News On Japan

Thousands Take On Grueling Uphill Sprint in Japan

SAPPORO, May 18 (News On Japan) - The "Red Bull 400," billed as the world's toughest 400-meter race, was held on May 17th at the Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium in Sapporo. The venue, known for hosting international ski jumping competitions, challenged participants to climb a 37-degree slope under intense physical strain.

The race, which tests runners over a 400-meter course with a 130-meter elevation gain from the base to the top, marked its eighth edition this year. A record 1,798 participants took part, competing in individual men’s and women’s divisions as well as mixed four-person relay teams. Many struggled up the steep incline with pained expressions, striving to reach the finish line.

Among them was Kahori Murakami from Sapporo, who participated for the third time alongside her husband. Reflecting on the race, she said, "I was overwhelmed by the constant cheers and was moved to tears." Yasunobu Taneichi, an office worker from Hakodate, joined with eight exercise companions. Completing the course on his first try, he smiled and said, "I felt a huge sense of accomplishment. The view of Sapporo from the finish line was beautiful."

Source: 産経ニュース

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

The Emperor, Empress, and their daughter Princess Aiko visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Memorial Hall in Sumida Ward on Thursday afternoon, marking their first visit to the site as Japan observes the 80th year since the end of World War II. They were greeted upon arrival by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and other officials.

The Kofu Local Meteorological Observatory announced on October 23rd that the season’s first snow had been observed on Mount Fuji, which stands 3,776 meters tall. Around 6 a.m., an official visually confirmed that snow had clearly accumulated near the summit.

After nearly a decade of construction, the newly rebuilt Haneda Line of the Metropolitan Expressway, one of Tokyo’s key arteries linking the city center with Haneda Airport, has been unveiled to the media ahead of its official switch to a new road on October 29th.

The newly launched Takaichi Cabinet moved into full operation on October 22nd, with early personnel decisions revealing a clear conservative tone. Satsuki Katayama was appointed as finance minister and Kimi Onoda as minister in charge of foreign resident policy, underscoring what observers are calling the emergence of a distinct “Takaichi color.”

Authorities in Shiraoi, Hokkaido, have begun culling approximately 460,000 laying hens after a poultry farm in the region’s Iburi area confirmed infections of highly pathogenic avian influenza, marking the first confirmed outbreak of the season in Japan.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Sports NEWS

Baseball legend Sadaharu Oh, 85, chairman of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, has been awarded this year’s Order of Culture, while voice actress Masako Nozawa, 88, known for voicing the protagonist Son Goku in the anime "Dragon Ball," has been named a Person of Cultural Merit — the first voice actor ever to receive the distinction.

The first grand sumo tournament in London in 34 years opened on October 15th, transforming the iconic Royal Albert Hall into a little corner of Japan and drawing more than 5,400 spectators for a spectacular night of traditional wrestling.

Two yokozuna preparing for a special sumo exhibition in London spent the day exploring the city’s famous landmarks before the event’s opening.

Preparations for the first Grand Sumo performance in London in 34 years were shown to the media on October 13th, as workers began building the dohyo using soil sourced from within the United Kingdom.

Dozens of self-proclaimed ninjas from across Japan gathered in the city of Koka, Shiga Prefecture, known as one of the historic homes of the shinobi, to compete in a unique national championship testing their stealth, agility, and skill.

People who belonged to a school sports club or athletic circle are significantly more likely to maintain regular exercise habits after graduation than those who did not, according to a new survey by the Japan Sports Agency.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) is set to acquire the naming rights to Japan’s National Stadium starting in January 2026, according to sources familiar with the matter.

A special event was held at the Osaka-Kansai Expo venue where visitors could experience a professional basketball game broadcast in real time using advanced technology.