swekiden wrote:
No they aren't, one or two are. Here is the video, almost all in traditional Mizuno and Asics flats..
https://www.nhk.or.jp/rr/zen-dan/#/movie
Regardless your comparing Asics Japan to Asics America. Two different companies/product lines. Asics America was stagnant and didn't have a racer this calendar 18' so they imported a medium level racer, Lyteracer.
Most of the Ekidens Not wearing VF are running in a custom Sortie (Asics) made in collaboration with Ominuri, a Japanese shoe cobbler who does brands, Mizuno , Adidas, and Asics. This been justified because of the competitive running market in Japan. It's typical Athletes at the Corporate, University, or even Club to have a Tarther(tempo trainer) Sortie(5-6oz custom racer) only wearing their "Fun Runners" ( Cumulus, Roadhawk) 2-3/week. This arrangement wouldn't be sustainable for Asics America whose sales are disproportionate being at department ($50-75 Kohl's mass sales) and the fading run specialty (GT Series)