From the Meiji period (1868–1912) of rapid modernization and nation-building through the present day, Japanese society has displayed an impressive interest in the sport of distance running. As Thomas Havens charts in this book, Japanese distance running as both consumable spectacle and participatory event reflects a number of intersecting historical forces, including early twentieth-century national and imperial ambitions, postwar democratization, corporate image management, elite academic identities, shifting gender norms, commercial media, and, of course, the multiple interests of the Japanese public. Drawing on official Japan Amateur Sports Association and media records, as well as autobiographies and personal accounts, Havens has produced a richly detailed and interesting work of sport history.
Running in Japan stands out for numbers alone. Since the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, Havens writes, the number of formal (42.195 km) marathons held yearly in Japan has risen to several hundred (p. 4). In one weekend in November 2012, more...
