The Amazing Legs of Niizuma Kanbe'e

Before the post, a bit of a foreword. As of this post, I am expanding the breadth of my topic-- while my tendency will be toward Tohoku, which is what I know and where I've lived, I am officially broadening this blog's coverage to include issues concerning rural Japanese history and culture, and aspects of the traditional arts, I will no longer limit myself to the northeast. I look forward to bringing you all more stories from more parts of Japan, soon. Anyway, on to the show!

We've all heard, I'm sure, about the marathon: 26 miles of run, run, run, in commemoration of the Greek messenger Phedippides. In this post I'd like to share the story of Niizuma Kanbe'e, a Sendai retainer who loved a good story, so much so that he ran nineteen ri (46 miles) in four hours from his post in Iwagasaki to meet with friends in Sendai for evening chats.

But how did he manage this incredible feat? How did he make it across that distance that fast, not drop dead after he'd arrived in Sendai, and then be able to turn around and go all the way back? Read on!