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The Undeath of Historic Japanese Marathons: Lake Biwa Comeback Planned for 2023

After seeing its final edition in Shiga last year and then being absorbed into the Osaka Marathon in March this year, the legacy of the Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon will continue with a successor race to be held on Mar. 12 next year. Since the previous event wrapped up, the Shiga prefectural government has been examining holding a mass-participation race celebrating the tradition of the Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon and has been looking at potential course and date options. In January they sought suggestions for a name for the event and selected "Lake Biwa Marathon" from among the submissions.

The organizing committee came together in April to determine the new event's date and course. The race will begin at Ojiyama Field, historical starting point of the former race, and will cross Omi Bridge before heading north along Lake Biwa's eastern shore. Covering 42.195 km, it will feature a turnaround point in Moriyama before finishing at Lake Biwa Museum located on the Karasuma Peninsula in Kusatsu. The Shiga Athletics Association is currently studying the roads along the proposed route and is expected to apply to the JAAF for official course certification. Officials said that entries are planned to open in late July this year on the event website.

Translator's note: This news follows the announcement in March that the Fukuoka International Marathon is also planning a return this fall on its traditional course and race date, likewise without a newspaper as its primary sponsor. Details on whether the elite race will remain associated with the Osaka Marathon are unclear at this point, although that seems like the most likely outcome.

source article:
translated by Brett Larner

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