Minami Ishikawa, Minori Hayashida, Mai Takiguchi—NTV Announcers Light Up the Ekiden Qualifier Finish

Announcer Moka Namiki waiting at the finish line with a prayer-like expression

On October 18, the 102nd Hakone Ekiden Qualifying Round was held in Tachikawa City, Tokyo.

The weather was sunny that day. However, the expected high temperature was 26.5°C — a bit warm for the season. Under strong sunlight, at 8:30 a.m., athletes from 42 entered schools took off simultaneously from the JGSDF Tachikawa Garrison. The course was a 21 km half marathon running through Tachikawa city to the finish line at Showa Kinen Park. At the finish area, female Nippon TV announcers — representatives of the sponsor, the Yomiuri Group — gathered wearing bibs labeled “NTV.”

“In the Kanto area, the qualifying round was broadcast live on Nippon TV. Minori Hayashida (25), now in her fourth year at the network and wearing a yellow bib, handled on-site reporting and interviews. Between reports, she worked nonstop, thoroughly checking positioning and interview content with staff members,” said a sports newspaper reporter.

Also present were ninth-year announcer Arisa Ushiro (31), sixth-year announcer Minami Ishikawa (29), second-year announcer Mai Takiguchi (25), and Moka Namiki (24). All of them wore black bibs and watched the race with serious expressions.

“Each announcer is assigned specific universities. Namiki seemed to be supporting the university she was in charge of, and near the finish line, she waited with a prayerful expression,” the reporter added.

The athletes’ battles — and the announcers’ coverage — will continue until the Hakone Ekiden takes place on January 2 and 3 next year.