The pressure can be severe on Japanese athletes.

"Fine performances of Japanese athletes may diffuse those dark clouds."

The elite race is international in nature, with a number of foreign runners being invited each year, although prominent Japanese athletes also take part.

They offered their encouragement to the Japanese athletes there.

Japanese athletes claimed 189 medals in total (including 44 gold), earning third spot on the table.

His marathon best of 2:07:13 hours is the fourth fastest by a Japanese athlete.

The Japanese athletes were not allowed to practice last summer, and had to come to Europe.

Only twice was she beaten by another Japanese athlete.

Japanese athletes also tend to play one sport year-round, so it is harder to recruit players.

He was the first Japanese athlete to win a medal in a winter sport.