Some notes recieved from Henry Baker in the USA

I’m curious about the running couriers in Japan from about 1600 – 1850.  Apparently, there was a well-developed system of couriers who ran on the Tokaido and Nakasendo roads between Kyoto and Tokyo (then called Edo).

I’d be interested if there are any stories of a single runner (as opposed to relays of runners) running these distances, and how long it took them.

Below are some things I turned up using Google, but haven’t been successful about finding fast times for individual runners.

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http://www.hiroshige.org.uk/hiroshige/tokaido_hoeido/tokaido_hoeido_01.htm

Tokaido Highway [from Kyoto to Tokyo(Edo)] runs along a low causeway by the ocean.

The man running is one of the professional couriers who worked in relays and covered the distance of 489 km between Edo and Kyoto in about 90 hours.

http://www.jstor.org/pss/2382515

The delivery of letters carried along the Tokaido highway was to take no more than 36 hours between Tokyo and Kyoto, and 3 hours between Kyoto and Osaka.

http://global.mitsubishielectric.com/tasteofjapan/travel/travel_d.html

Dating to the 8th century and officially established in the 17th, the Nakasendo linked Edo (now Tokyo) with the capital, Kyoto. It stretched 500 kilometers over rugged mountain passes and through the deep forests in what is today called Nagano.

http://www.nakasendoway.com/exprpost.xhtml

The runners, known as hikyaku, or ‘flying feet’, were proud  of their profession and trained hard by tying weights to their backs, which dragged on the  ground behind them as they practiced running.  The ‘flying feet’ were naturally competitive and would sometimes race each other.  Claims to the first ‘Marathon’ run in Japan have  their origins in such a race, between Usui-toge and Annaka  post-town on the Nakasendo.  This race is still commemorated by an annual run today.

[Interestingly, the literal translation of "Tarahumara" (the name of the ultra-Indians in Copper Canyon, Mexico) is "flying feet".)]

http://6billionthvoice.blogspot.com/2007/05/annaka-tooashi-marathon.html

The Annaka Tooashi Marathon is one of the oldest foot races in Japan, with a legendary history stretching back hundreds of years to when the local king ordered his Samurai to run from his castle to the gates of a garden 20 kilometers away.  These days it follows roughly the same course.

http://www.imaf.com/imaf-gendo-2004-1.pdf

The following story from ancient Japan provides a good illustration of the importance of such a resolute mind.  Even in the middle ages, the Japanese postal system was highly sophisticated and efficient, joining the cities of Kyoto and Edo (now known as Tokyo).  The Tokaido road served as a major thoroughfare, supporting transportation, communication and commerce.  In those days, couriers delivered mail by foot, running from city to city.

It so happened that a certain old man had gained fame over the years for consistently effortless, early deliveries.  Many of the young postal carriers looked upon his deeds with admiration.  When one of them asked for his secret of success, the old man laughingly replied that there was none.  However, as the young man was disappointed with this answer, the old man offered the following advice.  ”Search for the red stones with each and every step, if you wish to arrive ahead of schedule with energy to spare.” That afternoon the young courier set out for Kyoto following the Tokaido road, focusing all his thoughts on finding the red stones.  Although he was unable to find even one, he arrived three days early.  The following morning, again concentrating on finding the red stones the young courier set out for Edo.  Again, he arrived well ahead of schedule.  When next he met the old man, the young courier asked why no red stones had appeared.  To his surprise, the old man replied: “The
re are none to be found.”  In this way, the young courier came to realize the secret of single-minded focus at every step of the way.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fb20000829dr.html

Back in Hiroshige’s time, a man was expected to walk from Edo to Kyoto in 12 days (a woman was supposed to take 15), though there were expectations of something more speedy from couriers — six days for ordinary runners, three and a half for the two-legged Tokugawa equivalent of the shinkansen.

Tags: Japan, Ultra history

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Tags: Japan, Ultra history