PRINCIPAL POLICIES OF THE TOKYO METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT

TMG'S INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Tokyo Marathon

The Tokyo Marathon, a large-scale city marathon with about 35,000 runners, was first held in February 2007. In this marathon, the participants, including an international group of invited athletes, run through the center of the city on a route that takes them past such landmarks as the Imperial Palace, Ginza (renowned commercial district), and Asakusa (traditional shopping and entertainment district).

The cheers from the sidelines and the unforgettable excitement bring together not only the runners, but the volunteer staff and the crowd as well, for a day to be remembered in marathon history.
The third Tokyo Marathon held in March 2009 was also extremely popular among the running community with close to 260,000 applications, exceeding that of the previous year. Beating the odds of 7.5 to 1, about 35,000 lucky runners were selected to participate in this race, which is sure to grow in size and prestige over the coming years to become one of the world’s leading city marathons.

Official website: http://www.tokyo42195.com/

©TOKYO MARATHON

The “Tokyo Marathon Festa,” a festival designed to cheer on the runners, comprises a variety of events taking place at a number of locations along the course. An example of an event can be seen in front of one of Tokyo’s famed sightseeing spots, the Asakusa Kaminarimon Gate, where local traditional arts such as a dragon dance and taiko drums are performed. The Tokyo Big Sight exhibition center, which is the site of the finish line, attracts large groups of spectators who come to watch the race while also enjoying events such as the parades of mikoshi portable shrines and even samba dancing.
At other locations, local residents, high school students, and citizen groups give performances of song, music, dance, cheerleading, traditional arts, and many more. This is a day when the people of Tokyo are brought together as one at a spectacular festival enjoyed by both runners and spectators alike.

Tokyo Marathon Festa 2009		Tokyo Marathon Festa 2009