Overview
- Osaka finished in 2:18:19 to claim its fifth title and first in three years, beating Hyogo by nine seconds as Nagano secured a best-ever third place.
- Starting 31st after the opening leg, Osaka rose through the field with Rio Kawamura taking the lead on leg seven, a brief drop to second on leg eight, and Ayu Hemmi clinching the anchor duel.
- Hyogo’s Nozomi Tanaka earned the second-leg win after taking the sash in 16th, 30 seconds back, and passing 14 runners.
- Unexpected snow and headwinds affected pacing and tactics across the nine-leg, 42.195 km relay.
- Last year’s champion Kyoto finished fourth and Okayama took fifth in the race that started and finished at Takebishi Stadium Kyoto.