'Karunananda Keeps Running in Japan' - Sri Lankan Olympian Still Taught in Japanese Schools

COLOMBO (News 1st); The remarkable story of Sri Lankan runner Ranatunge J.K. Karunananda, the athlete who finished last but ran with unforgettable determination at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, continues to be taught in Japan, the Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka has revealed.

Speaking at a recent reception in Colombo, Ambassador Akio Isomata highlighted that Karunananda’s courage remains part of Japanese school textbooks even today, inspiring new generations with the message of perseverance.

Isomata said that the tale, once featured widely in Japanese elementary school textbooks in the 1970s, has most recently been reintroduced in Japanese high school English-learning material. 'Karunananda keeps running in Japan,' he said, noting that the story continues to resonate deeply with Japanese students and educators.

The Ambassador shared the story in full, recalling how Karunananda, wearing bib number 67, won the hearts of nearly 70,000 spectators at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics despite finishing three laps behind the leaders in the men’s 10,000m race. As he continued running alone after all others had finished, the crowd shifted from laughter and confusion to admiration and emotional cheering, giving him a standing ovation as he crossed the line.

Ambassador Isomata began by referencing the recently concluded Milan–Cortina Winter Olympic Games, before guiding the audience back to Tokyo in 1964.

He described how Karunananda, suffering from a bad cold yet determined to represent Sri Lanka with pride, refused to stop running despite falling far behind. As spectators realized his unwavering commitment to finishing the race, the stadium erupted in support.

Quoting Karunananda’s own words after the race, the Ambassador said:

"I had a bad cold this week, but I was chosen to run for my country. So, my only goal was to run the whole race. That’s what I did. And I’m happy with that."

Karunananda had added that he wished to one day tell his daughter: "Your father didn’t win that race, but he never gave up."

The Ambassador said the Japanese press honored him the next day with headlines such as "Congrats to the winner, and glory to the last runner."

Ambassador Isomata emphasized that the inclusion of Karunananda’s story in Japanese textbooks was significant: It was used specifically "to nurture the spirit of never giving up" among schoolchildren, making the Sri Lankan runner a symbol of Olympic values.

He stressed that the story has now returned to Japanese education, with a modern publisher once again including "The Runner Wearing No. 67" in a high school English textbook.

Adding emotional weight to the moment, Ambassador Isomata announced that Karunananda’s son and grandson were present at the event.

"Karunananda keeps running in Japan. And today… I am honored to have Karunananda’s son and grandson here at this reception. Let’s give them a big hand."