On May 6, during the final days of Golden Week, the Japan Association of Athletics Federations (JAAF) held “Street Pole Vault in Akasaka Sakas” at the Akasaka Sakas Plaza in front of the TBS headquarters.
This event served as a prelude to the Seiko Golden Grand Prix, scheduled for May 17 at the MUFG Stadium (National Stadium) in Tokyo. Aiming to expand the growing interest in athletics sparked by last year’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, the event brought the sport outside the stadium, allowing more people to experience the excitement of pole vaulting up close.
It also marked the first initiative under the “Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Legacy Program,” designed to carry forward the energy of the Tokyo World Championships into the future.
A pole vault pit with a runway was set up in the square, surrounded by spectator seats. Even before the 11:30 a.m. start, a large crowd had gathered. As athletes warmed up and cleared the rubber bar, cheers erupted early.
The host was TBS announcer Mitsuki Takayanagi, a former pole vaulter himself. Guest commentators included Daichi Sawano (associate professor at Nihon University and Japanese men’s pole vault record holder), Tamujo (a running and comedy YouTuber), and Yusaku Sakurai (a sports influencer). They provided easy-to-understand explanations and engaging discussions for the audience.
Four athletes participated in the street pole vault: Seito Yamamoto (Toyota Motor Corp.), a sixth-place finisher at the 2013 Moscow World Championships; Sota Ishikawa (Glanz AC), third at the 2024 Japan Championships; Harumi Horikawa (T.T.C. Co., Ltd.), seventh at the 2021 Japan Championships; and Ryo Miyamoto (KPVC), winner of the 2024 East Japan Corporate Championships.
Before the competition, Yamamoto said, “First, I want to clear that bar and let everyone look up at the sky many times.”
The rules: a run-up of about 30 meters (a “medium” approach), with unofficial records. Each athlete had up to five attempts, vying for the best height. A bonus of 100,000 yen was awarded for clearing 5.00 meters on the first try.
First, legendary vaulter Daichi Sawano gave a demonstration. Despite limited practice, he cleared 4.41 meters on his second attempt after two failures, thrilling the crowd.
“I thought I could do it in practice,” he said with a wry smile, but his jumps still energized the venue.
Then Seito Yamamoto took the stage. True to his pre-match comment that “my top goal today is to beat the legend Sawano,” he cleared 5.00 meters cleanly on his first attempt, immediately winning 100,000 yen.
Sota Ishikawa also cleared 5.00 meters on his first attempt, while Ryo Miyamoto succeeded on his second. Harumi Horikawa failed all five tries, saying, “Only I didn’t make it… I’m really frustrated.”
Yamamoto then cleared 5.10 meters on his first try. Ishikawa and Miyamoto needed three attempts each, putting Yamamoto in the lead.
The bar moved to 5.20 meters. Only Yamamoto attempted that height; Ishikawa and Miyamoto passed, hoping to overtake him with their last attempts.
Yamamoto missed his first attempt. On his second, shifting winds disrupted his timing, and he couldn’t complete his jump.
As Yamamoto focused for his third and final attempt, the crowd fell silent. He cleared 5.20 meters with a slight wobble, and silence erupted into loud cheers. Yamamoto responded with a joyful fist pump, filling the square with excitement.
Ishikawa and Miyamoto attempted 5.30 meters but failed. Yamamoto won, followed by Ishikawa in second, Miyamoto in third, and Horikawa in fourth.
After the event, Yamamoto reflected: “Pole vault is the only track and field event that uses a tool to jump. Today, my goal was to show that humans can fly—to make that dream real. I think I got that across.”
Regarding his decisive 5.20-meter jump, he said, “I really wanted to clear it. I knew if I could correct my movement, I could do it. I’m glad I adjusted well.”
“The atmosphere was amazing,” he added. “I rarely get to jump with spectators so close. It was a lot of fun.”
Other athletes also expressed their enjoyment. Ishikawa said, “Jumping in the middle of the city is rare, and having the crowd so close makes the height feel more relatable. Pole vault has a high entry barrier, but if even one more person finds it exciting, that’s great.”
Miyamoto added, “It was very fresh. Having the audience within touching distance was truly fun. Events like this help people discover the charm of pole vault.”
Horikawa, despite not clearing, said, “I came intending to have the most fun, but since I didn’t clear, I’m the most down (laughs). Still, the event was a huge success. With Duplantis becoming so famous, pole vault is getting more attention. I hope more events like this happen and more kids take up the sport.”
Sawano joked that jumping in Akasaka Sakas was “the first time in about 20 years, since the All-Star Thanksgiving show.” He added, “For athletes, opportunities like this are rare. It’s a great experience.”
Noting the cheers from many children, he said, “If they think pole vault is amazing or fun, and if even one more person wants to try it in the future, that would be wonderful.” He expressed deep gratitude to the organizers.
Between jumps, MCs interviewed spectators. Some children had watched the men’s pole vault final at last year’s Tokyo World Championships and recalled Armand Duplantis’s world record jump of 6.30 meters. Others were amazed by the athletes soaring high.
After the competition, a pole vault experience session was held in the same pit, allowing children and adults to jump under guidance from Sawano and the competing athletes. Nearby, a “sprint challenge” booth timed 25-meter dashes for elementary school students, drawing long lines.
As part of the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Legacy Program, the first 100 participants at both events received World Athletics apparel. The Seiko Golden Grand Prix booth also offered discounted tickets, creating a space where people of all ages could enjoy athletics.