#Japan #Bears Camellia #Princess Ekiden #Aiwa Sakaguchi #Munakata, Fukuoka

Bears Camellia at the Princess Ekiden 2025

The Bears Camellia women's track and field team, established by Bears Co., Ltd. on April 1, 2022, made its debut in the prestigious Princess Ekiden held on October 19, 2025, in the scenic regions of Munakata and Fukutsu in Fukuoka Prefecture. This marked a significant milestone as the team strives to carve out a name for themselves in the competitive landscape of women's long-distance running in Japan.

Competing fiercely against a myriad of talented teams, Bears Camellia secured a 23rd place finish in the race. Although they did not reach their target of 16th place necessary to qualify for the upcoming Queen’s Ekiden, the support from enthusiastic fans propelled the team members to display commendable performance.

For the next competition in 2026, the team is now focused on setting an ambitious goal to place among the top 8 in the Queen’s Ekiden. With renewed determination, Bears Camellia is preparing to stage an impressive comeback as they pursue further achievements.

Team Progress and Development

Bears Camellia has shown remarkable growth since their inception. In their first year of existence, they participated in the Princess Ekiden for the first time, placing 20th in 2023. In 2024, they overcame the qualifying rounds to make their debut in the Queen's Ekiden where they finished in 23rd place. The team is continuously evolving and gaining experience with each event.

This year, the team welcomed a new captain, Aiwa Sakaguchi, who secured victory at the 2025 Hokkaido Marathon on August 31, therefore earning the opportunity to compete in the Marathon Grand Championships (MGC). Additionally, foreign athlete Susan Kamuso joined the ranks, adding to the team's talent pool. Furthermore, the newly appointed manager, Kaho Tanaka, brings in her experience from her 2nd place finish in the Queen's Ekiden 2016, enriching the team's strategic planning.

The running coach, Hidenori Yamanaka, has been an invaluable asset for the team, balancing his role as a coach and an active athlete for NTT Business Associates East Japan athletics team. This dual career model showcases the dedication of both athletes and staff, adapting to a new system that fosters professional growth and athletic excellence.

Performance Overview

During the race, the individual performances were as follows:

• - 1st Leg (7.0km): Rina Yaji - 25th place, 23:44
• - 2nd Leg (3.6km): Momoe Hirota - 11th place, 11:32
• - 3rd Leg (10.7km): Aiwa Sakaguchi - 17th place, 35:52
• - 4th Leg (3.8km): Susan Kamuso - 10th place, 11:45
• - 5th Leg (10.4km): Saki Matsui - 30th place, 38:19
• - 6th Leg (6.695km): Sora Yamazaki - 23rd place, 23:06

Overall, they finished the race with a time of 2:24:18, securing 23rd place. Despite not achieving their set goal, the team received an overwhelming amount of encouragement from their supporters.

Coach Yuya Takayanagi's Remarks

Coach Yuya Takayanagi expressed gratitude towards the fans, stating, “Thank you for the incredible support. The encouragement from the crowd motivated the athletes to give their all until the end. We have set a 3-year plan from 2024 to 2026 aiming for a top 8 finish in the Queen’s Ekiden. Although we fell short this year, we remain committed to pursuing this goal.”

The team aspires to deliver exciting races to their supporters in the coming year and will march forward with unity and drive toward their ambitions.

About Bears Camellia

Bears Camellia operates under Bears Co., Ltd., founded in 1999. The team aims to not only excel in athletics but also to enhance the athletic performance of their members in collaboration with Waseda University's Sports Science Department and Sports Motivation, led by CTO Shuichi Nakano. They are recognized as a model case of 'dual careers' where athletes work towards building their professional careers while competing at the highest athletic level. The team continues to inspire with their drive for both competitive success and professional development, bringing hope and smiles to society.

You can learn more about the team on their official website: Bears Camellia.

Related Organizations: The overarching organization, Bears Co., Ltd., has also established a cheerleading team, “Bears Ray,” known internationally for their expertise and a wind orchestra aimed at promoting employee dual careers. This reflects the company's commitment to fostering a rich and fulfilling environment for their staff.