FT Nikkei UK Ekiden: Iconic Japanese relay race comes to the UK
Relay will see 19 teams take part in race from Oxford to Windsor

LONDON (May 28th, 2024) - This June, the Thames Valley will play host to the first UK Ekiden, apopular Japanese relay race that champions teamwork, endurance and camaraderie.
The inaugural FT Nikkei UK Ekiden race will take place on Monday 24th June and will follow aniconic, 76-mile route from Oxford to Windsor along the Thames Path. 19 teams of 10 runners willcompete in the long-distance relay wearing the traditional tasuki sash instead of using a baton.
The first group of runners will set off at 8am from Oxford, a city close to the hearts of theJapanese Emperor and Empress who studied there in the 90’s. The route will continue largely
along the Thames Path (with no road closures required) through towns including Abingdon,
Wallingford, Goring, Purley, Sonning, Henley-on-Thames, Marlow and Maidenhead. The race will
finish near Windsor Castle, home to the British Royal Family.
Sponsored by The FT and Nikkei, the race is aimed at providing long lasting people-to-people
links between Japan and the UK, as well as an opportunity for British people to enjoy aspects ofJapanese running culture. The route is particularly appropriate because the Japanese Emperor
studied at Oxford, wrote a book entitled “The Thames and I” and his research was into the UKwaterways.
The participating teams will be composed of runners from corporations, universities, and UK
Japan-related organisations, each reflecting different aspects of the UK-Japan relationship.
Current confirmed teams include University teams from Oxford, Cambridge, Loughborough andBirmingham, as well as corporate teams from The FT, Nikkei, Arcus, Mizuno and Daiwa Capital.
Other teams announced to participate include Momiji Charity, Team Paris Marathon, Namban
Rengo, British Government - Building the Future, Jet Programme Alumni, RAF with Runner’s
World and Henley Rowing Club.
The UK Ekiden is a Community Interest Company and in the spirit of connecting the 2 nations, aportion of profits from the 2024 race will be split between 1 UK charity and 1 Japanese charity.
This year, we will be supporting the Noto Peninsula reconstruction efforts in Japan alongside asports-related charity in the UK.
Anna Dingley, founder of the UK Ekiden, said: “This event not only introduces the iconic ekiden
race to the UK, but also represents a unique opportunity to bring together a wide spectrum ofpeople, companies, universities and charities involved in UK-Japan communities to showcase
the spirit of teamwork in an exciting format. We are excited to launch our UK Ekiden year one, incelebration and admiration of the Hakone Ekiden in Japan, which held its 100th race thisJanuary."
John Ridding, FT CEO, said: “The FT has been part of Nikkei Inc since 2015. In the spirit ofcooperation 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 ourcountries and cultures."Tsuyoshi Hasebe, President & CEO of Nikkei Inc., said: “The FT Nikkei UK Ekiden embodies thespirit of unity and shared success that characterises the close cooperation between Nikkei andthe FT, and between Japan and the UK. It's an honour for Nikkei to be a part of an historic eventthat will bridge distances through the universal language of sport."
For more information please visit www.ukekiden.com / For press enquiries, please contact:press@ukekiden.com.
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About the ekiden: The ekiden tradition traces its roots back hundreds of years to a time whenrunners relayed important messages and goods between stations along predetermined routes.
The word “ekiden” means “station” and “convey or to tell.” Today, ekiden has evolved into a
popular relay race format in Japan. The UK Ekiden takes place in the same year that Japan’s
Hakone Ekiden, the most prominent ekiden on the sport’s calendar, celebrated its centenary inJanuary.
About the Financial Times: The Financial Times is one of the world’s leading business news
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About Nikkei: Nikkei Inc. is a world-renowned media brand for Asian news, respected for quality
journalism and for being a trusted provider of business news and information. Founded as amarket news provider in Japan in 1876, Nikkei has grown into one of the world’s largest media
corporations, with 37 foreign editorial bureaus and approximately 1,500 journalists worldwide.
Nikkei acquired the UK-based Financial Times in 2015. Our combined digital and print circulation
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