Overview
- Osaka won the 44th edition in 2:18:19 for its fifth crown and first in three years.
- Kawamura Rio moved Osaka into the lead on leg seven before anchor Itsumi Ayu won the final-leg duel with Hyogo.
- Hyogo’s Nozomi Tanaka took the leg-two award, surging from 16th as snow and headwinds made conditions difficult.
- Nagano secured a prefectural best of third, with defending champion Kyoto fourth and Okayama fifth.
- Separately, 17-year-old national 800m record holder Rin Kubo announced she will join corporate team Sekisui Chemical after graduation.