Supporting 'Hakone Kings' Aoyama Gakuin Track Team with Food! Murakami Farm to Continue Partnership and Strengthen Information Dissemination in FY2026
Murakami Farm, Japan's top market share holder for sprouted vegetables, will continue its partnership with Aoyama Gakuin University's track and field team for the 2026 season, providing 'Broccoli Super Sprouts' to support athlete conditioning through nutrition.
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- 📰 Published: April 27, 2026 at 22:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 27, 2026 at 13:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 03:00 (13h 29m after Collected)
Murakami Farm Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Hiroshima City; President: Kiyotaka Murakami), the leader in Japan's sprouted vegetable market, announced that it will continue its efforts to support the conditioning of athletes at Aoyama Gakuin University's Track and Field Team (Long-distance block) through the provision of 'Broccoli Super Sprouts' in the 2026 fiscal year.
Behind the strength of the 'Kings of Aoyama Gakuin,' who dominated the Hakone Ekiden, lies the importance of daily nutrition. Through this collaboration, both parties will not only utilize the product in daily dormitory meals and training camps but also strengthen the communication of 'performance improvement through food' using the real voices of athletes and coaches.
Summary of Partnership:
- Provision of Broccoli Super Sprouts to 'BLUEPEAK Canteen' at Machida Dormitory.
- Conducting nutrition seminars for athletes, directors, and coaches.
- Joint development of recipes using Broccoli Super Sprouts with the team's exclusive sports nutritionist.
- Utilizing testimonials from athletes, coaches, and nutritionists for information dissemination.
In recent years, the importance of diet in improving athletic performance has grown significantly. Especially in long-distance disciplines, it is often said that 'what you eat' directly impacts competitive ability. Aoyama Gakuin University's Track and Field Team is also focusing on dietary quality as part of its competitive improvement, and Murakami Farm is supporting these efforts by providing Broccoli Super Sprouts, which are rich in the functional compound 'sulforaphane.'
This initiative began in August 2025 and has included nutrition seminars and joint recipe development. This year, the partnership will continue as part of year-round conditioning, aiming to broadly communicate the value of food in performance. Furthermore, the company will share specific dietary tips and the importance of nutrition throughout the lead-up to the Hakone Ekiden, contributing to the healthy eating habits of both athletes and the general public.
Comment from Susumu Hara, Director of Aoyama Gakuin Track and Field Team:
'This year, our team theme is "Ao-Gachi," meaning we face everything from training to daily life with serious intent. In this context, diet is as important as training. The continuous support of Broccoli Super Sprouts in our daily meals helps our players build their bodies and maintain their condition. We achieved three consecutive Hakone Ekiden wins thanks to these daily efforts. We will continue to use our collaboration with Murakami Farm as a source of strength to achieve results.'
Comment from Kaito Nakamura, Captain of Aoyama Gakuin Track and Field Team:
'I feel that diet is indispensable for conditioning during harsh daily training. All players are actively and deliciously eating Broccoli Super Sprouts in our dormitory. Personally, I was able to complete all training menus for the first time during the summer camp last year and continue without injury. I realize the importance of recovery through food. Toward our fourth consecutive Hakone victory, we will run through with everyone's help, including Murakami Farm.'
About Broccoli Super Sprouts:
Broccoli Super Sprouts are three-day-old sprouts using Murakami Farm's exclusive variety, containing more than 20 times the functional component 'sulforaphane' (400mg/100g) compared to regular broccoli. Developed by Dr. Paul Talalay of Johns Hopkins University, they are produced and sold in Japan exclusively by Murakami Farm. As health consciousness rises, interest in sulforaphane content is growing, with shipment volume increasing five-fold over the past decade.
Behind the strength of the 'Kings of Aoyama Gakuin,' who dominated the Hakone Ekiden, lies the importance of daily nutrition. Through this collaboration, both parties will not only utilize the product in daily dormitory meals and training camps but also strengthen the communication of 'performance improvement through food' using the real voices of athletes and coaches.
Summary of Partnership:
- Provision of Broccoli Super Sprouts to 'BLUEPEAK Canteen' at Machida Dormitory.
- Conducting nutrition seminars for athletes, directors, and coaches.
- Joint development of recipes using Broccoli Super Sprouts with the team's exclusive sports nutritionist.
- Utilizing testimonials from athletes, coaches, and nutritionists for information dissemination.
In recent years, the importance of diet in improving athletic performance has grown significantly. Especially in long-distance disciplines, it is often said that 'what you eat' directly impacts competitive ability. Aoyama Gakuin University's Track and Field Team is also focusing on dietary quality as part of its competitive improvement, and Murakami Farm is supporting these efforts by providing Broccoli Super Sprouts, which are rich in the functional compound 'sulforaphane.'
This initiative began in August 2025 and has included nutrition seminars and joint recipe development. This year, the partnership will continue as part of year-round conditioning, aiming to broadly communicate the value of food in performance. Furthermore, the company will share specific dietary tips and the importance of nutrition throughout the lead-up to the Hakone Ekiden, contributing to the healthy eating habits of both athletes and the general public.
Comment from Susumu Hara, Director of Aoyama Gakuin Track and Field Team:
'This year, our team theme is "Ao-Gachi," meaning we face everything from training to daily life with serious intent. In this context, diet is as important as training. The continuous support of Broccoli Super Sprouts in our daily meals helps our players build their bodies and maintain their condition. We achieved three consecutive Hakone Ekiden wins thanks to these daily efforts. We will continue to use our collaboration with Murakami Farm as a source of strength to achieve results.'
Comment from Kaito Nakamura, Captain of Aoyama Gakuin Track and Field Team:
'I feel that diet is indispensable for conditioning during harsh daily training. All players are actively and deliciously eating Broccoli Super Sprouts in our dormitory. Personally, I was able to complete all training menus for the first time during the summer camp last year and continue without injury. I realize the importance of recovery through food. Toward our fourth consecutive Hakone victory, we will run through with everyone's help, including Murakami Farm.'
About Broccoli Super Sprouts:
Broccoli Super Sprouts are three-day-old sprouts using Murakami Farm's exclusive variety, containing more than 20 times the functional component 'sulforaphane' (400mg/100g) compared to regular broccoli. Developed by Dr. Paul Talalay of Johns Hopkins University, they are produced and sold in Japan exclusively by Murakami Farm. As health consciousness rises, interest in sulforaphane content is growing, with shipment volume increasing five-fold over the past decade.