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2021 Ehime Marathon Canceled

The Ehime Marathon has been making preparations to face the challenges presented by the spread of the novel coronavirus, but having come to the conclusion that it would not be possible to ensure the safety and well-being of runners, volunteers, medical staff, local residents and everyone else involved in the race, we have had to make the unfortunate decision to postpone next year's 59th edition by one year.

We explored every option available to avoid this outcome, but the current situation and outlook moving forward are dire enough that we had no choice but to give up on holding the race this coming February. We on the organizing committee will do everything we can to hold the race in 2022.

We are announcing this decision in August prior to the opening of registrations in order to minimize the inconvenience caused to participants and those who help make the race possible. Every day we see runners out training in the early morning and in the evenings. We extend our apologies to each of them. Please understand this decision.

Ehime Marathon Organizing Committee

Translator's note: Along with the 2021 Marugame Half Marathon and Ome 30 km, Ehime is the ninth major Japanese marathon of 2021 to cancel so far. A breakdown of the current situation among Japan's 29 main marathons from October through December, representing over 300,000 finishers total among each race's previous edition, and 2021 announcements:

Oct. 4: Tohoku Miyagi Fukko Marathon (7,457) - canceled
Oct. 4: Matsumoto Marathon (6,455)- canceled
Oct. 11: Niigata City Marathon (6,784) - canceled
Oct. 18: Chiba Aqualine Marathon (9,541) - canceled
Oct. 25: Kanazawa Marathon (10,408) - canceled
Oct. 25: Mito Komon Marathon (9,995) - canceled
Oct. 25: Shimada Oikawa Marathon (6,589) - canceled
Oct. 25: Iwate Morioka City Marathon (5,729) - canceled
Nov. 1: Yokohama Marathon (25,195) - canceled
Nov. 1: Toyama Marathon (12,603) - canceled
Nov. 1: Shimonoseki Kaikyo Marathon (8,650) - canceled
Nov. 8: Okayama Marathon (13,491) - canceled
Nov. 8: Fukuoka Marathon (11,349) - canceled
Nov. 8: Ibigawa Marathon (5,818) - canceled
Nov. 15: Kobe Marathon (19,444) - canceled
Nov. 22: Tsukuba Marathon (11,461) - canceled
Nov. 23: Fukuchiyama Marathon (6,429) - canceled
Nov. 23: Ohtawara Marathon (1,697) - canceled
Nov. 29: Osaka Marathon (31,594) - canceled
Nov. 29: Mt. Fuji International Marathon (7,200) - canceled
Nov. 29 Nagasaki Peace marathon (1st running, field of 10,000) - canceled
Dec. 6: Shonan International Marathon (16,821) - postponed to Feb. 28, 2021
Dec. 6: Naha Marathon (14,660) - canceled
Dec. 6: Fukuoka International Marathon (370) - TBA
Dec. 13: Saitama International Marathon (13,340) - canceled
Dec. 13: Nara Marathon (11,137) - canceled
Dec. 13: Aoshima Taiheiyo Marathon (8,043) - canceled
Dec. 20: Hofu Marathon (2,724) - scheduled with limited field size
Dec. 20: Mie Matsuzaka Marathon (1st running, field of 7,000) - canceled

2021

Jan. 10 - Ibusuki Nanohana Marathon (10,954) - canceled
Jan. 31 - Katsuta Marathon (10,627) - canceled
January - Osaka International Women's Marathon (423) - TBA
Feb. 14 - Ehime Marathon (9,554) - canceled
Feb. 21 - Kyoto Marathon (13,894) - canceled
Feb. 21 - Kochi Ryoma Marathon (10,924) - decision by mid-September
Feb. 21 - Okinawa Marathon (7,990) - canceled
Feb. 28 - Shonan International Marathon (16,821) - scheduled (moved from Dec. 6)
Feb. 28 - Iwaki Sunshine Marathon (5,259) - scheduled
February - Kumamoto Castle Marathon (10,444) - canceled
February - Kitakyushu Marathon (9,485) - canceled
February - Himeji Castle Marathon (6,938) - TBA
February - Beppu-Oita Marathon (3,141) - TBA
February - Nobeoka Nishi Nippon Marathon (536) - TBA
Mar. 7 - Tokyo Marathon (151) - scheduled
Mar. 14 - Shizuoka Marathon (9,802) - canceled
March - Koga Hanamomo Marathon (8,766) - canceled
March - Kagoshima Marathon (9.356) - TBA
March - Saga Sakura Marathon (8.509) - TBA
March - Sakura Marathon (5,614) - TBA
March - Nagoya Women's Marathon (96) - TBA

source article:
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translated Brett Larner

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