Started our day by running on some hilly terrain. Some were excited...
今朝のランは、箱根の関所に向けて、上り坂です。得意な者もいれば…
.... and some were challanged by it.
そうでない者も…
There were many motorcycles going up the hill also. It is a Sunday and the area is a short drive from Tokyo and the road travels a beautiful area along a gently winding road so who can blame them? If I was a motorcyclist I’d be here too.
途中、日曜のツーリングを楽しむグループにいくつか遭遇しました。皆さんとても楽しそう。
We made some new friends.
新たな出会いがここでも。
Eventually we made our way to Hakone. An area famous for the finishing & starting points of Hakone Ekiden on 2-3 January every year. We are invited to the Ekiden Museum whose displays succinctly show Hakone Ekiden's history.
ついに箱根の関所近く、箱根駅伝ミュージアムに到着。
On our arrival, we were greeted by Ms. Katsumata, the Deputy Director of the museum.
勝俣副館長がチームを出迎えてくださいます。
She gave a good introduction of the history of Ekiden and its museum. Ekiden was started by Shiso Kanakuri who was one of the world's elite marathon runners at the time. He competed at the 1912 Stockholm Summer Games as one of Japan's first-ever Olympic athletes. Unfortunately he couldn’t finish the marathon, he was very disheartened and vowed to create Hakone Ekiden to strengthen Japanese runners. They actually wanted to train to run across USA however the race and training took on its own life. Ekiden has become very famous. The 101st edition was completed in January 2025. The runners are world class and many go on to represent Japan’s national team and even compete in Olympics.
箱根駅伝について、勝俣副館長が丁寧に説明してくださいます。日本ランナー強化のため、最初はアメリカ横断を目指したトレーニングとして始まった駅伝。それが段々定着・発展し、今日の形になっていき、今年１月に１０１回目を無事開催。ミュージアムには、主要校のユニフォームや駅伝出身オリンピック選手、これまで出場した選手のタイムのデータベースまで、駅伝への興味と敬意が倍増の展示が盛りだくさんでした。
The banners photographed at the museum are from this year's winners. Aoyama Gakuin University won overall (the green banner). It was amazing for us as runners, viewing the history of one of the country's and world's most inspiring running events and learning more about it. Five runners take it in turns running a sash up the mountain and the next day another team of 5 run it down . Universities qualify and the top twenty compete in the ultimate event held January 2nd and 3rd annually. It is broadcast live and the whole country unites in its love for the event.
She gave us a guided tour inside and outside afterwards.
ミュージアム内で説明してくださった後は、箱根駅伝往路のゴール＆復路のスタート地点も見せてくださいました。
A quick run pass through the nearby Hakone Sekisho [Checkpoint], used in Edo period to control the inflow of people and goods into the capital Edo [now Tokyo]. Restored recently and it is now a tourist attraction as well as a historical site to visit.
そばの箱根関所を通ってランを続けます。江戸時代の装束に身を纏った方々もフレンドリーに手を振ってくださいました。
Even animals cheers for Peace Runners.
箱根の道は車や訪問客で混み合っています。可愛いワンちゃんも。
Very hungry we went to a delicious vegan restaurant. Vegan Aomugi in Kanagawa is a hidden gem with souvenirs and health foods. Classic Japanese setting and very peaceful. Clean food in a sanctuary so nice you will automatically speak softly. Delicious!
昼食は小田原城そばの一軒家をお店にした野菜ごはんの店青麦で。オーガニックの食材の販売もしています。静かで落ち着く佇まい。
After lunch, the women team visited Odawara Castle and the adjacent Shinto shrine: Hotoku Ninomiya Jinja.
昼食後、女子チームは小田原城へ向かうべく、まず入り口近くにある報徳二宮神社をお参りします。
Prior to entering the shrine, Hitomi teaches how to purify our hands and mouths.
まず手や口を清めるやり方を皆で瞳さんから教わります。
Going through a tunnel overflowing with wooden sticks on which people have written their hearts’ prayers and wishes.
願い事を書いた溢れんばかりのお札でトンネルのよう。
The boys team was caught red handed at a nearby cafe, before our next ceremony.
今日最後の交流先、大磯コネクトに女子チームが着くと、男子チームはすでに到着して、ふわふわパンケーキを満喫中！
We went to an event hosted by Sazereishi Student Guides led by senior student Haruta in the seaside town of Oiso.
港近くの大磯コネクトでは、さざれ石学生英語ガイドボランティアと、英語を学んでいる小学生の皆さんと交流。
They decorated the function room. The word peace run was done with tiny cranes, very cute.
ピースランを迎えるバナーを壁に貼って迎えてくださいましたが、この文字、極小の折り鶴から出来ています！
Children are taught English and spoke so bravely and well to us introducing themselves and saying their age and likes.
小さい子まで一人一人、勇気を出して、英語で自己紹介。名前と学年と好きなこと！
These are some of the words from one of the young leaders on their history and activities.
“Hello, everyone, all the international runners and Peace Run Japan! Welcome to Oiso! I am Amane Uchida, from the Sagareishi Student Guide Volunteers. We'd like to give you a big warm welcome to our town! Oiso is famous for its beautiful seaside and relaxing pine tree scenery. Did you enjoy the run and the peaceful atmosphere of Oiso? The long journey, running all the way from Kyoto to carry the message of peace is an amazing effort, and we deeply respect your dedication. We are very grateful to you all for this wonderful opportunity to connect with you. Let me briefly introduce our group. We started by giving English guided tours at Miki Sawada Memorial Museum here in Oiso to help exchange students from our sister cities to understand Oiso better. The museum is also called Hidden Christian Museum. It may feel strongly religious, but Ms. Miki Sawada built it with the hope that young people would sense the importance of faith and the preciousness of life During the COVID-19 pandemic, we started hosting an annual photo exhibition of Dr. Tetsu Nakamura' s humanitarian work for 35 years in Afghanistan. This year, we' re holding the exhibition on November 30th. Two years ago, we also began reading poetry written by children affected by the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Through these activities, we try to support disaster survivors and raise awareness of moving toward a future without nuclear power. Run spirit together "Peace begins with me!" (One more time!) Today, we are very excited to be here with all of you. Now, let's say the Peace. Thank you.”
リーダーの高校生から、流暢な英語で挨拶をいただきました。後から聞いたら、海外留学などの経験はないそうで、英会話を日本で学んで、好きでここまで上手になったらしいです。みんなから慕われるお兄ちゃん的存在なのが伝わってきました。
We also learnt about Miki Sawada, a humanitarian who looked after abandoned children and helped install the sense of service in the group.
大磯、そしてこのグループとゆかりの深い澤田美喜さんについても学びます。
The children played a quiz game asking and teaching us about aobato. A white bellied green pigeon that migrates here and drinks the sea water for minerals.
大磯の海の水を飲みにくることで知られるアオバトについてのクイズもしました。アオバトが海水を飲むのは、ミネラル分を補給するため！
We played our country guessing game with them.
お返しにこちらからは、国当てゲームです。
We went out to a nearby park to run and give chance to hold the Peace Torch with kids and do more fun activities.
プログラムの後半は外に出て、海に面した公園で続きを。ピーストーチと走ったり、パスポートに大陸スタンプをもらったりには最適！海風が気持ちいい。
We had a lovely interaction with the kids and parents.
この頃になると、保護者の皆さんも加わり、楽しいひと時をみんなで共有します。
They even gave us cookies afterwards, lovingly shaped in outline of the bird.
終わりに、メンバーへのお土産に、アオバトや他の可愛い形をした手作りクッキーをいただきました。聞けば、地元の元パン屋さんがこのイベントのために焼いてくれたものだそうです。お腹が空いていたメンバーの面々、すぐに頬張ってしまいました。とてもおいしかったです！
