Organised by the Tokyo Marathon Foundation, the inaugural Tokyo Marathon was held on 18 February 2007 and since then has continued to gather runners, volunteers and spectators through its theme, ‘The Day We Unite.’. In 2011, the Tokyo Marathon implemented its own charity program, ‘Run with Heart’, through which donors can contribute to various charitable activities.
Since the 10th anniversary event in 2016, the official logo of the Tokyo Marathon has been renewed to represent the runners, volunteers and cheering crowds along the course, signifying the theme of ‘The Day We Unite.’. From 2017, the Tokyo Marathon has taken place on a new course that finishes in front of Tokyo Station, and in 2018 a new Japanese record was set for the first time in 16 years.
The 2020 Tokyo Marathon was made possible during the Covid-19 pandemic by reducing entries to elite and wheelchair elite participants. As the event served as the marathon trial for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, many record-breaking times were set, including the new national record (2:05:29) set by Suguru Osako. In 2022, the in-person race (the 2021 Tokyo Marathon) returned after two years with a reduced field size, and astonishing course records were set for both men and women.
The Tokyo Marathon 2024, whose slogan is “Tokyo, My favorite place…” is scheduled to be held on March 3, 2024 with a normal field size of 38,000.
Inaugural running: 2007
Largest field: 36,751 finishers (2023)
Recent participation: In 2023 there were 36,751 finishers - 36,751 (male) 28,090 (female)
Course records:
- Men: 2:02:40 (Eliud Kipchoge, KEN, 2022)
- Women: 2:16:02 (Brigid Kosgei, KEN, 2022)
Most victories:
Men: 2 (Dickson Chumba, KEN, Birhanu Legese, ETH )
Women: 2 (Berhane Dibaba, ETH)
Prize purse: JPY 40.5 million/ US$293,100 (JPY 11 million/US$80,000 to male and female champions)
Wheelchair course records:
- Men: 1:20:57 (Marcel Hug, SUI, 2023)
- Women: 1:36:43 (Manuela Schar, SUI, 2023)
Most wheelchair victories:
Men: 5 (Masazumi Soejima, JPN)
Women: 9 (Wakako Tsuchida, JPN)
Wheelchair prize purse: JPY 9.28 million/US$67,200 (JPY 2 million/US$14,500 for male and female champions)
Organisation information:
Tad Hayano, Race Director
Media contact - Shota Fukushima