Performing Culture through the sport of Ekiden Racing: Learning from the Japanese Sporting ethos of long-distance running

Historical documents about Japan have not included information on its long-distance running culture. A type of event called ‘ekiden’ is very popular in Japan. Ekiden racing is a team relay event, invented in Japan. Sporting events can tell us about the meaning people place on them, and the reasons why they are valued. This project is designed to learn about Ekiden through the experiences of Japanese runners, staff, academics, and spectators. It explores, 1. the origins and cultural significance of running in Japan, 2. seeks to understand the ways in which Japanese running culture is experienced by the Japanese. This project will, 1. make connections and contacts for future research collaboration between Canadian and Japanese universities and scholars, 2. conduct Interviews, 3. visit the Hakone Ekiden Museum, 4. conduct observations of ekiden races, 5. collected data for a PhD dissertation, and 6. contribute to academic knowledge between cultures on sport.

Faculty Supervisor:

Patricia Vertinsky

Student:

Partner:

Waseda University

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Education

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: