Japan’s long-distance system (business group)

① What is a business group?
Companies hire athletes as employees and run track and field clubs.
Athletes compete mainly in long-distance events (5000 meters, 10,000 meters, ekiden, etc.) while they belong to the company.
For example:
Toyota Motor Corporation
Asahi Chemical Co., Ltd
Fujitsu Corporation
GMO Internet Group, etc
② The player’s position (employee or professional?)
So basically, the players in the business team are not going to be able to do that
👉 Office worker (full-time or contract employee) + track and field athlete
The salary is paid by the company
Practice is central to work (exemption from work) or light work)
Performance may affect evaluation or contract
*The number of teams that are close to full professional contracts is increasing.
③ main convention structure
● Japan Jitsugyo Association of Athletics Federations (Jitsuren)
It is an organization that organizes industrial teams and runs major competitions.
● major competition
New Year’s Ekiden (All Nippon Jitsudan Inter-Ekiden)
→ The highest competition of industrial groups (January 1 every year)
All Japan Jitsugyo Track and Field
Japan Championship
Ekiden of each district Jitsugyo-dan
Especially in the New Year Ekiden,
👉 It will have a significant impact on the future of the team’s evaluation, sponsorship, and players.
④ league structure
Business groups are divided by region.
East Japan Industrial Corporation
Chubu Industrial Corporation
Kansai Industrial Company
Kyushu Industrial Company, etc
If you perform in each district’s ekiden or competition,
👉 Qualified for New Year’s Ekiden
※It is a little different from the promotion and demotion of the J-League, and the Ekiden qualifying system is the main focus.
⑤ student-to-business flow
The typical course is:
High School → University (Ekiden Strong School)
When I graduated from university, I joined the business group
Appear in Ekiden and Trucks as Business Ready
※The number of players who go to the business group right after graduating from high school is a small minority, but in recent years, it has increased a little.
⑥ characteristic of a strong business group
have a full-time coach
More training camps and training environments
Nutrition, medical and analytical support available
When hiring foreign players (foreign students/invited players)
⑦ Benefits and Strictness of Business Operations
advantage
steady income
be able to continue competing at a high level
pave the way for Japan’s national team and world championships
disadvantage
Possibility of termination of contract without results
Even young people are required to do business immediately
You need to think about your career after retirement