A long-distance relay competition inspired by Japanese tradition is set to come back to the Thames corridor in the current year.
The FT Nikkei UK Ekiden will hold its third iteration on June 12, with participants covering 112 kilometres along the Thames Path.
Anna Dingley, founder and chief executive of the FT Nikkei UK Ekiden, pointed out that the British edition distinguishes itself as a unique team-based contest that athletes can aim to join.
University teams must achieve qualification to take part, while commercial organisations support the event and run alongside them.
Costs are covered for university groups, with mixed teams representing their institutions, creating a high-performance environment that remains accessible to all.
The introduction of qualification criteria has intensified the competitive level.
A waiting list is already in place, and the event is rapidly becoming a key date in the student sports diary.
Starting at Brocas Field in Windsor and finishing at King’s Meadow in Reading, this year’s edition is anticipated to be the most competitive yet.
The race will feature 35 teams, made up of 17 qualifying university sides from across the United Kingdom, competing in relay format while wearing the traditional Japanese tasuki sash.
For the first time, England Athletics has provided official licensing to the event.
Athletes will navigate footpaths, fields, gates and bridges in a true test of endurance.
Last year’s winners, Japan’s Ritsumeikan University, secured victory after Oxford was disqualified for performing the tasuki handover outside the designated area.
Matt Seddon, athletics director for the FT Nikkei UK Ekiden, said the British event determines which organisation truly excels at extended running.
Success depends on collective team strength rather than individual capability—there is no room for error.
The competition showcases distance running in its purest form: an uninterrupted point-to-point relay.
In addition to the university contest, 18 corporate and community teams will participate.
Ms Dingley observed that graduate employment currently faces well-documented challenges, with media coverage frequently presenting a bleak outlook.
At the UK Ekiden, the commercial sponsors are appreciated not just for financing the event and student participation—they also engage directly with competitors.
This year, informal gatherings will take place in the race village where supporters share their career experiences and offer practical advice, helping students explore future opportunities.
Supported by the Financial Times and Nikkei, the initiative aims to promote university athletics and strengthen ties between Britain and Japan through sport.
Each year, the race highlights a different Japanese prefecture to introduce British audiences to various parts of Japan.
This year’s edition will focus on Ishikawa Prefecture, which suffered an earthquake in 2024.
Competitors will receive products from the region alongside a commemorative medal that contains a poem from local residents.