[1] The All-Japan Women’s Corporate (Jitsugyodan) Ekiden Championship is held in mid December after 3 regional qualifying ekiden (2011 summary) events, narrowing the field to 24 to 27 teams, although new qualification standards in 2011 increased the field to 33 teams.
[2][3] Teams gain qualification into the final ekiden race through a series of preliminaries which are principally conducted on a district-by-district basis.
[4] The Eastern Japan Corporate Ekiden Championship qualifies men's and women's teams.
Konosu City, Saitama Prefecture, has hosted for several years the men's and women's Eastern Japan Corporate (Jitsugyodan) Ekiden Championships (2011 meet website).
The Western Japan women's qualifying race (6 stages, 42.195 km) begins in Munakata, Fukuoka; website.