Giving It Our All at the New Year Ekiden

Thriving in Both Career and Competition

The Hikari Manufacturing Site's Track & Field Team has earned a spot in the prestigious 69th All-Japan Corporate Team Ekiden Championships, marking their return to the race after a three-year hiatus. This will be their fourth time participating in this iconic event.

The team, composed of 11 dedicated members—including the coach—devotes time to their full-time roles in pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing alongside their passion for running. Each member comes from various departments at the Hikari site, working different shifts in areas such as API production, packaging, and inspections. Training together is a challenge, as they meet only once or twice a month, often using tracks at nearby schools like Hikari High School or Shunan University. Despite the difficulties, they maintain impressive performance by training independently, adapting their schedules to stay competitive.

The team’s journey to this achievement hasn’t been easy, especially after their last Ekiden race in 2022, where they finished 37th. Since then, they've participated in numerous races, achieving personal bests, awards, and race entries—all working toward their goal: qualifying for the New Year Ekiden. Now, in January 2025, their efforts have paid off with a well-earned return to the championship.

We spoke with the team’s coach, Hitoshi Matsufuji, who competed in both the 60th and 66th championships, and the team captain, Kotaro Motonaga, to hear their thoughts on the team's journey and future aspirations.

What do you think of the team’s results in the previous races? And what did you have to say to your team in light of the results?

(Hitoshi): The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on our team. Every member of our track and field team works full-time in roles essential to delivering medicines to patients in need. The last New Year Ekiden came soon after we had lifted a self-imposed suspension from competitions that lasted nearly a year and a half. This made it extremely challenging for us to perform at our best. Recognizing the need to be resilient and rebuild, we resolved to focus on strengthening our foundation, understanding that this process would take time.

As coach, I embraced the challenge of scouting talented runners from both new-graduate and mid-career candidates in the market. This was a particularly demanding process, as these individuals had to meet Takeda’s competitive academic and professional qualifications while also demonstrating athletic potential. In 2022 and 2023, I successfully brought two among new Takeda hires onto the team, both with track and field experience. While their initial performance levels were among the lowest on the team, their extraordinary determination and hard work enabled them to grow tremendously. Over time, they have developed into key contributors, playing a pivotal role in helping us qualify for the New Year Ekiden.

In addition to these two runners, we also welcomed contract employees from other companies, including one who later stepped up to become the team captain.

In the three years since the last competition, what efforts have the team made to improve?

(Matsufuji) In 2022, our first year back in the competition, we struggled and had many unsatisfying races. Most of our athletes encountered setbacks, unable to maintain their desired pace or handle high-speed competition. In the second year, many athletes set good records, including the best for working individuals, at the 5,000m track meet in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, held in June 2023. My specialty is the 1,500m to 5,000m distance, and I felt that my training regimen based on this experience worked out well. Still, in long-distance events like the ekiden and road races, we couldn’t fully demonstrate our potential. Therefore, this year, we trained in the morning once or twice a week, with a group run of 8,000m starting at 6AM. During the summer, we incorporated rolling routes into our training. Furthermore, we held several training camps following the actual route of the Chugoku Corporate Ekiden, a qualifying event for the New Year Ekiden, so that we could get a feel for the course prior to the race.

I also obtained the Japan Association of Athletics Federations Level 3 Coaching Certification, which focuses on safety in training. I always tell my team to avoid risks to their health, especially when it comes to weather, time and locations where training could be dangerous.

Our achievements are thanks to the support of our colleagues and the local Hikari community, which provides us with places to practice. Please continue to support us as we prepare for the New Year Ekiden!

What are your aspirations for the New Year Ekiden?

(Motonaga) We’re fueled with the warm encouragement of everyone cheering us on. Our goal is to hold our own against the nation’s top teams and deliver a determined, resilient performance. We also want to grow stronger as a team. We’re committed to meeting the expectations of all those who support us and will give our absolute best as we take on this race with a shared focus and determination. Your support means everything to us—please cheer us on as we pursue this challenge together!