The race was held for the first time in 1967, and in 1977 became part of the new Fuji Long Distance Series.

In 1982 a second 1000 km race known as WEC in Japan was run as a round of the World Sportscar Championship.

The All Japan Sports Prototype Championship was formed in 1983, and since then co-sanctioned this event.

The race was revived again as a part of the short-lived Japan Le Mans Challenge in 2007.

A subsequent rule change was implemented to mandate two green flag laps before a race counted.