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- A Gran Canaria World Trail Majors event featuring three races: FUJI100mi, KAI70k, and the newly established ASUMI40k
- Record approx. 3,800 participants from 34 countries and regions to race while viewing Mt. Fuji
- Start times changed for easier spectating on Saturday
- FUJI100mi and ASUMI40k become World Trail Majors annual ranking races
Mt. FUJI 100 will hold its 11th event over three days from April 25 (Friday) to 27 (Sunday), 2025. In addition to the "FUJI100mi" (168.0km distance, 6,254m cumulative elevation gain) which traverses the mountains, forests, and towns at the foot of Mt. Fuji, and the "KAI70k" (70.2km distance, 3,052m cumulative elevation gain) covering the latter half of the course, this year introduces the new "ASUMI40k" (40.2km distance, 1,445m cumulative elevation gain). The total number of participants across the three races reaches approximately 3,800, the highest in the event's history since its first edition in 2012.
As the host of Japan's leading international trail running event, the Mt. Fuji area welcomes trail runners and their families.
Mt. FUJI 100 Enters its Second Year as a Key Race in the Gran Canaria World Trail Majors
Renamed last year, Mt. FUJI 100 enters its second year as a member of the international trail running series "Gran Canaria World Trail Majors." This year, in addition to the FUJI100mi, the newly established ASUMI40k will be included in the World Trail Majors' newly created "Short Series," a series for middle-distance races, attracting further international attention as an annual ranking race.
The 2025 Mt. FUJI 100 gathers participants from a record 45 countries and regions worldwide. Among them, 530 participants are from Asian countries and regions, including China, Hong Kong, Thailand, and South Korea. This reflects the growing popularity of trail running in Asia and shows that this event is growing as a platform for sharing the appeal and values of trail running across borders and celebrating each other's efforts.
The Course Around the Active Volcano Mt. Fuji is Varied and Challenging
The course for Mt. FUJI 100 is set in the foothill area surrounding Japan's highest peak, Mt. Fuji. In contrast to the desolate summit area, only 300 years since its last eruption, the foothill area is a trail running paradise dotted with mountains and forests covered in lush greenery and clear lakes. Meanwhile, Mt. Fuji has long been revered as a symbol of great nature and an object of worship, and towns prospered at its base to host pilgrims gathering from all over Japan. You might feel this history in the townscapes that appear between sections of the course.
Regarding the characteristics of the Mt. FUJI 100 course from a trail running perspective, Dylan Bowman (USA), the champion in 2016 and 2018, commented, "What makes Mt. Fuji unique is the alternation between flat, runnable sections and long stretches of tough climbs and descents." After climbing up and down steep slopes over rocks and tree roots, long sections of undulating trails and paved roads follow, requiring athletes to balance not just running ability but also pacing.
Course Partially Changed This Year, New 40km Race Added
The 2025 event will again feature Fuji Hokuroku Park Fujisan Meisui Stadium (Fujiyoshida City, Yamanashi Prefecture) as the main venue. It will serve as the finish for the FUJI100mi, which starts from Fujisan Kodomo no Kuni (Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture) on the south side of Mt. Fuji, as well as the start and finish point for the KAI70k and ASUMI40k.
Different from last year, the FUJI100mi will start at 17:00 on Friday, April 25 (Wave 1), with four waves starting every 15 minutes. The ASUMI40k will start at 12:00 on Saturday, April 26, and the KAI70k will start at 13:30 on the same day.
The newly established ASUMI40k uses a course that connects parts of the KAI70k course by short-cutting the middle section. This 40.2km race corresponds to the marathon-distance trail running category, which has seen a rapid increase in global participation and a remarkable improvement in competitive levels. It is expected not only to serve as an introductory race for this event, allowing runners to enjoy views of Mt. Fuji, but also to become an international-level competitive event, similar to the FUJI100mi and KAI70k.
Top Athletes Gather from Around the World
This year's Mt. FUJI 100 will once again feature numerous elite athletes from both overseas and Japan. The list of participants is available on the official event website ( https://mtfuji100.com/racers/entrylist/ ).
FUJI100mi
In the FUJI100mi women's race, Claudia TREMPS (Spain) will compete. She has achieved five consecutive podium finishes at Transgrancanaria, a World Trail Majors member race, from 2021 to February this year. Anna LI (China) is also a notable athlete. She achieved strong results in 2024, placing 2nd at Ultra-Trail Ninghai by UTMB 105k and 3rd at Tsaigu Trail 105k, becoming a leading figure in the Chinese trail scene in recent years.
From Japan, Yukari SEIMIYA, who achieved a strong 2nd place finish in last year's FUJI100mi, will participate. Having won the 2024 Shinetsu Five Mountains 100 Mile race, she has demonstrated solid strength in 100-mile trail running races in Japan. Kanako EDAMOTO, who has also shown remarkable performance on the international stage with a 5th place at the APTRC Championships Long distance and 4th at ChiangMai Thailand by UTMB 100k, is another athlete to watch this year.
Additionally, ManYee CHEUNG (HKG), a former Hong Kong representative at the World Championships and 5th place finisher at the 2019 FUJI100mi, Arika ITO (JPN), 7th place at the 2023 FUJI100mi, Reika ITABASHI (JPN), 6th place at last year's KAI70k, and Junko YANO (JPN), runner-up at the 2022 FUJI100mi, will also compete.
In the FUJI100mi men's race, last year's champion, Guomin DENG (China), aims for a consecutive victory. He placed 3rd at the 2025 Hong Kong 100 and has shown overwhelming strength in Asian trail races in recent years. Also participating from China is Ji DUO (China), another strong contender. In addition to winning the 2023 Doi Inthanon by UTMB 175k, he has achieved excellent results in various competitions, including winning the Xiamen by UTMB 100K this March.
Furthermore, international powerhouses Joaquin Lopez (Ecuador), who placed 3rd at last year's UTMB, and Tyler Green (USA), runner-up at Western States in 2021 and 2023, will also participate.
Among the Japanese contenders, Yuya KAWASAKI, runner-up in the 2023 FUJI100mi, aims for the podium again. Yamato YOSHINO, winner of the Hasetsune Cup in 2019 and 2022, will be attempting his first 100-mile race.
Additionally, Kento TAMURA, winner of the 2023 KAI70k, Hayato NISHIKATA, who won the Sai no Kuni 100 Mile after placing 4th in last year's FUJI100mi, Takashi DOI, 6th place last year, Masatoshi OBARA, 4th place in 2019, Tomonori ONITSUKA, 3rd place in 2023, and Nagisa ITAGAKI, 7th place in 2024, will also be on the 100-mile start line this year.
ASUMI40k
The newly established ASUMI40k, which is part of the World Trail Majors Short Series, will feature Fuzhao XIANG (China), winner of the FUJI100mi in 2019 and 2023. She is active as a top global athlete, following her 4th place at UTMB in 2023 with a runner-up finish at last year's Western States.
Challenging Xiang is Yuri YOSHIZUMI (Japan), who resides locally in Fujiyoshida City. She won the STY92k in 2018, KAI69k in 2022, and KAI70k in 2024 at this event and is very familiar with the ASUMI40k course. Furthermore, Rachel DRAKE (USA), winner of the 2024 Black Canyon Ultras 100k, and Emi IWAI (Japan), runner-up at last year's KAI70k, will join this inaugural race.
In the men's race, the 26-year-old young Chinese elite athlete, Guangfu MENG (China), will come up to Mt. Fuji. He achieved consecutive victories at the Hong Kong 100 in 2023 and 2024, and this will be his first race in Japan. Other international participants include Tuomas KARI (Finland), 21-year-old Rex LO Lok Yin (Hong Kong), and Chengxi QIAN (China). Among Japanese athletes, Miki USHIDA, who has achieved results such as winning the 2018 STY, placing 3rd in the 2022 KAI69k, and 5th in the 2023 KAI70k at this event, and Takamaru KAWASAKI, 10th place in last year's FUJI100mi, will aim for the title of the first ASUMI40k champion.
KAI70k
In the KAI70k women's race, Anna TARASOVA (Spain), runner-up at this year's Transgrancanaria Advanced 83k, and Aurore DACIER (France), winner of last year's Translantau by UTMB 100k, are notable contenders. Among the Japanese athletes, Honoka AKIYAMA, 3rd place last year, Erika FUKUDA, 7th place last year, and Naho KOTANI, 9th place last year, will aim for top positions.
In the men's race, Jiasheng SHEN (China) is registered. Shen has performed well on the international stage, placing 4th at Western States and runner-up at CCC in 2023. International participants include Jisub KIM (South Korea), 3rd place at the 2023 KAI, Marcel HOECHE (Germany), and Edoardo ROSSANO (Italy). From Japan, Koji MORIMOTO, Hisashi KITAMURA, and Naoki SATANI will participate.
Real-time Updates on Athlete Progress During the Event
We plan to provide real-time information again this year, including each athlete's position, ranking, and running time. Details will be announced on the official event website and social media channels as they become available.
Additionally, Mt. FUJI 100 social media will provide ongoing updates and information about the event.
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