The new head coach of the men's track and field team is Yasushi Sakaguchi. The famous head coach who trained the Japanese Olympic marathon team aims to nurture students who excel in both academics and sports.
March 5, 2025 NEWS RELEASE【No.19】
Mr. Yasushi Sakaguchi will take up the post of new head coach of the men's track and field team at Hiroshima International University (President: Juichiro Shimizu) on April 1, 2025. As one of the most renowned coaches in Japan, who previously coached the Chugoku Electric Power Company track and field team, won the All-Japan Corporate Ekiden Championship (New Year Ekiden) twice, and has trained three Olympic marathon runners, he will now train students who excel in both academics and sports in his hometown of Hiroshima, as a culmination of his career.
Key Points of this Case
● Mr. Sakaguchi, who has trained three members of the Japanese Olympic marathon team, has been appointed head coach of the men's track and field team. ● As a culmination of his coaching career, he chose to coach at our university in his hometown of Hiroshima from among several other offers. ● He aims to pass on his experience and nurture students who excel in both academics and sports.
Born in Hiroshima Prefecture, Sakaguchi was active at Sera High School, Waseda University, and S&B Foods before founding the Chugoku Electric Power Track and Field Club in 1989. Starting from scratch, he steadily strengthened the team by practicing under streetlights after working full-time. He values "human connections," "contribution to Hiroshima," and "passing on to the next generation," and has nurtured marathon runners who have won the All-Japan Corporate Ekiden Championships and competed in the Olympics and World Championships. When he retired as coach of the team, which has now become one of Japan's leading corporate teams, last year, he received multiple offers. He chose to culminate his coaching career at his hometown university in Hiroshima. The men's track and field club has not had any notable results to date, so Coach Sakaguchi will be starting from scratch again.
【profile】
Name: Yasushi Sakaguchi
Date of birth: September 2, 1961 (63 years old)
Major career: Graduated from Hiroshima Prefectural Sera High School. Won the Inter-High School Championships and the National Athletic Meet (now the National Sports Meet), won the first section of the National High School Ekiden, and set a new high school record for the 1500m. At Waseda University, he participated in the Hakone Ekiden for four consecutive years, setting a new section record for the ninth section (held the record for 13 years), and in his fourth year, ran the second section as captain, the ace section, leading Waseda University to its first overall victory in 30 years. After joining SB Foods, he contributed to four consecutive victories in the All-Japan Corporate Ekiden and was active in marathons. He then became a coach. In 1989, he helped found the Chugoku Electric Power Company Athletics Club. In 2004, he won the All-Japan Corporate Ekiden for the first time. He trained three Japanese Olympic marathon representatives. He is the head of the Japan Association of Athletics Federations men's marathon department and the training coach for the men's marathon at the Tokyo Olympics.
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■Contact for inquiries regarding the contents Hiroshima International University Track and Field Club (Contact: Masafumi Hagiwara) TEL: 0823-70-4503 HAGIWARA.Masafumi@josho.ac.jp
■For interview inquiries, please contact the Public Relations Office at Hiroshima International University (contact person: Nishigame) TEL: 0823-27-3102 koho@ms.hirokoku-u.ac.jp
■Department in charge of this matter: Public Relations Office, Josho Gakuen School Corporation (Persons in charge: Ishimura, Kinoshita) TEL: 06-6954-4026 Koho@joshyo.ac.jp
Last updated: 2025.03.05
