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Source-checked athlete record · Updated Oct 19, 2026

Kazuhiro Kawahata

Japanese backyard record holder at 106 yards

Kazuhiro Kawahata holds Japan’s backyard record of 106 yards, set at Big Dog’s in 2025, and heads Japan’s 2026 World Team Championship list.

JapanSakai, Osaka, JapanM50
Still running at the World Team Championship · 51 yards
106Japanese recordBig Dog’s Backyard Ultra · 202592WTC Japan winLast one standing · 2024833.220Six-day kilometresHirosaki 6days, 4th · 2025
Backyard Ultra World Team Championship 2026 · Still running

51 yards completed and still in the race

Japan is 1st with 769 yards and 15 runners still in.

From the organizer’s live results after yard 52 (15:53 UTC, 19 October). Live results ↗ Championship guide →

01 · Athlete overview

The record so far

Kazuhiro Kawahata is a Japanese ultrarunner from Sakai in Osaka Prefecture who holds his country’s backyard ultra record. At Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra in October 2025 he completed 106 yards for 710.836 km, placing fifth overall and first in the M50 category. Big’s national-record table lists the mark as Japan’s best.

His backyard career is short. He won Last Samurai Standing in Kyoto in November 2023 with 42 yards, then won the Japan site of the 2024 World Team Championship with 92 yards, one yard ahead of Tokimasa Hirata. Around those races, DUV lists a long record of mountain 100-milers, 24-hour races in Kobe and a fourth place at the 2025 Hirosaki 6-day race with 833.220 km. He also finished the 169 km Lake Biwa 100 a week before his record run at Big’s.

Kawahata heads Japan’s official selection list for the 2026 Backyard Ultra World Team Championship, which started on 17 October 2026, on the strength of his 106-yard qualifier.

02 · Career highlights

Defining performances

2025

106-yard Japanese backyard record

Completed 106 yards for 710.836 km at Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra and placed fifth overall. Big’s national-record table lists the mark as Japan’s best.

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2024

World Team Championship Japan winner

Was the last runner standing at the Japan site of the 2024 World Team Championship with 92 yards, one more than Tokimasa Hirata’s 91. Yardlore lists the result as the venue record.

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2025

833 km at the Hirosaki 6days

Covered 833.220 km over six days in Hirosaki to place fourth overall and first in the M50 category.

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2023

Last Samurai Standing Kyoto winner

Won his first recorded backyard ultra with 42 yards in Kyoto, one yard ahead of Naota Takemura.

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03 · Selected results

Performance history

Selected ultramarathon results for Kazuhiro Kawahata
DateEventPerformanceResultSource
OSJ Ontake 100 Mile Ultra Trail100-mile trail19:54:339th overall · 1st M50View ↗
Big Dog’s Backyard UltraBackyard ultra106 yards · 710.836 km5th overall · Japanese recordView ↗
Lake Biwa 100169 km ultra30:37:1814th overall · 1st M50View ↗
Hirosaki 6days Ultra Run6-day road race833.220 km4th overall · 1st M50View ↗
NOT12 Shioya Sanzan 100km Night100 km11:24:332nd overallView ↗
Backyard Ultra World Team Championship — JapanBackyard ultra92 yards · 616.952 kmWinnerView ↗
24-hour relay & solo marathon Kobe24-hour195.500 km11th overallView ↗
Last Samurai Standing Backyard Ultra — KyotoBackyard ultra42 yards · 281.652 kmWinnerView ↗
OSJ Kami 7474 km8:48:50WinnerView ↗
04 · Keep exploring