the World Athletics Championships in 2023, and Yuki Fujiwara (4th year, Mizushima Kogyo), who took the position at the invitation of Miura. is. The two, who are working hard to build the team as co-captains, are determined to lead the team even when they run on the school’s final big stage.

[Special Feature]100th Hakone Ekiden

Yuma Nishizawa was moved by his appointment as captain

“He has changed a lot since becoming captain. I think he has grown.”

Director Shunsuke Nagato has this to say about Miura: Until his third year, he had the image of a “solitary person” who stoically went his own way.

Originally, he was an athlete who led the track and field club with his outstanding running ability. This season, in June, he broke his own Japanese record in the 3000mSC at the Diamond League Paris Games (8 minutes 9.91 seconds). At the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary in August, he became the first Japanese athlete to finish in 6th place. Having Miura competing on the world stage has been a great inspiration to the entire club.

Became the first Japanese athlete to finish 6th in the men’s 3000m SC at the 2023 World Athletics Championships (Photo by Hikaru Uchida)

He has handled the difficult transition from track to road every year since entering the school. With a short preparation period and in line with the Ekiden season, he was in charge of the 1st ward in Hakone during his first year, and the “Flower 2nd ward”, the ace section, during his second and third years. Miura has been carrying high expectations not only for track races but also for relay races.

On the other hand, Miura reveals about himself in the past, “I was the type of person who didn’t have much interaction with my juniors.I had no experience as a captain in junior high or high school, and I had no intention of becoming a captain until my third year.”

What moved Miura’s heart was the leadership of last year’s five main fourth-year students, known as the “Reiwa Quintet.” In particular, former captain Yuma Nishizawa (currently of Toyota Boshoku) stands out.

“I won’t be able to be like Mr. Nishizawa, but I want to be as close as possible, and I want to be a captain that inspires my juniors to do their best, too.”

Miura expresses his enthusiasm at a press conference for the Hakone Ekiden (Photo by Shinichi Uehara)

In the bathroom of the dormitory, he told Daito Yoshioka to “be confident”

After becoming captain, he focused on the team as a whole and began actively exchanging words with the first-year students. Takuto Aramaki (Kaishin), who is aiming to balance track and road work with Miura as a model, says, “I get approached often. (At the university level) I’m happy to be cared for by Mr. Miura, who is on a different level.” His expression softens.

In the same year, Yoshioka Daisho (Saku Chosei), who was assigned the 1st ward at Izumo and the 3rd ward at All Japan while still a rookie, shared this anecdote with Miura.

Yoshioka set the boys’ 5000m high school record (13 minutes 22.99 seconds) in his third year of high school and passed through the gates of Juntendo University with much fanfare. However, he confesses, “Actually, I was depressed after All Japan because neither Izumo nor All Japan could live up to my expectations.” Although he participated in both races as his only one year, he only finished 11th in the section and 14th in the same race.

At that time, Miura, who happened to be with me in the dormitory bathroom, told me, “Yoshioka, you’re stronger than you were in high school.Even if it doesn’t show in your results, there’s something inside.Be confident.” “The encouragement from Mr. Miura, who is competing all over the world, gave me the opportunity to get back on my feet.”

Miura also feels that becoming captain has had a positive effect on himself. “I feel like my horizons have expanded. I think it will definitely be a great experience for my future career as an athlete.”

At this year’s All Japan event, a sash relay from Miura to Yoshioka was seen (Photo by Koichiro Yoshida)

“Friends who share your thoughts can only be obtained during student days.”

“In the relay race, there are many friends who share the same thoughts. You can only get that kind of feeling during your student days,” says Miura. Now that he has become captain, he seems to be realizing the value of what relay races bring.

Director Nagato said that the time when he felt Miura’s “change” most was right after the All-Japan race, where he finished 11th.

“He lost the seeding right, which he desperately wanted to protect for the sake of his juniors, and he showed his frustration.This is the first time I’ve seen Miura like that.I think it’s because of his sense of responsibility as captain.I think he’s changed. Miura has a big stage coming up next year, the Paris Olympics, but I can feel that he is more of a team than anything else.”

Seeing his regret, Coach Nagato was confident that he would lead the way in Hakone. “I want him to run with the passion that lies within him.”

Director Nagato talks about his aims and strategies at a press conference for the Hakone Ekiden (cinematography by Shinichi Uehara)

Of course, Miura has that intention as well. In the past at Hakone, my records were 10th, 11th, and 12th in the section. At this year’s All Japan, he only finished 8th in the section. That’s why, even as a contestant, I’m making my final stop at Hakone.

“At Hakone so far, I often hear people say, “I guess I haven’t been able to give as much as I could at the track.”This year’s All Japan was also disappointing. It was a rewarding experience for me, and all my experience in the Ekiden has been useful.I want to run a culminating race in Hakone.”

Partner Yuki Fujiwara complements the strength of her seniors with her “listening skills”

Fujiwara is leading the team as co-captain along with Miura. He has now become a full-fledged captain. However, he says that when deciding on a new captain, he did not draw a blueprint for himself to become captain.

“Miura told me, “Let’s do it together.”

Miura’s main sport is trucks until the Ekiden season. He often participates in races overseas, and is absent during important summer training camps. On the other hand, there are some athletes who have been working towards the Ekiden all year long, and there was a need for someone to bring them together.

“When I was chosen as co-captain, Miura and I talked about “Let’s create a team with good communication, and let’s create an atmosphere where everyone can express their opinions regardless of grade.”

Fujiwara, who is co-captain with Miura this season (photographed by Shinichi Uehara)

Fujiwara also decided on his own direction as captain. If Miura is going to lead Juntendo University as a symbol, he wants to work with everyone to improve each other. However, he reflects, “I wasn’t able to fulfill my role as captain for a while.”

“My sense of responsibility as a captain was wasting my sense of responsibility.I prioritized paying attention to those around me, but I wasn’t able to adjust my condition properly.Also, I didn’t have Miura’s competitive ability. There were times when I didn’t have confidence as a leader because I didn’t have any.”

However, little by little, he established his own style and demonstrated his “communication skills” even at summer training camp when Miura was not present. The two captains have different communication methods. Miura creates a good atmosphere for the team by communicating by calling out to others, but Fujiwara listens to what others have to say, making use of his unique listening ability.

True leadership is tested when running

Fujiwara also feels that becoming captain has led to his personal growth. On the other hand, like Miura, he believes that his true leadership as a captain is tested when he runs. Although he made his first start at Hakone last time, he did not perform well, finishing 16th in the 9th ward, dropping two places.

“Since it was my first time, I was so excited… This year, I wasn’t feeling well and couldn’t run in Izumo or All Japan. With that regret in mind, I want to run in the same 9th ward in Hakone. 68 minutes 40 minutes. I plan to run tenaciously and not give up, aiming for seconds.”

Position changes people and develops them. In Hakone, the two players, who have grown through their roles as co-captains, will demonstrate even more leadership.

Last time in Hakone, Fujiwara ran in the 9th ward and tied the sash to last year’s captain Nishizawa (Photo by Naoki Kitagawa)

2023-12-25 08:06:24

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