Minamiaso Caldera Trail was the first ATM Candidate taking place on Kyushu, the southwesternmost island of Japan. Organised by the Local Gain group out of Kumamoto, Minamiaso has a winter and a summer edition, so participants can visit and enjoy the magnificent scenery along the trails in two completely different set-ups. The Winter Minamiaso took place in dry and good running conditions, albeit without snow this time. As such, it was a relatively fast race at the front, despite the significant elevation gain of 2500 hm for the 50km distance.

Tomohiro Machida proved to be quickest on the day in 5h53, winning the men’s race by some three-and-a-half minutes over Yohei Kawahara. The third spot on the podium was taken by Yuichiro Hayashi. Fastest female runner was Kyona Nonaka in 7h33, five minutes ahead of Seika Higashi. Sayo Matsuda claimed third place.

Minamiaso is one of the world’s largest volcanic calderas. You reach the area via Kumamoto, one of Kyushu’s main cities - the biggest is nearby Fukuoka. Kumamoto has an airport with even some international connections such as Hong Kong, and otherwise Fukuoka has more. Both cities are worth a visit, too.

The Summer Minamiaso is scheduled for early July 2026 and is expected to be officially announced in the course of January.

In the most epic edition of Izu Trail Journey ever, Hirokazu Nishimura and Honoka Akiyama both scored their third victory at the event in impressive style. Nishimura made his move at the very end after a smart and controlled race, while Akiyama was the outstanding female athlete this year finishing even in eleventh overall.

Heavy rain characterised the first five hours of the 70km race across the Izu peninsula south of Tokyo. While it wasn’t that cold, the wind along the mountain passes ensured that the rain-soaked runners had to protect themselves and layer-up to prevent hypothermia. Still, many participants would suffer that fate. Including none other than John Ray Onifa, the 2023 ATM Champion who was keen to be the first male foreigner to win ITJ. Alas, his bid ended at CP 3 and km 52, when he had already been dropped for good by the top five in the race. Also the young Natsuke Tomii, third female last year, would not make it to the finish along with over 650 others who had taken the start. Many others actually did not even turn up at the start due to the bad weather. Unseen at this event, just showing how tough it was out there and how rain can suddenly turn a fairly runable trail race into an absolute slugfest.

Yuya Kawasaki took the bull by the horns and went solo at the front, crossing the Nishina Pass first . Although the rain finally stopped right after the front runners crossed the Pass, there were no stunning Mount Fuji views this time. Short distance specialist Shoma Otagiri was close in second and also Hajime Kasagi and Hirokazi Nishimura were within just a few minutes. Tatsuya Itagaki was in fifth but losing touch with the lead quartet, as John Ray Onifa behind him also kept losing terrain. Hisashi Kitamura was running 14th at this point. One checkpoint later at km 52, three runners were practically back together. The one missing was Kawasaki, who seemed to be paying a bit of a price for his earlier attack. While Kasagi and Otagiri gave it their best shot on the ondulating final 15km, the experience of Nishimura proved decisive. When the winner of 2019 and 2023 and second-placer last year, made his move at the end of the race, the others no longer had a response. Nishimura crossed the new finish line in 6h13. Otagiri took second just under two minutes later, Kasagi third. Kawasaki and Itagaki held on to rank four and five, but Kento Tamura barely made it to sixth as Hisashi Kitamura ran a superb second part of the race to take seventh place still. Yuta Matsuyama suffered from the cold and came in in 36th place. He has placed Top 20 before in ITJ.

Some way behind Honoka Akiyama, who took her victory in 7h14, it was Arika Ito and newcomer Saegusa Moeka who scored second and third. The latter only started trail running three months ago! To note, both also still finished in the overall Top 50, which means something at Izu.

The next Japanese qualifier for Season 11’s ATM Championship ranking is Deep Japan Ultra in Niigata at the end of June.

This Sunday’s Izu Trail Journey promises to be one of the best of recent years with last year’s stars Koken Ogasawara and Hirokazu Nishimura challenged by a large number of domestic contenders - including Hisashi Kitamura - plus John Ray Onifa, who will aim to become the first non-Japanese man to win the classic 70km race across the Izu Peninsula. The 2023 ATM Champion from the Philippines is no stranger to Japan, and with the weather forecast showing uncharacteristic rain for race day, his chances of success may increase even more.

Veronika Vadovicova (2019) and Eszter Csillag (2023) already managed to win the women’s Izu race, but so far no “foreign man” has come really close to beating the local elites. John Ray Onifa, in excellent shape the past months, could just be the right man to accomplish this feat. It’s a course and a distance that suits him very well, and he finished ahead of last year’s race winner Koken Ogasawara at the latest world championships in Spain. While not every race is the same, it’s fair to assume that Ogasawara was not in Spain to enjoy a nice holiday either. Although Onifa has been around winning races in Hong Kong and Asia for several years now, a win this Sunday “in the lion’s den” could elevate his international standing still quite considerably. Last year, Ogasawara and Nishimura - also a former winner of this race - finished about a minute apart in 6h00. With rain expected, finishing times may be slower by default. The mid-section of ITJ has several technical downhill sections. With temperatures very moderate for the time of year and some slipping and sliding expected, Onifa could not wish for ‘better’ conditions for himself. One contender who knows Onifa like the back of his hand is Hisashi Kitamura. A regular participant in ITJ, he has never managed the top five (his best was sixth), but Kitamura has had several outstanding runs this season in Japan - including race wins. Let’s see if he can get closer to Nishimura, Ogasawara, Yuya Kawasaki, Kento Tamura and the like this year.

In the women’s race eyes will be focused on 2022 winner and last year’s runner-up Honoka Akiyama. A year ago, she put up a great effort against China’s Xiang Fuzhao but had to settle for second place. Natsuki Tomii , third on the podium last year, will be one of her rivals for the victory.

ITJ is attracting ever more international runners. Also ATM Grandmasters Alfredo Reyes Jr (Golden Grandmaster). Trevor Lim, Mario Yap, Nick Pilapil and Julie Mae Marquez are running tomorrow.

You can follow the race live on Asia Trail Master facebook and Youtube as usual with the race start at 6am local time (5 am Hong Kong/Manila time)

2023 ATM Champion John Ray Onifa this year won the 50/50 at The 9 Dragons

Hisashi Kitamura has shown superb form in Japanese races this year

ITJ has some of the most amazing scenery of any trail in Asia, but rain and clouds may hamper the joy

Running back in time

Niigata has become one of Asia Trail Master’s permanent race regions over the past ten years and we are happy this tradition continues also in 2026. Deep Japan Ultra is confirmed as an ATM qualifier for Season XI’s Championship with its usual two Grandmaster Quest race distances: 100 miles and 80km.

Organised by well-known runner Hiroaki Matsunaga, the event takes place in Niigata Prefecture, roughly 2-3 hours by shinkansen northwest of Tokyo. There’s also a few international flights to Niigata city directly. Visitors not familiar with Japan will experience the real countryside, which often remains unexplored. The host venue is the Mount Asakusa Park. Participants should be prepared for technical mountain trails, which at higher altitudes may still be covered in snow. Especially if you sign up for the 100 miles, do not come unprepared and unfocused. This is not a race to ‘try out’ 100 miles for the first time. The 80 km category has plenty of spice and technicality as well. Those who take it seriously will be rewarded with one of Asia’s finest endurance trail runs.

Make sure you read all the requirements in terms of mandatory gear. The website - linked below - is very detailed and in English , so you can prepare in the best possible way.

Register as soon as you can, because spots are limited. Note also that there is a strict registration deadline of 28 February. Too late is really too late here. Give yourself time to plan the event, including accommodation and travel, and get yourself ready for a wonderful trail experience next June!

Hokkaido’s Koken Ogasawara confirmed his pre-race status as favourite in the men’s race with a great win on the 43km course of Island Trail Awaji, a new points race in Season XI of the Asia Trail Master Championship. It’s his second victory in ATM after Izu Trail Journey last year. Ryoshin Hase and Kazufumi Ose joined him on the podium, while Yuta Matsuyama finished in ninth place. Tomohiro Mizukoshi came in 21st, indicating a high competitive level.

Fastest woman was Yuri Yoshizumi, ahead of Chisato Kario, one of the Japanese finalists in the upcoming ATM Championship Final at 9 Dragons, and China’s Wen Fangyuan.

Awaji is an island connected by bridge to the city of Kobe, not too far from Osaka. The island is known for its puppet theatre and for its oignons.

The next Japanese qualifier event is Izu Trail Journey on Sunday, 14 December.

We are very happy to announce that the popular Minamiaso Caldera Trail on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu has obtained the ATM Candidate Race label for its ‘winter edition’ on Saturday, 20 December 2025. It will be the 11th edition of the event, which features a 50km main race category in and around Minamiaso and one of the world’s largest volcanic calderas. For international runners, Minamiaso could be combined with Izu Trail Journey, the ATM Championship & Grandmaster Quest points race taking place six days earlier.

Organised by Local Gain Inc, Minamiaso brings together maximum 1500 runners across three race categories. Apart from the flagship 50km, there is also a 30km, a 18km and 2km for less ambitious runners. The 50km is not to be underestimated with approx 2500 metres of elevation gain, as well as potential snow and chilly temperatures. It is a beautiful course, which is designated as a national park in Japan.

Actually, Minamiaso Caldera Trail takes place twice a year: once in winter and once in summer (July). Runners can therefore enjoy two different experiences each year.

Minamiaso is a village in Kumamoto Prefecture, which has an international airport with flights to a.o. Hong Kong, Seoul, Busan, Shanghai and Taiwan. Of course, there are also plenty of domestic connections to Tokyo, Osaka etc. Note that Fukuoka, Japan’s fifth biggest city on the northside of Kyushu island, is just a 2-hour drive away from Kumamoto and Minamiaso as well. International runners could target Fukuoka airport, too, and take a shinkansen to Kumamoto (50 minutes).

The website of the event is fully translated in English and linked below. Note that registration is open and expected to be full by the end of October.

Photos below by PhotomorU.

We are happy to announce that this year’s 12th edition of Izu Trail Journey in Japan is scheduled for Sunday, 14 December and is now open for registration. One of the country’s most iconic and most competitive trail races has been a member of our Asia Trail Master calendar since 2017 and always ranks among the very best events of the season. The Izu Peninsula is not far south from Tokyo , and race pack collection site Mishima is connected to the capital via shinkansen bullet train.

The stunning course of the Izu Trail Journey, often referred to as "ITJ", takes runners from the edge of the ocean up and across the mountains of the peninsula. It’s an A to B course mainly following an old pilgrimage trail of 70km, which means it’s also a Grandmaster distance. The expansive vistas of the Pacific Ocean below and the HUGE views of the majestic snow-topped Mt. Fuji you'll encounter while running along the Nishina Pass are awesome and will absolutely blow you away!

While the competition is tough, the cut-off time of 14 hours for the 70km is doable provided you keep moving and can also handle cold weather, which often characterises Izu. Snow is not excluded. The second part of the course is more technical and has more elevation difficulties than the initial runable 30km. Last year, victory went to Hokkaido’s Koken Ogasawara and China’s Xiang Fuzhao.

Registration goes via the official website linked below. Sign up soon, as this one fills up! A great end-of-year trip, Izu Trail Journey remains highly recommended for everyone keen on trying out a race in Japan.

The Karate Kit is totally back !! Hisashi Kitamura brilliantly won the 100 km points race at Shiga Kogen in Nagano, just a week after nearly winning Deep Japan Ultra 80 as well. In Niigata he had to settle for third place after a marshall error, but last weekend everything went according to plan. Kitamura took a humble start and at some point was even reported to be running only in seventh place. Up front it was Shoma Maruyama, one of the protagonists in The 9 Dragons earlier this season, who was setting the pace together with Jun Takeuchi and Takumi Sawayamagi. The weather was cool and runners also had to negiotiate a few rain drops, but all in all conditions were great. As the beautiful day time race continued, Kitamura began to move up the leaderboard as Shoma Maruyama began to slow down. At km 80, Kitamura was in the lead. Who says you cannot perform at a high level two weeks in a row? It’s the 10th career win in Asia Trail Master for last year’s and the 2019 vice-champion. He will be again among the top favourites to finally clinch the title. Kitamura actually needed a good result to be certain of qualfiication. Since he moved back to Japan, he is compelled to be choosing his races more carefully and is no longer travelling as much.

In second place in the finish was Takumi Sawayamagi and in third Jun Takeuchi. Shoma Maruyama took fourth, just like in the 9 Dragons in February, which means he now has 800 ATM points in the bag. That might be sufficient for qualification into Team Japan for the ATM Final. Yoshiki Toda nearly caught him, but finished fifth.

The women's 100k race was won by Sachi Nakano, ahead of Shiori Uehara and Ayaka Oono.

The second of our Japanese back-to-back points race weekends features Shiga Kogen 100 in Nagano, a great new entry on our Asia Trail Master Championship calendar. A very scenic 100km race with 5100 hm elevation gain awaits the runners, as they cross one of the country’s main national parks, which is also labelled a UNESCO Eco-Park. Despite the considerable elevation gain, the trail course is more runable and less technical than last week’s Deep Japan Ultra in Niigata. A few people are doing the double, the most prominent of those being Hisashi Kitamura.

The vice-ATM Champion 2024 and 2019 had a stroke of bad luck last week at DJU. Comfortably leading the 80km race at the 50k aid station point, Kitamura was then sent onto the short distance course by a confused marshal. By the time he noticed something was wrong, it was already several kilometres further and two other runners had moved ahead of him. Kitamura took third place on the podium as a result, which still had significance as it boosted his Season 10 ATM points totally to 715 and third place in Japan’s ATM ranking. The Top 5 gets automatically qualfied for this year’s Championship Final in Vietnam on 4 October. Since he moved back to Tokyo, Hisashi Kitamura is primarily focusing on the ATM races in Japan to score points, so Shiga Kogen 100 remains important in that context. With more and more Japanese runners entering ATM points races, 715 points is probably not yet completely safe. On Saturday, he will be up against some other known Japanese elite runners, such as Takumi Sawayanagi and Shoma Maruyama. The latter was fourth in the 9 Dragons earlier this year and could get himself in a strong position to be qualified for Team Japan as well.

Shiga Kogen 100 is organised by the Shiga Kogen 100 Race Committee and Mr Koji Otsuka, one of the country’s most experienced trail running event organisers. As the official website reads, Shiga Kogen occupies the center of Joshinetsu Kogen National Park. It is a famous ski resort that hosted the Nagano Olympics (1998) in the winter. During the green season, Shiga Kogen is a treasure trove of nature, with beautiful alpine plants and beautiful lakes and wetlands that can be enjoyed in the vast plateau area. The Shiga Kogen, which has been certified as a UNESCO Eco Park, is an attractive area where nature and human society coexist.

This is a mountainous area so. even in summer temperatures remain cool and are ideal for endurance sports. The start and finish venue lies at about 1600m above sea level, and the highest point of the course is at 2200m. The organisers are confident that that despite the elevation gain, the 100km is a great introduction to the classic ultra distance for those who have never done it before. On the start list we also see several runners from Hong Kong, Malaysia and Philippines to name a few. Two Filipino women are to watch out for: Avegail Depanay and Metzi Joy Alson. Both are having a great competitive ATM season and are currently ranked fifth and sixth in the Filipino points ranking. Also Malaysia’s Ng Kwan Hooi has been going well and could propel herself into her country’s Top 5 with a good result at Shiga Kogen this weekend.

The race flag-off is scheduled for 4:30 a.m. on Saturday early morning. The cut-off time is 26 hours, meaning Sunday morning 6:30 am.

Hisashi Kitamura: can he score the victory at Shiga Kogen 100 ?

Shoma Maruyama was 4th in the 9 Dragons in Hong Kong earlier this year

We are delighted to announce that Island Trail Awaji has joined the Asia Trail Master Championship calendar with its popular event on Sunday, 23 November. Awaji is an island in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, in the eastern part of the Seto Inland Sea between the islands of Honshū and Shikoku. The nearest best-known city is Kobe and international travelers best fly into Osaka. On the programme for ATM points is the 43km race from A to B, from Ama Coast Beach to Omaha Beach Park, across the Yuzuruha Mountain Range. In total there is 2200 hm of elevation gain to be conquered, which is not nothing for a relatively short race.

Race day is Sunday, but runners better come to the island already on Saturday to collect their race packs at the finish venue, i.e. Omaha Beach Park. It’s also the location of the famous Sumoto Castle. It is probably good to find accommodation in this area as well, and make use of the shuttle bus to the start area on Sunday morning. The start of the race is scheduled for 8 am.

Island Trail Awaji is open for 700 runners. Registration is open and all details are available in English via the standard Sports Entry platform, which is also linked below. Also check the mandatory gear list and transportation options to reach Awaji island.

On the beautiful event website we can also find out about many tourist and sightseeing spots and read about Awaji as the Island of Creation.

Accoding to the "Kuni-umi" (Birth of the Land) myth in the Kojiki, Japan's okdest chronicle, Awaji Island was the very first island born in Japan, created by the deities Izanagi-no-Mikoto and Izanami-no-Mikoto. The two deities stirred the chaotic, newly-formed earth with the heavenly spear, Amenonuboko. Drops of salt water fell from the tip of the spear and solidified, forming Onokoro Island, followed by the birth of Japan.

Awaji, the "Miketsukuni" that Provided Food for the Imperial Court

Surrounded on all sides by the sea, Awaji Island has long been known for its abundance of marine products such as salt, fish, and seaweed. Its reputation for these blessings of the sea reached all the way to the ancient capital, and many anthologies and historical texts, including the Manyoshu, mention "Awaji salt" and refer to Awaji as a "Miketsukuni"-a land that supplied food to the imperial court. Even today, Awaji Island is proud of its rich food resources.

https://japan-heritage.bunka.go.jp/ja/stories/story030/

For the third year in succession Deep Japan Ultra is one of the Japanese events on our ATM Championship calendar, featuring reputed 100 Miles and 80km race categories for points, including for runners on the Grandmaster Quest. From an ATM perspective, the 80km looks like the most interesting this year with Hisashi Kitamura among the favourites, and also fresh 4-star Grandmaster Tomohiro Mizukoshi in it. Taking place in beautiful Niigata, home region of event director Hiroaki Matsunaga, Deep Japan remains a considerable and underestimated challenge by many, especially with regard to the 100 Miles race.

It has become more quiet around Hisashi KItamura since he moved from Kuala Lumpur back to Tokyo after 8 years, but that does not mean the ‘Karate Kit’ is no longer racing. As we saw last year in the ATM Championship Final, we may actually still get to see the best Kitamura ever. He was a little disappointed with his Izu Trail performance last December - his only ATM race in Season 10 so far - , but he feels strong for Deep Japan. As always in Japan, we will get to discover new names of runners this weekend, too, making a race prediction not too easy. Hong Kong’s Vincent Chan and Thailand’s Jaruratchakul Naruchit may also say a few words on the 80k.

On the 100 Miles, apart from the domestic stars, we also see the names of Bali’s Nizar Surydratama on the start list, ATM Finalist last year and already solid again in V Trail in Laos earlier this season. The women’s 100 MIles start list sees Risa Kamiya, winner of Prenn Trail Summit 180 in Dalat last December, and other ATM regular names Ashwini Bhat from India and Rija Gubes from Malaysia.

Deep Japan Ultra is the first of two ATM points races in Japan scheduled on back-to-back weekends. Next week we also have Shiga Kogen 100 in the Japan Alps, nearby Nagano.

Omnipresent in our Asia Trail Master Championship series for many years, Tomohiro Mizukoshi has completed level 4 of the Grandmaster Quest at Lantau 70 in Hong Kong last Saturday. The 50-year-old runner from Tokyo finished his 20th ATM Ultra and is now a 4-Star ‘Golden’ Grandmaster!

Tomohiro Mizukoshi has been one of the most popular and recognisable trail runners in ATM since he first appeared in 2017. Traditionally wearing a pretty wide headband, he has also been one of the most successful competitive athletes in our series. In 2018 he finished third in our Championship, behind Alessandro Sherpa and Salva Rambla. He scored one race victory, an impressive one, in Plataran X Trail Bali in the same year. In total, Tomohiro scored nine Top 3 podiums during his ATM journey, the latest one just a year ago at Cuc Phuong in Vietnam. He has been part of Team Japan in the ATM Championship Final every season and things are also looking good for him in 2025. Having reached age 50, Tomohiro arguably needs to find the perfect trail course and form-of-the-day to eye a podium result, but when he does he still uses the opportunity. Last December he came 4th in Prenn Trail Summit in Dalat, for example.

While originally focused on medium distance trail races, Tomohiro Mizukoshi gradually began to challenge himself on longer ultras, too. Even in hot and humid climates such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. Always flying in from Tokyo, mind you. A true ambassador for the sport and for adventurous spirit, unafraid to leave his comfort zone, Tomohiro is a great new Golden Grandmaster. For the record, he collected his last five GM points to reach gold status at Lantau 70 (Hong Kong), Borneo TMBT Ultra (Malaysia), Vietnam Trail Marathon, Siksorogo Lawu Ultra (Indonesia) and Deep Japan Ultra.

Tomohiro Mizukoshi is only the fourth trail runner to complete the four levels of the Grandmaster Quest, after his compatriots Hisashi Kitamura and Masafumi Yamamoto and Filipino Rhea Batac, the only woman to accomplish this feat.

Tomohiro has also been an ATM Championship Finalist for Team Japan in the past three years