Kai no kuni Long Trail PASaPASA HIRAGA JUN CUP 2022
Day 5, November 12th, is the final day of the Kai no kuni Long Trail HIRAGA JUN CUP.
There was a morning surprise at Camp Ike’s teahouse! There was a commotion inside the tent.
Whoa, wow, Ishikawa Hiroki had rushed over to support us.
This got everyone excited.
Matsunaga, half asleep, took one look at Ishikawa, then a second! (LOL) His eyes were wide open. Everyone saw this and burst out laughing.
We had our final morning meeting and then set off into the pitch black mountains.
The Southern Alps Front Trail continues.
For the first four hours we are once again traveling on a rough but fun path.
Everyone looks so happy. There are many things to enjoy, such as steep slopes, steep gravel areas like ant pits, and rope zones. There were some places where there was a high risk of falling rocks, but everyone was careful to avoid accidents.
As you would expect from professionals.
And so we arrived safely at dawn.
We are finally reaching the climax of our journey, Mount Houou. Many people supported us along the course that day.
Thank you so much.
We were given Yashajin Omochi aid by the president and former president of the Yamanashi Prefecture Mountaineering Federation, and we also enjoyed some delicious pork soup at Minami-Omuro Hut and Yakushi-dake Hut.
Thanks to this, we were able to proceed smoothly and happily, with our hearts and stomachs full.
The highest elevation on this trip was Mt. Kannon at 2,841m.
You could see all of the route you’ve taken so far, overlooked by Mt. Fuji.
This was a clear view point, from which you could even see the finish line.
The white granite ground, the tree line, and the Shirane Sanzan mountains on the opposite bank were certainly exciting.
The cheers of the athletes echoed around the area.
It was a moment when I was really glad I had come with everyone, and a moment when I thought how great it was to climb the Houou Sanzan mountains.
We quickly descended the steep slope of Sainokawara at Jizogatake, then the Dondokozawa waterfall, and before we knew it we were at Aoki Onsen.
With support members giving us plenty of refueling, we finally entered the real climax.
It’s over.
The five days went by in a flash.
We can return home safely.
But our time running with everyone is coming to an end.
A mixture of emotions fills me with emotion.
A lot of people ran in Kai no kuni from the very first day.
I’m sure Jun Hiraga was taking pictures from the sky, saying things like, “Everyone, can I say something? The JUN CUP is about to end. How was it?”
Leaving Aoki Kosen, the last aid station, the road joins, but the leading group picks up speed again as they make their way to Torii Pass, about 5km away!
They stay in gear until the very end.
And finally, the Suzuarashi Forest Road.
Hardly anyone passes through.
The forest road, which got dark at the end, was in pretty bad condition when I scouted it out, but on this day it was nicely maintained, just like the last time I went around it.
“Thank you,” I muttered to myself as I left the Suzuarashi Forest Road.
Once we reached the village, we realized it was only 3km to go to our finish line, Nirasaki Station.
We ran along the “Happiness Path,” the same path that Nobel Prize winner Dr. Satoshi Omura used to commute to school as a student.
We were already quite happy, but we were even happier to be able to run along this path together at the end.
We felt more and more fulfilled.
And then we reached the finish line.
Everyone had a happy look on their face.
Although everyone was in different conditions, we were able to finish these five days in a very positive way, and I’m truly grateful to all the participating athletes.
Thank you to all the people who came to pick us up at Nirasaki Station.
Also, thank you to everyone who supported, sponsored, and encouraged us.
Our journey with this group has come to an end for now.
However, the Kai no kuni Long Trail PASaPASA HIRAGA JUN CUP will continue in the future.
We would like as many people as possible to see this place.
This is the wish of our leader, Hiraga Jun, and all of us.
We look forward to your continued support.
Would you like to travel around Kai no kuni with us?
photo by
📸@fujimakisho
📸@doryu_3754
✴︎Supporters✴︎
Yamanashi Prefecture
Yamanashi Prefecture Sports Association
Yamanashi Prefecture Mountaineering Federation
Nirasaki City
Yamanashi City
Fuefuki City
Minobu Town
Fujikawa Town
✴︎cooperation✴︎
Yamanashi Sports Engine
Nirasaki City Sports Commission
Nirasaki City Tourism Association
JA Rihoku
Nirasaki Omura Art Museum
Seitetsu Community Center
Yamadera Community Center
Hakuho-kai
✴︎PASaPASA Project Team✴︎
New-HALE
FULLMARKS
VESPA International
✴︎Special Support✴︎
aandf
ultraspire
NWPL
newhale
highclear
hungerknockoriginals
houdinisportswear
brisamarina
vespasportsupplement
yamatune
Iino Clinic
IROHA CRAFT
OUTING PRODUCTS ELK
Asahi Electric Corp.
Fukumoto Dental Clinic
Madonotakumi
Yamanashi Central Bank
✴︎supplier✴︎
AMERICAYA DIY Service Center
ONYONE
Yes! Bagel
YETI GELATO
Uematsu Natural Therapy Center
Cafe Mashikobito
TERRACOFFEEROASTERS
quantum
Kiipon Rice Works
k2 Health and Fitness
SALOMON
38shoten
sinano
Shinra Sauna
SUUNTO
Trico Hair
Doctor Sona
Hakuba Maruishi Ryokan
Honey Action Energy
HESTRA
POC
MAGMA
Mizukuchi Method
Yanase Kofu
YuiHempJapan
Yokohama Tire
Ledlenser
✴︎Camera crew✴︎
大嶋慎也OOSHIMA SHINYA
嶋津穂高SHIMADU HODAKA
高橋雄介TAKAHASHI YUSUKE
武部努龍TAKEBE DORYU
藤巻翔FUJIMAKI SHO
✴︎ the beginning ✴︎
平賀淳HIRAGA JUN
〔Japanese alphabetical order. Sorry for omitting honorifics.〕
