japan running news

1951 Boston Marathon champion  Shigeki Tanaka , Japan's first winner of the prestigious race and a survivor of the Hiroshima nuclear attack less than six years earlier, passed away on Oct. 4. He was 91. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 on Oct. 12 at 719 Joyake-cho, Utsunomiya.  photo © 1951 Leslie Jones, all rights reserved source article: https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/e5e3fa8399e237317d641f433c17a90ac5371063 translated and edited by Brett Larner

The Fukuoka International Marathon held its 75th and final running on Dec. 5. One legendary runner began his career at historic Heiwaidai Field, Fukuoka's start and finish point, and went on to become the first Japanese marathoner to stand at the top of the world. He is Shigeki Tanaka , 90, winner of the 1951 Boston Marathon. Tanaka was deeply moved as he watched the last edition of the race on TV from his home in Utsunomiya.  In 1950 Heita Okabe , who laid the foundation for modern Japanese sports, proposed the creation of an Olympic development program to Shizo Kanakuri , the father of Japanese marathoning. Tanaka was one of the program's original members. In an era of shortages in the basic necessities of life, Tanaka packed a backpack with rice and a blanket and traveled from Hiroshima to Fukuoka. The program's first session took place at Heiwadai Field and neighboring Ohori Park. Under Okabe and Kanakuri's direction he and the other participants gained strength do...