The culture of running in Japan -- Racing to catch up -- A galaxy of distance runners -- Distance running as a commodity -- "Greater depth, more women": marathons and ekidens in the 1990s -- From peak to plateau: elite runners in the 2000s -- Running for everyone
Summary
Japanese have been fervid long-distance runners for many centuries. 'Marathon Japan' is a comprehensive English-language chronicle of the history of this important part of Japanese sports culture. It traces the development of distance racing beginning with the Stockholm Olympics of 1912, when the Japanese government used athletics as a means of winning the respect of Western countries and achieving parity with the world powers