Event Detail
The 45th Sanyo Women's Road Race takes place in Okayama, Japan, on Sunday 20 December 2026, starting and finishing at JFE Harenokuni Stadium in the Okayama Prefectural Multipurpose Grounds. This longstanding women's road-racing meeting, held since 1982, brings together strong runners from corporate teams and universities. The organiser, Sanyo Shimbun, published its current-edition entry notice on 14 October and updated it on 18 October 2026.
Two races and newly expanded participation
The official 2026 programme confirms both of its established distances:
- Yuko Arimori Cup Half Marathon (21.0975 km), named for the Okayama-born Olympic marathon medallist.
- Kinue Hitomi Cup 10 km Road Race, honouring the pioneering Japanese Olympian.
New for the 45th edition, the organiser has added a general-entry half-marathon division and reinstated a general-entry 10K division. The event is therefore not restricted solely to elite athletes this year, although applicants still need to meet the current race regulations and any qualification conditions applicable to their division. Read the official downloadable regulations before entering; do not use eligibility rules, minimum standards or participant benefits from 2025.
Registration and official information
Applications must reach the organiser by Thursday 29 October 2026 (the official wording is 必着, meaning received by that date, not merely posted on it). The organiser has published a current-edition application link and downloadable race regulations on its official 45th-edition announcement. Check those materials for the applicable method of submission, entry fees, eligibility, and division rules; a universal online-checkout URL and exact fees have not been independently verified for this record. The organising office lists 086-803-8015 for enquiries.
Race day in central Okayama
The established routes pass through the city and return to the stadium. JFE Harenokuni Stadium is in Izumicho, Kita Ward, roughly 20 minutes on foot from Okayama Station's west exit. The organiser warns that road closures will affect roads and crossings along the courses on 20 December, including disruptions to buses and local traffic. Check its course/traffic maps and transport notices before travelling. The races are scheduled for live television and radio coverage by RSK Sanyo Broadcasting.
Exact 2026 flag-off times, participant check-in and bib-collection arrangements have not been independently verified. ARC currently shows a midnight date-only placeholder, not a race start. Runners should follow the 2026 regulations and final organiser announcements rather than interpreting that placeholder as a start time.