This year, we sponsored the "Suido Osaka 100km Ultra Marathon" again [ESG]
ACT-ONE Yamaichi sponsored the 15th Suido Osaka 100km Ultra Marathon, held on April 21st this year, and our equipment was used during the event.
Our company has been sponsoring this event, which supports the health and vitality of the local community, since the tournament's early days about 10 years ago, and not only provides equipment but also supports the event from assembly to dismantling.
New employees who started their careers this April also participated in this event as part of their training.
It was a great opportunity for them to understand the work flow and experience using the equipment on-site, and they gained a valuable learning opportunity through sweat and smiles.
As part of its ESG activities, ACT-ONE Yamaichi will continue to actively participate in local activities such as the Suido Osaka 100km Ultra Marathon and contribute to the local community.
■About the Aquapolis Osaka 100km Ultra Marathon (Interview)
The "Ultramarathon" is a long-distance run of 100km (or 70km) that starts and finishes at Osaka Castle. This year marked the 15th time this event has been held, with around 700 participants and an 85% completion rate.
The first event was held in 2009. At the time, ultramarathons were becoming popular, but there were no events being held in Osaka, so the event was started with the aim of "holding a race that people could take on without having to take time off work due to distance."
Almost all of the event staff and volunteers are active runners, and the event is run with ingenuity and creativity, with the aim of looking at things from a runner's perspective and empathizing with the feelings of the participants.
The event has overcome many difficulties in running the event, but in 2020 in particular, the decision to cancel the tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic made them realize how much more difficult it was to stop it than to hold it.
Because the course is long, there are many official procedures to be completed and other burdens to overcome each time, but they value the feedback from many participants who say "This is my favorite race" and would like to continue holding the event in the future.
I was very impressed by his words that even if it is not flashy, he wants the event to be one that grasps the needs of the participating runners and can be created by everyone.
The two people we spoke to this time were Fumie Sada (left) and Akira Uemoto (right)
Mr. Sada is an ultra runner himself and has been leading the event as the organizing committee chairman since the second time it was held.
In addition, Uemoto-san has been supporting Sada-san as vice executive chairman.
"Ultramarathon is not just a competition, but an adult culture in that even slower runners are rewarded," says Sada.
"The Ultramarathon is one of my annual events. I hope to be healthy so I can greet the runners at the finish line again next year." (Uemoto)
ACT-ONE Yamaichi also hopes for the success of the tournament and would like to continue sponsoring it.