Discussion: Finding Japanese Orienteering Competitions

I'm trying to orienteer while living in Japan (for the next 2.5 years) but I cannot speak/read Japanese and have no idea how to read their websites. I'm hoping to enter in a couple A-meets or B-Meets here, but I don't think they use the same system as the US.

Does anyone have a friend who is into Orienteering in Japan that can speak English or would know how their system generally works?

I originally orienteered back in the States for four years and been getting the itch to go back in the woods.

Thanks for your time and appreciate any help you may have.

Teddy

What part of Japan are you in? I lived in Kanagawa prefecture for 3 years and had good luck finding events and English-speaking orienteers relatively close by.

I had a similar problem while living in Japan, Teddy. There is a Japanese orienteer, Dai Teramura, who stayed in NYC last year and has since returned to Japan that I could connect you with. Will send you an email.

My e-mail address is Theodore92Fong@gmail.com; I'd love to get in touch with them.

I'm living on Okinawa, but I intend to fly out to mainland Japan for the big Orienteering meets.

Hmm, I'm not familiar with the orienteering scene down in Okinawa, a quick browse of the www.orienteering.com website didn't seem to show any upcoming events near you, but my Japanese isn't great, so maybe I missed something. I think Rob Plowright (robplow) still lives in Shizuoka, and he might have a better idea when/where the big events are happening.

Edit: looks like the all Japan middle distance championships are happening in Kobe in November, and a sprint championships in Nagano at the end of October.

Alternatively, I know an American living in Japan who speaks Japanese and who is from an orienteering family and used to orienteer a lot, though I don't know that he has done any in Japan. If the other avenues don't pan out for you, drop me a note and I'll figure out how to put you in touch with him.

Hideo Onoe helped me out when I had some questions on a meet in Japan; his written English is very good. But that was 2010 so I'm not sure he's still around.
He was Secty Genl of the Orienteering Federation. He also offered to get me some training maps in Tokyo if I wasn't able to make the meets. So nice.

Maybe make contact with RobPlow on this site.
http://www.attackpoint.org/userprofile.jsp/user_10...

I haven't had any involvement in Japanese orienteering for some years now. orienteering.com is the place to look for events - Ginger's information is right. There is also All Japan Championships (long) in Aichi (near Nagoya) in late March. National Championships are generally pretty good events - lower level events may or may not be as good. In general expect very steep terrain. I am not aware of any orienteering in Okinawa - which does not necessarily mean there isn't any. I think I noticed a rogaine there once - rogaines are quite popular and also listed on orienteering.com

You should be able to get some idea about events using translation software - though it tends not to work as well with Japanese as it does with European languages.

As far as I know Hideo Onoe is still at JOA in which case you can contact him through their email: orienteering@japan-sports.or.jp As Erin says he speaks excellent English and should be able to advise you.

Google translated their website from Japanese to English for me instantaneously.
Here is their schedule (or part of it):
Some of these events have links that provide English versions.
Date Event Place
08/22
Navi gation-instructor (tentative name) workshop Saitama Prefecture
08/23
35th Keiyo Orienteering Club Chiba Prefecture
09/05 - 09/06

Instructor training workshop Kyoto
09/05
JOA 8th camp (Fuji district plans)
09/12
March 2nd controller workshop FY 27 Tokyo
09/23
35th University of Tsukuba orienteering tournament Ibaraki Prefecture
10/04
Yatsugatake Fujimi plateau tournament Yamanashi Prefecture
10/10
2015 blue forest Tsurunosato 2Days orienteering competitions Aomori Prefecture
10/11
2015 blue forest Tsurunosato 2Days orienteering competitions Aomori Prefecture
10/18
The 20th Kyoto University, Kyoto Women's University orienteering competitions Kyoto
10/31
8th All Japan sprint orienteering competitions Nagano Prefecture
11/08
The 24th All-Japan relay O tournament Shiga Prefecture
11/14 to 11/15

Instructor training workshop Niigata Prefecture
11/21
Park O tour in Kansai 2015 Kyoto convention Kyoto
11/22
All Japan Middle orienteering competitions Hyogo Prefecture
12/05 to 12/06

Instructor training workshop Tokushima Prefecture
02/21
Japan ski orienteering sprint tournament
02/28
Park O tour in Kansai 2015 Hyogo tournament Hyogo Prefecture
03/12 to 03/13

Japan ski orienteering competitions
March 20, 2009,
42nd All Japan Orienteering tournament

Then for instance the all Japan Middle Distance Champs on Nov 22 I clicked on that link that took me to a page where they provided a link to an English translation.
Hope that information is what you were seeking.

Thanks for the help everybody! I'm really grateful!