The long-distance relay races called "ekiden" are growing on the back of the jogging boom, providing opportunities to run for recreation or bond with fellow employees.

Sportsone Co., a sporting event organizer in Tokyo, hosts 25-km ekiden races for teams of co-workers consisting of five people from the same company. Four races are held for men, women, men and women combined, and new employees fresh out of school.

Sportsone held the first ekiden in Tokyo in 2010 and started a race in Osaka in 2012. More than 700 teams turned out for the 2013 race in Tokyo.