Junko Yano

About

Junko Yano is a Japanese trail and ultrarunner who discovered the sport in 2018 after completing a race in the Yatsugatake foothills of Nagano Prefecture and quickly established herself as one of the most competitive Japanese women at ultra-trail distances. Training as part of the collaborative Team 100 Miles group, she progressed systematically through Japanese ultra events, demonstrating the mental fortitude that defines Japan's mountain running culture. In early 2022 she delivered back-to-back major results: runner-up at the Kumakawa Revival Trail 100-mile race in March, and runner-up at the Ultra-Trail Mt. Fuji 165km in April (23:35) — one of Asia's most prestigious and technically demanding races, run around the base of Mount Fuji. That summer she made her international debut at the UTMB CCC 100km in Chamonix. Her rapid ascent from first race to UTMB series contender in under four years represents one of the more striking development trajectories in Japanese women's ultra-trail racing.

Notable Wins

• — Ultra-Trail Mt. Fuji 165km 2nd 2022 (23:35)
• — Kumakawa Revival Trail 100M 2nd 2022

Race History