Ekiden season

Every year, my family and I watch at least one of the "ekiden" aired on television in January. I am very interested in the evolution of "ekiden", the name in particular had me curious. My husband, who was born and bred in Japan, was able to fill me in on quite a bit. But like me, although we both understand the meaning of "ekiden", he wasn't entirely sure why the event is called "ekiden". So I did a bit of research on it!

Ekiden (駅伝) is a long‑distance relay race where teams of runners run a section of a course each. They pass a cloth sash, called a tasuki, instead of a baton from one team member to the other at the allocated course cross over points. In Japan, it’s not just a sporting event but a cultural event and New Year tradition. The most famous ekiden is the Hakone Ekiden where University students run a 217.1 kilometre relay on January 2nd and 3rd annually. There are also ekiden for schools, workplaces and mixed races too. Right now, the nationwide girls ekiden is live on television, where girls of high school level compete for their prefecture. 

Ekiden means to transmit messages between stations. Eki 駅 means station and den 伝 to transmit. Historically, ekiden referred to the post horse and courier relay system used from ancient times. Messengers traveled between government “stations,” switching horses or runners at each stop to carry official communications efficiently. An internet search revealed the reason the current relay race is called ekiden is because a poet, Toki Zenmaro, who was working for the Yoimiuri Shinbun at the time, suggested it as the name for the very first ekiden in 1917. Reportedly, he chose the term to evoke the idea of passing messages from station to station, just as runners pass the tasuki sash today.

Do you watch ekiden? Have you ever known anyone running in any of the ekiden? There is a family of runners in our town and between they have run in various ekiden. Its always more exciting for us when one of them is running. Right now I am watching the girls ekiden live. I don't know anyone personally running, but I am egging Saitama's team on! I don't think they will finish in the top ten, but I will still cheer them on.