For Japanese language learners, this is also a good moment to pick up a few race-related words, like eki-den for a relay road race, and senshu for athlete. The event starts at Atsuta Jingu in Nagoya and finishes at Ise Jingu, so the route itself carries a lot of cultural weight.
The 2026 field is set for the national university relay
All Japan University Ekiden 2026 will line up 27 teams, according to the latest published team list, with the race starting at Atsuta Jingu in Nagoya and finishing at Ise Jingu in Mie Prefecture. The course is 8 sections long and totals 106.8 km, which makes it one of the most important road relay races in Japanese university athletics. The event is officially the 58th edition of the championship, and the start time is 8:10 a.m. on November 1, 2026.
The headline names are exactly the ones most fans expected. Waseda, the Izumo champion, is in the field, and Komazawa returns as the defending champion. Chuo also makes the line-up, which gives the race a strong core of contenders before a single runner even takes the first bib.
My tip: if you are learning Japanese, keep an eye on the words sosenkyou for selection race and koshin for course records, because ekiden coverage uses them all the time. This event is a good example of how Japanese sports reporting mixes competition language with place names and route details, and that makes it especially useful for learners who want real context, not textbook examples.
Which schools are in the 27-team start list?
The published field brings together the most visible university programmes in the country, along with regional qualifiers and designated entries. Sporting News Japan lists 27 teams in total, with 2 of them entered as open participants, so the race has both a championship structure and a broader competitive field.
From the available team announcements and published previews, the main contenders include Waseda, Komazawa, Chuo, Nihon, Tokai, Daito Bunka, Kanagawa, Toyo, Chuo Gakuin, Yamanashi Gakuin, and other schools that earned their place through the qualifying process or recommendation system. That mix matters because university ekiden racing is never just about one powerhouse school, it is about whether a whole squad can hold form across eight very different legs.
Here is the practical takeaway for readers following the starter list: the start sheet is not only a roster, it is also a first clue about race tactics. Teams with deep distance squads can spread their strength across the middle sections, while teams with one or two standout runners often try to protect those legs for the decisive phases near the end.
Why this route matters so much
The Nagoya to Ise route gives the race a special identity. Atsuta Jingu is one of Japan's most important shrines, and Ise Jingu carries an even deeper national profile, so the course feels more ceremonial than a standard city loop. That setting fits ekiden culture very well, since relay racing in Japan often blends sports, tradition, and public ritual in a way that's hard to separate.
For learners, the location names are worth memorising too. Nagoya and Ise appear constantly in coverage, while the full finish line name, Ise Jingu Naiku Ujibashi-mae, is the kind of phrase that shows how precise Japanese sports and event writing can be.
What to watch on race day
The race opens early, and that matters because ekiden strategy starts before sunrise. Coaches have to decide where to place their strongest runners, which athletes can handle pressure on the opening stretch, and who can hold pace when the field starts to split.
Waseda will be watched closely because of its Izumo title, while Komazawa enters with the pressure that always comes with defending a championship. Chuo adds another layer, since a third major team can change the rhythm of the whole race if it stays in contact through the middle sections.
What I especially like about this event is how clearly it shows the Japanese obsession with relay balance. One brilliant runner is never enough, because the ekiden punishes weak legs fast. That is why start lists matter so much, and why fans spend so much time comparing line-ups before race day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many teams are in All Japan University Ekiden 2026?
There are 27 teams in the published field, including 2 open participants.
Where does the race start and finish?
It starts at Atsuta Jingu in Nagoya and finishes at Ise Jingu in Mie Prefecture.
What is the race distance?
The course is 106.8 km over 8 sections.
