The television drama “Oretachi no Hakone Ekiden,” starring Yo Oizumi, has announced additional cast members, with Kobayashi Toranosuke, Oku Tomoya, Shoji Kohei, Ikeda Masashi, and Nishino Ryo joining the lineup. The new additions further strengthen the ensemble nature of the series.
Produced by NTV and based on the novel by Jun Ikeido, the drama explores the rarely seen backstage stories behind the live broadcast of the iconic Hakone Ekiden relay race. Set over two days and more than 14 hours of continuous live coverage, the series portrays how a television production team pours its heart and soul into delivering the broadcast despite a series of unexpected crises. In parallel, it highlights the passion and perseverance of athletes and coaches struggling from the bottom, refusing to give up as they stake everything on the race.
While the original novel centers on the track and field club of Meisei Gakuin University, the television adaptation restructures the story at Ikeido’s request, placing the main focus on the broadcasting station. The narrative weaves together two perspectives: students pushing themselves to their physical and mental limits on the course, and the broadcast crew facing intense pressure, split-second decisions, and heavy responsibility during the live transmission.
Yo Oizumi plays Tokushige Ryo, the chief producer at Dainichi Television, the network responsible for airing the Hakone Ekiden. Yamashita Tomohisa also stars as Kai Masato, a former Hakone Ekiden runner who returns to the sport as the new coach of the university’s track and field team, serving as a bridge between past experience and present challenges.
With its expanding cast and dual-layered storytelling, “Oretachi no Hakone Ekiden” positions itself as more than a traditional sports drama. By spotlighting both the athletes on the course and the professionals behind the cameras, the series aims to capture the collective passion surrounding one of Japan’s most iconic sporting events. The drama is scheduled to air starting in October 2026.
