Looking at the interviewees for this special interview project by Isetan Sports Gate, any "Hakone Ekiden expert" will be so impressed that they'll want to share the article, exclaiming, "Wow, Hosei's Fukushima and Tago are at Mitsukoshi Isetan!" Hosted by Isetan Sports Gate's Assistant Sales Manager Ugo, they will discuss "the real Hakone Ekiden" over three installments, together with Toshiyuki Aono of On Japan, who ran the 10th leg during his fourth year at Kokugakuin University.
[Series] "Marathon Challenge" All back issues can be found here.

Interviewee Profiles: Left/Yuki Tago (Joined the company in 2014, Assistant Sales Manager, Golf, Sports, Travel Bags, Active Sports, 4th Floor, Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Main Store)

After graduating from Iwaki Sogo High School (Fukushima Prefecture), he attended Hosei University. He participated in the Hakone Ekiden twice as a member of the track and field club. In the 88th Hakone Ekiden (2012), he competed as part of the university federation's select team and ran the 6th leg. In the 90th Hakone Ekiden, he served as captain and again ran the 6th leg, breaking away from the group at the mass start and finishing 7th in his section. The team finished 11th overall. 90th Hakone Ekiden (2014), 6th leg: 1 hour 00 minutes 18 seconds

Center: Toshiyuki Aono (Kokugakuin University graduate, affiliated with On Japan)

A graduate of Kokugakuin Kugayama High School (Tokyo) and Kokugakuin University, currently affiliated with On Japan. Also serves as a coach for the "Isetan Sports Gate Marathon Challenge". 82nd edition (2006): Section 10, 1 hour 15 minutes 37 seconds

Right: Narihiro Fukushima (Joined the company in 2010; Assistant Sales Manager, Men's Clothing, Goods, Shoes, and Accessories, 1st and 2nd Floors, Main Building, Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Main Store)

After graduating from Hozen High School (Tokyo), he attended Hosei University. He participated in the Hakone Ekiden twice as a member of the track and field club. In his final year, he was appointed captain, and after a two-year absence, he led the team to victory in the qualifying round, finishing 11th and qualifying for the main race. His times were 1 hour 05 minutes 51 seconds in the 1st leg of the 84th Hakone Ekiden (2008) and 1 hour 15 minutes 19 seconds in the 9th leg of the 86th Hakone Ekiden (2010).

This is a must-see! Items related to each of the Hakone Ekiden races.

Ugo: First, before we begin the interview, I'd like you all to bring along some mementos of your time running in the Hakone Ekiden, so that we can recall your memories of that time.

Fukushima: I brought the Asics running shoes that I always wore during important matches when I was in my fourth year of high school.

Tago's shoes are still in great condition. Mine soles wear down after only 3 or 4 runs.

These are running shoes I bought in Fukushima , and I wore them for both the Hakone Ekiden qualifying race and the actual race. Putting them on always switches me into race mode. The color is red, my lucky color for competitions.

My uniform and sash are from the 2014, 90th tournament.

Aono , why is Tago-kun holding the sash?

After the Tago tournament, the coach gave me this as a thank you. I still look at it every day to get motivated before going to work.

Seeing a real cormorant cage really gets me excited!

Aono: I brought the uniform and bib number that only members of the Hakone Ekiden team receive.

I believe we received three Fukushima race bibs, including a spare.

Aono: That's right. We used safety pins to fasten them and ran around, didn't we? Those were the days!

Next, we'll hear from former participants about the reasons why the Hakone Ekiden has become a nationally popular sporting event.