Sendai's Fastest Decided! Tokyo 2025 World Athletics 4x100m Relay Japan Representative Naoki Ougami to Participate. Hakone Ekiden Champion Aogaku OB Team, Tohoku Rakuten, and 89ERS Gather at Xebio Arena Sendai.

Naoki Ougami (Aomori Prefectural Government), a member of the Japan national team for the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics 4x100m Relay, will also challenge the 30m dash.

A 30m dash experience lane will be set up on the day of the event. Anyone can run for free without prior registration.

SPEEDSTAR Inc. will hold the "SPEED STAR 30m Dash Challenge Xebio Arena Sendai Tournament" on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at Xebio Arena Sendai (Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture). In addition to Naoki Ougami, a member of the Japan national team for the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics 4x100m Relay, and Mr. Nobuharu Asahara, a silver medalist in the 4x100m relay at the 2008 Beijing Olympics (SPEEDSTAR Ambassador), professional teams such as the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles and 89ERS will participate. Furthermore, an OB team from Aoyama Gakuin University, which won the Hakone Ekiden, will compete in a 30m time trial. This event follows the Burandōmu Ichibancho Shopping Street tournament on Sunday, June 21, and will serve as a new model for regional sports collaboration. Additionally, a 30m dash experience lane, which does not require advance registration, will be permanently installed at the venue. Anyone, including spectators, can try the time trial. Admission and participation are free.

About This Tournament

This tournament is an event organized by SPEEDSTAR, which advocates the slogan "Full Sprint for Life," allowing everyone from children to seniors to enjoy short-distance sprinting beyond all sports categories. The 30m dash is suitable for all ages as an exercise that can be done in a short time and in any location, and it is gaining attention from shopping streets and municipalities nationwide as a model for "making sports a part of daily life." Under the support of Sendai City, Sports Commission Sendai, Japan Association of Athletics Federations, and Miyagi Association of Athletics, students from Sendai University and Sendai Resort & Sports College will participate as volunteers, realizing this event through the collaboration of government, educational institutions, local professional sports teams, and local businesses for the revitalization of the Sendai/Miyagi area.

Featured Athletes

This tournament will bring together notable participants from various fields.

Participants and Teams

Profiles and Highlights

Nobuharu Asahara

SPEEDSTAR Ambassador. Silver medalist in the 4x100m relay at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Following the Burandōmu tournament, he will also compete in this event, showcasing a full-power 30m as a missionary of running culture.

Naoki Ougami

Sprinter and member of the Japan national team for the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics 4x100m Relay. A current athlete active on the world stage will participate specially. Pay attention to his overwhelming speed.

Aoyama Gakuin University OB Team

OBs from Aoyama Gakuin University, who conquered the Hakone Ekiden, will form a special team to compete. The titans of long-distance running will challenge the full-sprint 30m.

Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles

A professional baseball team based in Sendai. Professional baseball players will challenge the time with their speed.

Sendai 89ERS

A professional basketball team based in Sendai. Basketball players will showcase their explosive power over 30m.

General Participants

Open to participants of all ages, from children to seniors and the general public, regardless of age or athletic experience.

SPEEDSTAR Experience Lane (On-site registration available, no advance booking required)

Within the venue of this tournament, a "30m Dash Experience Lane" will be permanently set up separately from the competition lanes. All attendees on the day of the event can run 30m without prior registration. Measured times can be checked on the spot. Open to everyone from children to adults and seniors, regardless of sports experience. You can casually enjoy the experience of running yourself while watching the athletes' races.

Gaining Attention Nationwide as a Regional Collaboration Model

The SPEEDSTAR Sendai Tournament is attracting observation and inquiries from other municipalities and shopping streets as a practice of a "regional sports collaboration model" that integrates professional sports teams, universities, vocational schools, local shopping streets, and government. Miyagi Prefecture has one of the highest rates of childhood obesity in the country, making the expansion of sports participation opportunities an urgent issue. Through the "30m dash," an exercise that anyone can start immediately, SPEEDSTAR aims to spread the culture of sports habits from Sendai to the rest of the country.

Tournament Overview

Tournament Name

SPEED STAR 30m Dash Challenge Xebio Arena Sendai Tournament presented by JIG-SAW

Date and Time

Saturday, July 11, 2026, 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Venue

Xebio Arena Sendai

(1-4-10 Asuto Nagamachi, Taihaku-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)

Access

Approximately 5 minutes walk from the East Exit of JR Nagamachi Station

Participation Fee

Free (for both spectating and the experience lane)

Eligibility

No age or athletic experience requirements. Anyone can participate or spectate.

Guest Appearances

Nobuharu Asahara (SPEEDSTAR Ambassador / 2008 Beijing Olympics Silver Medalist)

Naoki Ougami (Japan National Team for Tokyo 2025 World Athletics 4x100m Relay)

Organizer, Supporters, Cooperators, Sponsors

Organizer

SPEEDSTAR Inc.

Supporters

Sendai City / Sports Commission Sendai / Japan Association of Athletics Federations / Miyagi Association of Athletics

Cooperators

Sendai University / Sendai Resort & Sports College / Sendai 89ERS / Regare Sendai / Mynavi Sendai Ladies / Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles / Sendai Air Jokers / Ichibancho Ichibangai Shopping Street Promotion Association / Machikuru Sendai General Incorporated Association

Sponsors

JIG-SAW Inc. / Sakura Co., Ltd. / PSS Inc. / Allspice Inc. / Sakabe Printing Co., Ltd. / Custom Produce Co., Ltd.

Inquiries for Observation/Media Coverage

Those wishing to observe or cover the event on the day should contact the inquiry contact below in advance.

Company Profile

Company Name: SPEED STAR Inc.

URL: https://www.jaaf.or.jp/rikujo-japan/speedstar/

Head Office Location: Tokyo Square Garden 14F WeWork, 3-1-1 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Phone Number: 03-6228-6308

Representative Name: Juro Shigaki

Capital: 25 million yen

Established: July 7, Reiwa 7 (2025)

Inquiries Regarding This Matter

Contact: SPEEDSTAR Inc. Event Secretariat

Email: [email protected]