Ekiden, the national running sport of Japan, is coming to the UK. Ekiden is formed from two Japanese words: Eki, meaning station, and Den, meaning to convey, translated as conveying something from station to station – a relay!

The original term had nothing to do with athletics or competition but the time-honoured Japanese tradition of the post-horse or stagecoach courier system, where communications were delivered over large distances by a series of horses and locally by men.

The first Ekiden race was a three-day, 23-stage run from Kyoto to Tokyo in 1917 to celebrate 50 years of Tokyo's establishment as Japan's capital (previously Kyoto). The event has become part of the sporting culture of Japan and the ceremonial item carried by competitors is a sash called the Tasuki.

The inaugural UK Ekiden, jointly sponsored by the Financial Times (FT) and Nikkei, will be held over a 10-stage course on the scenic Thames Path long-distance walking trail from Oxford to Windsor.

The Tasuki sash will be exchanged en route at Abingdon, Little Wittenham, Wallingford, Goring, Purley, Sonning, Henley, Marlow, and Maidenhead. Stage lengths range from 9.5K to 14.3K and the total distance covered will be 123.4K (76.7 miles).

Monday 24 June 2024 is the date for the first UK Ekiden, inspired by the world-famous Hakone Ekiden which celebrated its 100th event in January.

John Ridding, FT CEO, said: “The FT has been part of Nikkei Inc since 2015. In the spirit of cooperation and the success of our global alliance, we’re delighted to support this uniquely Japanese event as it debuts in the UK. It’s a wonderful opportunity to cement ties between our countries and cultures.”

Tsuyoshi Hasebe, President & CEO of Nikkei Inc., said: “The FT Nikkei UK Ekiden embodies the spirit of unity and shared success that characterises the close cooperation between Nikkei and the FT, and between Japan and the UK. It’s an honour for Nikkei to be a part of an historic event that will bridge distances through the universal language of sport.”

The inaugural UK Ekiden is fully subscribed with 21 teams and all the athlete's information is here.

Organisers hope this will be the first of many UK Ekiden Relays.

Photo of Windsor Castle by Unsplash via UK Ekiden website