Keita Satoh is trying to do what few Japanese athletes have ever done. A star at the elite Rakunan H.S. in his hometown of Kyoto, he broke the 1500m, 3000m and 5000m high school records including a still-standing U20 1500m national record. At Tokyo’s Komazawa University Satoh set multiple NR on the track and new CR at all 3 of Japan’s Big Three University Ekidens. He is the only Japanese man to hold CR on 2 different stages at the legendary Hakone Ekiden.

But Satoh stepped away from the safety of the usual post-collegiate route onto one of Japan’s corporate ekiden teams to pursue his own dream of international success on the track. Signing with Nike and moving to the U.S.A., he now lives in Flagstaff, Arizona where he is coached by Mike Smith of Swoosh TC.

“Everything I’ve experienced so far is fuel for my drive to become a globallycompetitive athlete. There’s still a long way to go, but I’ll keep taking the steps to get there one at a time. I’ll share my journey, both in sport and day-to-day life, here and on my social media, and I hope that you’ll support me along the way.” — Keita Satoh

Be a part of his journey.