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Tokyo Marathon to Jack Up Entry Fee 50% in Name of Fight Against Terrorism

The Tokyo Marathon Foundation, independent organizer of the Tokyo Marathon, is considering a plan to increase the entry fees for the race by 50% for its 14th running in March, 2020. Its primary reason is a decrease in the event's profitability due to increased safety and security costs. The plan could be approved by the Board of Directors as early as December.

In the five years since the April, 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, the Tokyo Marathon's safety and security costs have increased by a factor of 2.7. This year's costs reached a record high of 482,000,000 yen [~$4,275,000 USD].

With the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games looming in the near future the Foundation expects the threat of terrorism to grow. In preparation it plans to be beef up security measures at the Tokyo Marathon, with more security guards, metal detectors and surveillance cameras. Last year the Tokyo Metropolitan Government increased its subsidization of the Tokyo Marathon from 100,000,000 yen to …
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Tokyo Marathon to Move to March Date Beginning in 2019

At a press conference in Tokyo on Dec. 12, the Tokyo Marathon Foundation announced that beginning in 2019, the Tokyo Marathon will move from its current date on the last Sunday of February to the first Sunday of March. The next Imperial succession is set to take place in 2019, meaning that February 23 will become the Emperor's Birthday national holiday starting in 2020. The race date is being preemptively moved to avoid any potential overlap.

According to the Foundation, setting up and breaking down the facilities necessary to hold the Tokyo Marathon takes several days. With the finish area being positioned in front of the Imperial Palace there were concerns that problems would arise due to the large number of people who would gather in the area to celebrate the Emperor's birthday.

Translator's note: The Tokyo Marathon previously experimented with a March race date in 2009 but abandoned it to return to February the next year. Since 1994 the first Sunday of March has been t…
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The Tokyo Marathon Course Change - Masuzoe's Only Achievement as Governor? An Editorial

http://www.zakzak.co.jp/society/domestic/news/20160726/dms1607261200010-n1.htm

an editorial by Minoru Nasu, Sankei Newspaper photo editor
translated by Brett Larner

"Tokyo Station will form the stunningly picturesque backdrop for the new finish line."  With these words Tokyo governor Yoichi Masuzoe confidently announced the change of the Tokyo Marathon course at a press conference on March 29.

The Sankei Newspaper is one of the Tokyo Marathon's sponsors.  Being in charge of photography, I set up an on-site meeting with representatives of the Tokyo Marathon Foundation to discuss issues like the shooting locations in the new finish area so that our reporters and photographers would be able to do their jobs smoothly.  "That's so easy for you to say, Mr. Masuzoe..."  That was my immediate reaction when I heard the news about the course change.  There are a lot of constraints on marathons held on public roads, and things do not proceed as planned.

Runners crossing…
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Tokyo Marathon to Conduct Unprecedented Security Measures Against Runners

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/20150219-OYT1T50059.html
http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXLASDG17HCV_Y5A210C1CC0000/

translated and edited by Brett Larner

Click here for the above article's graphic showing a runner in the Tokyo Marathon being followed by police and surveillance cameras above pictures and a list of banned items and activities including plastic bottles, glass bottles, cans, poison, explosives, scissors, box cutters, tear gas, clothing bearing advertising, clothing that might upset others, and music and dancing on the course.

Over fears generated by the Islamic State kidnapping of Japanese citizens and the rising threat of terrorism worldwide, participants in the Feb. 22 Tokyo Marathon will be subjected to unprecedented security measures.  The 36,000 participants will be prohibited from bringing plastic sports drink bottles to the start and will each be screened with metal detectors.  Police have more than doubled the number of surveillance cameras monitoring runners…
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Over 200 Take Part in Counter-Terrorism Drill at Tokyo Marathon Start

http://jp.wsj.com/articles/JJ11495822049812613508818094016883439080797?tesla=y&tesla=y

translated by Brett Larner

Ahead of next weekend's Tokyo Marathon, the police department conducted counter-terrorism training with race officials and course volunteers on Feb. 13 at the start point in front of Tokyo City Hall.  In response to the "Islamic State" kidnapping of Japanese citizens and the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, the Tokyo Marathon will be carried out under a state of high security.

Roughly 230 people from the city government and Tokyo Marathon Foundation took part in the training.  The scenario rehearsed involved two men carrying bombs refusing to submit to baggage inspection and entering the start area.  Along with an evacuation of the area, riot squad officers and police dogs subdued the two men.  A wide restricted area perimeter was established and a bomb disposal team was deployed.
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Both London Olympics Gold Medalists to Run 2015 Tokyo Marathon

http://response.jp/article/2014/11/26/238309.html

translated and edited by Brett Larner

The organizers of the 2015 Tokyo Marathon have announced that both London Olympics gold medalists will run next year's race, men's marathon gold medalist Stephen Kiprotich (Uganda) and women's marathon gold medalist Tiki Gelana (Ethiopia) each signing on to run as invited athletes.  Kiprotich ran the Tokyo Marathon in 2012 to qualify for the Olympics, finishing 3rd in 2:07:50 behind winner Michael Kipyego (Kenya) and Arata Fujiwara (Japan).  Formerly based in Japan, Gelana ran the Yokohama International Women's Marathon earlier this month where she was 6th in 2:29:13.

The 2015 Tokyo Marathon is scheduled to be held Feb. 22.  As of Nov. 14, 304,825 people had entered for the 28,400 places in the general division, and with entries for the elite, sub-elite, charity runner and other divisions well over capacity across the board, preparations are progressing steadily.  114 companies are e…
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Complicated Personnel Problems Ensnare Tokyo Marathon Foundation Chair Succession

http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/athletics/news/f-sp-tp0-20120620-970454.html

translated by Mika Tokairin and Brett Larner

At a special meeting of the Tokyo Marathon Foundation last week at Tokyo City Hall, complexities arose which prevented the selection of a new chairperson alongside the election of other board members.  The Foundation, which came into existence in 2010, has been headed by Japanese Federation advisor Hiroaki Chosa in a position with a term of two years.

The Federation and Tokyo Metropolitan Government each recommended nine different candidates to succeed Chosa in his position, all of whom were rejected by the selection committee.  The twenty-one Foundation board members who were not among those nominated for the chairperson's position did succeed in determining the new temporary vice-chairperson.

It appears that this exceptional perplexity was the result of a power struggle within the Foundation between the Federation and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.  To…
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282,824 Apply for 2012 Tokyo Marathon

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/news/20110905-OYT1T00843.htm

translated by Brett Larner

The Tokyo Marathon Foundation announced on Sept. 5 that entries for the full marathon division of the 2012 Tokyo Marathon, scheduled for Feb. 26, reached 9.6 times the number of available places, a new record in Tokyo's six-year history.  As of the Aug. 31 entry deadline, 282,824 people had applied for the 29,400 spots in the field.  Another 1,164 people applied for the 400 places in the 10 km, now restricted to under-18 and handicapped athletes.  Results of the entry lottery are expected to be sent out by email in mid-October.  Charity full marathon entrants who raise more than 100,000 yen [~$1,300 USD] have until the end of November to apply for one of the 3,000 additional places in that category.
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Tokyo Marathon Considers Eliminating 10 km Division

http://sankei.jp.msn.com/sports/news/110422/oth11042219580013-n1.htm
translated by Brett Larner
The Tokyo Marathon Foundation has announced a plan to eliminate its 10 km road race, held alongside the 30,000+ runner marathon, beginning with next year's race to be held in February. The move would allow them to increase the field size to 36,000 including charity entry spots. The proposal will be officially decided upon at June's general meeting, but sources connected with the Foundation said it is likely to be ratified.
According to the race office, major overseas marathons typically do not hold simultaneous races such as the 10 km, and elimination of the 10 km would allow them to focus on improving the experience of the marathon event as a whole. However, because the 10 km allows the handicapped and others to participate in the event, news of the possible closure of the event has drawn protest from handicapped groups who say, "This decision needs more careful thought."
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Planned New 'Tokyo Marathon Foundation' Pledged to be Corruption-Free

http://mainichi.jp/area/tokyo/news/20100609ddlk13010254000c.html
http://www.fnn-news.com/news/headlines/articles/CONN00178713.html
http://sankei.jp.msn.com/region/kanto/tokyo/100608/tky1006081853016-n1.htm

translated and edited by Mika Tokairin and Brett Larner

At the regular meeting of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly on June 8, Metropolitan Government officials held a public question and answer session with representatives of the four major political parties. Among the topics was the planned incorporation of a "Tokyo Marathon Foundation" to oversee management of the event's future. The Minshu Party questioned whether the Foundation would be merely "a cushy perk for upper-level bureaucrats leaving direct public service." Metropolitan officials explained, "The Foundation will serve to maintain the race's organization and thereby allow it to operate as a world-class marathon event. There will be no favoritism for government officials in obtaining positions i…
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