RUN! Upga RUN! Dash! UPUPGIRLS (KARI) Challenge the Honolulu Ekiden!

| Idol | Posted by Kai Okudara on Jun.05.2015

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UPUPGIRLS (KARI) flew to the middle of the Pacific Ocean to run the Honolulu Ekiden on May 31, 2015!

Having already climbed Mt. Fuji to perform “Zenryoku! Pump Up!!”, training with Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Forces at Utsunomiya Airbase in Tochigi prefecture and performing several 2-hour nonstop concerts in 2014, UPUPGIRLS (KARI) are quite possibly the most athletic idols currently active. The 7 members of the group split into 2 teams to challenge the 42.195 km (26.2 mile) relay race before taking the stage at Kapiolani Park Bandstand to perform during post-race festivities.

Team #105 SHINOBI (JPN) – Azusa Sekine, Ayano Sato, Minami Sengoku, Manami Arai

130th place (4:26:10)

Leg 1 (5.3km) Sekine 32:05
Leg 2 (9.1km) Sato 55:04
Leg 3 (6.2km) Sengoku 30:48
Leg 4 (6.2km) Sengoku 33:25
Leg 5 (9.1km) Arai 72:20
Leg 6 (6.3km) Sekine 42:28

Team #106 CHOU HAYABUSA – Konatsu Furukawa, Akari Saho, Saki Mori

79th place (4:10:15)

Leg 1 (5.3km) Furukawa 28:57
Leg 2 (9.1km) Saho 48:55
Leg 3 (6.2km) Saho 34:21
Leg 4 (6.2km) Mori 33:31
Leg 5 (9.1km) Mori 67:22
Leg 6 (6.3km) Furukawa 37:09

Here is the map of the course for the Honolulu Ekiden for reference.

Despite having some difficulty with the 5th leg of the course, all members finished safely and took the stage to perform “UPPER ROCK”, “UPUP Typhoon”, “Bijo no Yajuu”, and “Zenryoku! PUMP UP!!”

After their live, it looks like they met legendary professional skateboarder, owner of Real Skateboards, and critically acclaimed musician Tommy Guererro! Check the official UPUPGIRLS (KARI) Instagram or Twitter for more amazing pictures!

アップアップガールズ（仮）とトミーゲレロ #tommyguerrero #uugirl #アプガ #hawaii #hnlekiden #ハワイ #ホノルル駅伝 #japanese #japaneseidol #idol #japanesegirl

A photo posted by アップアップガールズ(仮) (@upupgirlsofficial) on Jun 1, 2015 at 12:12am PDT

As they do every time they go somewhere special, UPUPGIRLS (KARI) made an outdoor video for one of their songs! This time it is for “End of the Season” (release date: October 03, 2012), on Waikiki beach while wearing colorful aloha print dresses and leis! It’s a completely different feel compared to the version where they are eating giant ice cream cones in Taiwan!

Contributor Wanted!!

UPUPGIRLS (KARI) aren’t slowing down either! They resume their 47-prefecture tour of Japan on June 5 and keep going until October 25 with appearances at SEKIGAHARA IDOL WARS (July 25), Tokyo Idol Festival (August 1-2), @JAM EXPO (August 29), and too many other events to mention so it should be a Mecha Kyun♡Summer if you’re a fan!

UPUPGIRLS (KARI) Official site: http://www.upupgirlskakkokari.com/