the feature of athlete(Japanese vs foreigner)

        
         Compare athletes of Japan to ones of foreign, there are many difference.
         
         In height, almost all athletes of Japan are smaller than foreigners.In other words the length of the leg shortens necessarily, too.  In a short distance or events of jumping, an athlete is advantageous only by he's legs are long. (A small-sized player is told by the advantage in the long distance.) As for the high jump in particular, the player who is high in height is predominantly favored.

         As well as a build , there are the points considered to be disadvantageous to Japanese athletes .Quantity of muscle or the stamina are so, too, but the exercise environment of the athlete may have better foreign countries, too.There is no help for it about the build a little, but should be able to change the exercise environment in Japan. In addition, there is a system an athlete belongs to the company and to continue track and field in Japan. If it is this system, the athlete can practice track and field while getting a salary.Of course the athlete does not only concentrate on an exercise, and there is the limitation to have to work of the company properly.However, it will be effective to use this system well it finds the influential athlete of the private citizen, and to bring it up.　In the case of an overseas track-and-field athlete, there are a lot of people who make track and field an occupation. The prize money of the race is just the cost of living of the athlete. In other words they live an unstable life economically that they cannot live if they do not make a result.It will be true that the overseas athlete can give a splendid record simply because it is the severe environment.　However, I think it is made of use that the environment only in Japan to be able to practice while the athlete is stable economically .

about field events

         I introduced some events called "track events".From now on, I'll introduce "field events". Especially,high jump, long jump, the javelin, the hummer throw, etc. That is , jumping-events and throwing-events are called "field events".


          Jumping-events are high jump, pole vault, long jump and triple jump. We compete with other jumpers for the height in high jump and pole vault. The world record of high jump is 2m45cm. This record was established by　Javier Sotomayor Sanabri (Cuba,1993).If you can't imagine this height, it is good in imagining a telephone booth. Sotomayor could jump over a telephone booth! The world record of pole vault is6m14cm by Sergey Bubka (Ukraine,1994). He broke the world record 35 times on the active list and called "Bird-man".

         As opposed to these, we compete for distance in long jump and triple jump.The world record is 8m95cm and was established by Michael Anthony Powell (U.S.A.) in 1991. In triple jump, the most longest record was established by Sir Jonathan Edwards (U.K., 1995)and the distance is 18m29cm. Normally, we indicate a triple jump with a run-up, but there is a triple jump without a run-up.

         Throwing-events are the shot put, the discus throw, the javelin, and the hummer throw.It is beginning that the prototype of the present shot put was performed by iron bullets in 1860. The weight of a shot are inconsistent.For men, the weight is 16pound (7.260kg), and for women, it is 4kg.The discus throwers use this disc. 

 Although there were few players in present Japan, it was the Japanese woman's specialty once. I think that the javelin became somewhat famous also for Japan by Murakami's activity several years ago. The weight for men is 800g and for women is 600g . The length is also different. Recently, we use a javelin made of plastic for elementally or junior high school students. It is softer than normal javelin, so it is safety. To stop accident, the length was changed.Speaking of the hammer throw, Murofushi will occur immediately. Maybe it is the most famous throwing event in Japan.This is an event of the Ireland origin from the first, and to have attached and thrown the chain to the hammer is made into the origin. Since high technical capabilities and muscles are required of a player compared with other events, the top athlete tends to become advanced age comparatively. Murofushi is the player who has the 5th record in the world, and has won a prize uniquely in Japanese player.

The next topic is "the feature of player (Japanese vs foreigner)"

 

about hurdle

         A hurdle game is one of the events of track and field, and is an event which competes for the speed which runs while jumping over some obstacles. The number of hurdles and the intervals between hurdles are difference according to the distance. Generally, the events which are held in many meetings are 100m hurdle(100mH),110m hurdle(110mH) and 400m hurdle(400mH).


         100mH is for women mainly. A runner runs 100m while clearing 10 hurdles.The height of hurdle is 84cm. The distance between start line and first hurdle is 13m and the intervals are 8.5m.


         110mH is for men. A runner runs 110m while clearing 10 hurdles,too. The height of hurdle is 106.7cm. The distance between start line and first hurdle is 13.72m and the intervals are 9.14m. 


         400mH is for men and women. A runner runs 400m while clearing 10 hurdles.The height of hurdle is 91.4cm(men) or 76.2cm(women).The distance between start line and first hurdle is 45m and the intervals are 35m.　Dai Tamesue is famous runner in Japan. 

         It is the hurdle game in a short distance event which was introduced until now. There are another hurdle game in a long distance event. 3000m-hurdle (3000mSC) is the event."SC" is a shortened form of "Steeple Chase" . A runner runs and jump over 5 obstacles per 1 round.  

(This is an obstacle. The height is 91.4cm (for men))

         A runnner have to jump into water (Suigou). The depth is 70cm at the deepest point. It is the real thrill of 300mSC.

The next topic is "about field evens".

about marathon and ekiden

         A marathon is composed of events of long-distance. Runners run 42.195km and they compete ranking or time. For general runners, there are half marathon(21.0975km)and quarter marathon(10.54875km).  We call the race on the road "Marathon" even if a course is shorter than 42.195km.

         The origin of name dates back to the 450 B.C.(the war of Marathon).  Miltiades, the general of Athēnai(now; Athens) , won the war.To convey the win to state men,  a soldier,Philippides was selected. He ran from Marathon to Athens and tell them that they were win.  A French, Michel Breal, recalled that episode and suggested the event to run from Marathon to Athens in the 1st Athens Olympic games in 1896. In Olympic games, it was 1972 that women's marathon was admitted officially.


         An ekiden is Japanese name. In English, it called a "a long-distance relay race"or "road relay". This event is Japan in origin, so we call it ekiden in foreign.Runners run long distance a relay form and they pass a sash(Tasuki).Since a public road is used, the team separated from the head too much may run with a spare sash(advanced start).  That is, the sash of the team isn't passed runner to runner. I think this is one of the real thrill in ekiden.

        Probably ,Hakone ekiden is the most popular in Japan. It held in 2rd and 3rd on January. Only the student who has joined in the Kanto student track-and-field league can participate in Hakone ekiden. It is only a student applicable to the following conditions that can participate in Hakone ekiden also in the student.

•  The student of the university which won a prize less than of the 10th place in the convention last time
• The student of the university which won a prize less than of the 9th place by the elimination contest
• The student who was not above applied and was chosen as the Kanto student track-and-field league(Kanto-gakuren) all-star team

        That is,there are 20 team in one convention.

The next  topic  is  "about hardle".



about middle & long distance

         Middle distance contain  800m,1500m and 3000m.　Short distance usually carries out a crouching start. But a method changes from the middle distance to a standing start. Since this is an item for which both speed and tenacity are needed, it is very severe.


          In 800m, the tendency of speed-izing is remarkable. For example, the runner of the top level in the world are below 13 seconds in recent years per 100 m. 


         No less than 1500 m is a severe game.In the woman 800m, the situation where runners collapsed and fainted one after another in the Amsterdam Olympic Games (1928) immediately after the goal arose. Under this influence, it is from Munich Olympic Games in 1972  that 1500m was admitted to the formal event.


         Although 3000m are classified into a middle distance event, it may be contained in a long-distance event in a game. Moreover, in track and field, it is an event with 3 km different from 3000 m. 3km is road race (a runner runs a road),but 3000 m is a track race (a runner runs the inside of a track). So record is totaled separately. 


         Long distance events are 5000m, 10000m, full/half marathon, long distance relay road race(ekiden) and so on. In this topic, I'll write 5000m and 10000m.


         The ranking of 5000m and 10000 m are decided by one race without dividing into a primary and the final.　Man and woman's runner of Kenya are　strong. In the woman 10000m, Japan is also strong following African vigor or the Europe vigor. 

The next  topic  is  "about marathon and ekiden".

about short distance

         A short distance is a general term for the game which runs short distance in track and field (to 400 m). Official events are 100m, 200m, and 400m. In unofficial events, there are 50 m, 300 m, etc. It is decided that the method of a start will be a crouching start. Moreover, a runner uses a starting block.

           Especially in 100m and 200m, runners can run very fast when a fair wind is strong. So a fair wind exceeds 2 m/s, it is considered that the record is a wind-aided record. (That is, it does not become an official time.)

         A 100-m world record is 9"58 which Usain Bolt established in 2009. When this record is changed to speed, it is an average of 37 km/h. In the Olympic Games, the title "the man of the human-beings fastest" is conferred on the boy's 100m champion. In track and field, 100 m is very popular and is a star game.

         In case of 200m ,world record is 19"19 which Usain Bolt established ,too.At the Olympic Games, 200m　is an event from the Paris Olympic Games in 1900.Unlike 100m, even if a frame and muscular power are inferior to other runners , it can cover with the way and technology of running.


         400m is the most hardest event in short distance block. Distance of 400 m is medically made into "distance of the limit that man can run the whole distance by sprint", therefore a race will become very severe.
The world record is 43"18 which Michael Duane Johnson established in 1999.Incidentally, the Japanese runner who ran 400 m on the level of 44 seconds has Susumu Takano. 



The next topic is "about middle & long distance".

history in Japan

         Track and field were introduced to Japan from Europe in early stages of Meiji.It is supposed that it was transmitted from the British teacher of the navy soldier college house as it wrote the front diary.Japan got an educational institution of navy (next navy soldier college house) in early stages of Meiji. And 22 instructors were employed from Europe for the navy education of Japan.
It is said that there was probably British teacher well versed in track and field in those 22.


         The Japan Association of Athletics Federations was founded in 1928.
Moreover, in the 9th Amsterdam Olympic Games of this year,  Mikio Oda  won the victory in record of 15 m 21 cm in the part of the boy's triple jump. And, in the woman's 800m part, Hitomi Kinue  won the silver medal.




         There is "track and field of Masters" for people who want to continue track and field even if it grows up. If it is a person aged 35 and over, anyone can register. Masters started in Britain in 1932. In Japan, it was held for the first time in Wakayama in 1978. And  Mikio Oda was made into the chairman and the Japanese Masters track-and-field union was established in April, 1980.


         At last, there are many players who are doing remarkable activity.
For example...

• Kouji Murofushi (the player of the hammer throw)
• Chisato Fukushima (a short-distance player)
• Ryuji Kashiwabara (The player of Toyo univercity who played an active part in Hakone ekiden
  )

and so on. I want Japanese players to play an active part in the world!

 The next topic is "about short distance".

Foreign-history and outline of track and field

         Track and field are a game with the history which goes back to the 1st ancient Olympics in B.C. 776 at Olympia. It seems that races, such as Celt people, people from Zhudong, and people from Gort, also hold the convention of track and field, and were collecting popularity.
         Track and field developed as a modern sport after the Renaissance, and spread through every country in the world taking advantage of the 1st Athens Olympics held in 1896.


         It was introduced to Japan by a British teacher of the navy soldier college house in early stages of Meiji(I can't find his or her name!).
         Many events of track and field have the origin which traces back to ancient times, and  it  was already established that the form of event in ancient Greece.


         Since even the Olympic Games in 1896 were held, track and field have always been carried out.
 The game participation in the female Olympic Games was not permitted till 1928.


         The event of track and field can devide into these 10.

• short distance(100m etc.)
• middle distance (800m etc.)
• long distance (3000m etc.)
• relay (4x100m relay etc.)
• hurdling(110m hurdle etc.)
• long distance relay road race (Japanese name : ekiden)
• competitive walking
• jumps (high jump etc.)
• throws (javelin throw etc.)
• composite game

         Main International Convention of track and field has the Olympic Games, IAAF World Championships in Athletics, World Indoor Championships in Athletics, etc.
         In a domestic convention, there are the Japanology student track-and-field championship (common name:intercollegiate game), a Tokyo-Hakone-collegiate-ekiden race (common name:Hakone ekiden), etc.

 The next topic is "history in Japan".