In an unexpected turn of events, esteemed Aoyama Gakuin University suffered a shocking defeat, coming in 7th at the Izumo Ekiden, one of Japan's most prestigious university relay marathons. This race is an important stage for universities to showcase the result of their stringent training program. The outcome surprised many as Aoyama Gakuin has built a strong reputation for athletic excellence.

Ekidens are a huge part of the university sports culture in Japan, and this defeat would be a big disappointment for Aoyama Gakuin. The Izumo Ekiden, in particular, is one of the country's most prestigious events. It is a reflection of the team's hard work and the university's commitment to its athletics program.

This would be similar to a highly ranked US college football team such as Alabama or Notre Dame unexpectedly ending up at the bottom in a significant tournament. Athletics and university prestige can be closely tied together and an unexpected result can have a big impact.