Taisho University Establishes Track and Field Club Aiming for Hakone Ekiden Participation
Taisho University has established a new track and field club, aiming for participation in the Hakone Ekiden, as a core measure of its 'sports enhancement' initiative, coinciding with its 100th anniversary in 2026. Masami Soeta has been appointed as the first director, and Nobuharu Sato as the head of scouting and strengthening coach.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 11, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 11, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 12, 2026 at 06:57 (20h 25m after Collected)
First Director of the Track and Field Club, Masami Soeta
Taisho University (President: Tomozumi Jindai, Location: Toshima-ku, Tokyo) has established a new track and field club on April 1, 2026, as a core measure of its 'sports enhancement' initiative, aimed at improving student athletic performance and strengthening the university's brand communication, coinciding with its 100th anniversary in 2026. Masami Soeta has been appointed as the first director.
Mr. Soeta has extensive coaching experience in the university Ekiden world, having led teams as a director in the main Hakone Ekiden race, and has received high praise for both improving athletic performance and developing athletes. His knowledge and leadership are expected to be fully utilized in the challenge of launching the university's track and field club.
Furthermore, to enhance the coaching staff, Nobuharu Sato, who has rich experience as a director, coach, and scout in corporate teams and universities, has also been appointed. He will work in cooperation with the director to strengthen the team.
As an educational institution, the university's track and field club also emphasizes the development of human potential and collaboration with local communities, aiming to create new value in university sports. Although it is a challenge from scratch, we will strive to build a team that can compete at the national level and aim for participation in the main Hakone Ekiden race, while valuing the growth of our students, not just their athletic achievements.
[Director Profile]
Name: Masami Soeta
Date of Birth: March 29, 1977 (Age 49)
Alma Mater: Kokushikan University
● Career
August 2010 - March 2015: Long-distance Coach, Tokyo Keizai University Track and Field Club
April 2015 - October 2015: Ekiden Coach, Kokushikan University Track and Field Club
November 2015 - March 2022: Ekiden Director, Kokushikan University Track and Field Club
April 2022 - March 2026: Ekiden Coach, Kokushikan University Track and Field Club
April 2026 - : Director, Taisho University Track and Field Club
● Main Achievements
・Hakone Ekiden (Tokyo-Hakone Intercollegiate Ekiden Race): 8 consecutive appearances (93rd to 100th editions)
・All Japan University Ekiden Championship: Participated (48th and 55th editions)
・92nd Hakone Ekiden (Tokyo-Hakone Intercollegiate Ekiden Race): Director of Kanto Student Alliance Team
[Head of Scouting and Strengthening Coach Profile]
Name: Nobuharu Sato
Date of Birth: January 11, 1961 (Age 65)
Place of Birth: Fukushima Prefecture
● Career
April 2003: Director, Fujitsu Track and Field Club
March 2005: Director, JAL Grand Service Track and Field Club
December 2010: Director, Seitoku University Track and Field Club
April 2018: Appointed Coach and Scout, Komazawa University Track and Field Club (concurrently with Seitoku University)
April 2026: Coach, Taisho University Track and Field Club
● Main Achievements
After being appointed as coach and scout for Komazawa University Track and Field Club in 2018, he dedicated himself to discovering and developing top-level athletes under the guidance of Komazawa University Track and Field Club (now General Director Hiroaki Oyakagi).
He also made significant contributions to improving the team's athletic performance, supporting the following achievements in the 'Three Major University Ekiden Races':
・Hakone Ekiden (Tokyo-Hakone Intercollegiate Ekiden Race): 2 overall victories
・Izumo Ekiden (Izumo All Japan University Selected Ekiden Race): 2 victories
・All Japan University Ekiden Championship: 5 victories
◆About Taisho University
Taisho University is a university operated collaboratively by the four founding Buddhist sects: Tendai, Shingon Buzan, Shingon Chisan, and Jodo, as well as the Jishu sect. The spirit of this collaboration is supported by the founding philosophy of 'Practice of Wisdom and Compassion,' established at its founding in Taisho 15 (1926). 'Practice of Wisdom and Compassion' represents the way of life of a Bodhisattva in Buddhism, meaning 'one who aspires to complete their own training and save all sentient beings.' Under this philosophy, the university upholds an educational vision of 'Becoming Four Types of People' rooted in Buddhist principles: Compassion, Self-Illumination, Middle Way, and Coexistence. Building on its past achievements, the university regards its 100th anniversary in 2026 as a 'second founding' and is expanding its educational and research activities.
Official Website: https://www.tais.ac.jp/
Taisho University (President: Tomozumi Jindai, Location: Toshima-ku, Tokyo) has established a new track and field club on April 1, 2026, as a core measure of its 'sports enhancement' initiative, aimed at improving student athletic performance and strengthening the university's brand communication, coinciding with its 100th anniversary in 2026. Masami Soeta has been appointed as the first director.
Mr. Soeta has extensive coaching experience in the university Ekiden world, having led teams as a director in the main Hakone Ekiden race, and has received high praise for both improving athletic performance and developing athletes. His knowledge and leadership are expected to be fully utilized in the challenge of launching the university's track and field club.
Furthermore, to enhance the coaching staff, Nobuharu Sato, who has rich experience as a director, coach, and scout in corporate teams and universities, has also been appointed. He will work in cooperation with the director to strengthen the team.
As an educational institution, the university's track and field club also emphasizes the development of human potential and collaboration with local communities, aiming to create new value in university sports. Although it is a challenge from scratch, we will strive to build a team that can compete at the national level and aim for participation in the main Hakone Ekiden race, while valuing the growth of our students, not just their athletic achievements.
[Director Profile]
Name: Masami Soeta
Date of Birth: March 29, 1977 (Age 49)
Alma Mater: Kokushikan University
● Career
August 2010 - March 2015: Long-distance Coach, Tokyo Keizai University Track and Field Club
April 2015 - October 2015: Ekiden Coach, Kokushikan University Track and Field Club
November 2015 - March 2022: Ekiden Director, Kokushikan University Track and Field Club
April 2022 - March 2026: Ekiden Coach, Kokushikan University Track and Field Club
April 2026 - : Director, Taisho University Track and Field Club
● Main Achievements
・Hakone Ekiden (Tokyo-Hakone Intercollegiate Ekiden Race): 8 consecutive appearances (93rd to 100th editions)
・All Japan University Ekiden Championship: Participated (48th and 55th editions)
・92nd Hakone Ekiden (Tokyo-Hakone Intercollegiate Ekiden Race): Director of Kanto Student Alliance Team
[Head of Scouting and Strengthening Coach Profile]
Name: Nobuharu Sato
Date of Birth: January 11, 1961 (Age 65)
Place of Birth: Fukushima Prefecture
● Career
April 2003: Director, Fujitsu Track and Field Club
March 2005: Director, JAL Grand Service Track and Field Club
December 2010: Director, Seitoku University Track and Field Club
April 2018: Appointed Coach and Scout, Komazawa University Track and Field Club (concurrently with Seitoku University)
April 2026: Coach, Taisho University Track and Field Club
● Main Achievements
After being appointed as coach and scout for Komazawa University Track and Field Club in 2018, he dedicated himself to discovering and developing top-level athletes under the guidance of Komazawa University Track and Field Club (now General Director Hiroaki Oyakagi).
He also made significant contributions to improving the team's athletic performance, supporting the following achievements in the 'Three Major University Ekiden Races':
・Hakone Ekiden (Tokyo-Hakone Intercollegiate Ekiden Race): 2 overall victories
・Izumo Ekiden (Izumo All Japan University Selected Ekiden Race): 2 victories
・All Japan University Ekiden Championship: 5 victories
◆About Taisho University
Taisho University is a university operated collaboratively by the four founding Buddhist sects: Tendai, Shingon Buzan, Shingon Chisan, and Jodo, as well as the Jishu sect. The spirit of this collaboration is supported by the founding philosophy of 'Practice of Wisdom and Compassion,' established at its founding in Taisho 15 (1926). 'Practice of Wisdom and Compassion' represents the way of life of a Bodhisattva in Buddhism, meaning 'one who aspires to complete their own training and save all sentient beings.' Under this philosophy, the university upholds an educational vision of 'Becoming Four Types of People' rooted in Buddhist principles: Compassion, Self-Illumination, Middle Way, and Coexistence. Building on its past achievements, the university regards its 100th anniversary in 2026 as a 'second founding' and is expanding its educational and research activities.
Official Website: https://www.tais.ac.jp/