The Hakone Ekiden relay race in Japan - in pictures

A man waiting at the finish listens to the race on his radio Photograph: Adharanand Finn

A runner is supported by his team-mate after finishing the last leg of the ekiden Photograph: Adharanand Finn

An exhausted runner is led away by his team-mates after completing the fifth stage Photograph: Adharanand Finn

Fans wait in the cold at the finish, hours before the runners arrive Photograph: Adharanand Finn

Keita Shitara of Toyo University is mobbed by his team-mates after winning the last stage on day one Photograph: Adharanand Finn

Komazawa's last-leg runner, Kenya Sonota, is inconsolable after the team finish second Photograph: Adharanand Finn

Marshals at the finish of stage five watch to see who the next runner will be Photograph: Adharanand Finn

Marshals check a runner to make sure his kit is all in order at the start of day two Photograph: Adharanand Finn

One exhausted runner is given air by a marshal after finishing the race Photograph: Adharanand Finn

Runners at the start of day two's first leg Photograph: Adharanand Finn

Runners from the Komazawa team check the progress of their last leg runner on their phones while they wait at the finish of the race in Tokyo Photograph: Adharanand Finn

Runners from the top two teams, Toyo and Komazawa, wait to start the first leg on day two of the ekiden Photograph: Adharanand Finn

Shota Hattori of Nittai University is interviewed by the media after day one Photograph: Adharanand Finn

Suguru Osako of Waseda University prepares to run the first leg of the Hakone ekiden Photograph: Adharanand Finn

Waseda's last runner breaks down after the team finish fourth Photograph: Adharanand Finn

Yusuke Suzuki of Nittai sets out at the start of stage six Photograph: Adharanand Finn