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2021 Himeji Castle Marathon Canceled

With regard to the next running of the Himeji Castle Marathon, scheduled for Feb. 28, 2021, while it is very important to us that the race happen, in view of the continued spread of the coronavirus and in consideration of the health and safety of the runners, medical and safety personnel, volunteers, race staff and local fans along the course who together help make our event what it is every year, it is with great regret that we must announce that next year's marathon will not be held.

We apologize deeply that we have to cancel the marathon for the second year in a row due to the coronavirus, and in particular we extend our apologies to everyone who had entered the 2020 race and been given priority for entry in 2021. To them, to everyone who had looked forward to the 2021 race, and to everyone involved in making the race happen, we can only ask for your understanding of the situation. Please rest assured that everyone on the priority list for 2021 will still have priority for the next time we are able to stage the race.

We are currently in the midst of planning an alternate event and will post details on the Himeji Castle Marathon website when more information is available. We pray for the current situation to come to an end and look forward to extending you all our warmest hospitality. Please keep the Himeji Castle Marathon in your hearts.

Himeji Castle Marathon Organizing Committee

Translator's note: I ran the Himeji Castle Marathon in 2018 for a TV show on NHK World. One of its best features was its finisher's medal, a leather strap holding a ceramic replica of the statues on top of the World Heritage Site castle that overlooks the finish. Along with the 2021 Marugame Half Marathon, Ome 30 km, Kumanichi 30 km and Karatsu 10-Miler, Himeji is the tenth 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
Jan. 31 - Osaka International Women's Marathon (423) - TBA
Feb. 7 - Beppu-Oita Marathon (3,141) - TBA
Feb. 14 - Ehime Marathon (9,554) - canceled
Feb. 14 - Nobeoka Nishi Nippon Marathon (536) - TBA
Feb. 21 - Kyoto Marathon (13,894) - canceled
Feb. 21 - Kochi Ryoma Marathon (10,924) - decision by mid-September
Feb. 21 - Kumamoto Castle Marathon (10,444) - canceled
Feb. 21 - Kitakyushu Marathon (9,485) - canceled
Feb. 21 - Okinawa Marathon (7,990) - canceled
Feb. 28 - Shonan International Marathon (16,821) - scheduled (moved from Dec. 6)
Feb. 28 - Himeji Castle Marathon (6,938) - canceled
Feb. 28 - Iwaki Sunshine Marathon (5,259) - scheduled
Feb. 28 - Lake Biwa Marathon (174) - TBA
Mar. 7 - Kagoshima Marathon (9.356) - TBA
Mar. 7 - Tokyo Marathon (151) - scheduled
Mar. 14 - Shizuoka Marathon (9,802) - canceled
Mar. 14 - Nagoya Women's Marathon (96) - TBA
Mar. 21 - Koga Hanamomo Marathon (8,766) - canceled
Mar. 21 - Saga Sakura Marathon (8.509) - TBA
Mar. 28 - Sakura Marathon (5,614) - TBA
Apr. 18 - Kasumigaura Marathon (10,096) - scheduled
Apr. 18 - Nagano Marathon (8082) - TBA

source article:
http://www.himeji-marathon.jp
translated by Brett Larner

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