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Fukuoka International Marathon and Hofu Marathon Elite Fields


Things are in kind of a strange situation this December when it comes to Japanese marathons. When the Fukuoka International Marathon announced it was shutting down after last year's 75th race the Hofu Yomiuri Marathon two weeks later was quick to move to Fukuoka's traditional first-Sunday-of-December date for 2022. When the announcement came of Fukuoka's return it was like a game of musical chairs, with both races trying to cram into the same day.

As a result you've got a pretty serious split when it comes to domestic entries. Fukuoka has its traditional small international field to justify its name, veteran Abel Kirui (Kenya) facing off against a trio of 2:06 men, past winners Yemane Tsegaye (Ethiopia) and Michael Githae (Kenya/Suzuki), Marugame Half winner Brett Robinson (Australia), the debuting sub-60 half marathoner Vincent Raimoi (Kenya/Suzuki) and more. The domestic field has three men at 2:08 and six at 2:09, Daiji Kawai (Toenec) leading the way with a 2:08:31 this year in Tokyo. It's a very small field, with only 73 entrants and 5 pacers.

Hofu is strictly domestic-only, with three 2:07 men, two 2:08 and four 2:09 led by Masato Kikuchi (Makes) at 2:07:20. The fastest seven of the nine sub-2:10 men in Hofu ran their bests as part of the Miracle in Lake Biwa last year, but regardless of whatever that means, with equal numbers of current sub-2:10 men in their fields Hofu has a small edge on Fukuoka in domestic quality.

It also has a small women's field, which is totally welcome given the complete absence of any other domestic options for elite Japanese women in the fall season. Ikumi Fukura (Otsuka Seiyaku) and Rie Kawauchi (Otsuka Seiyaku) have both already qualified for next fall's MGC Olympic marathon trials with 2:25 performances in the spring, making their appearances here a bit of a surprise. Nana Sato (Starts) and Momoko Watanabe (Tenmaya) both ran 2:30 PBs in the spring and are a bit easier to understand, as is the debuting Yuna Daito (Tenmaya).

Hofu also has a small IPC field, headed by Tokyo Paralympic marathon medalists Misato Michishita (Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo) and Tadashi Horikoshi (NTT Nishi Nihon). Check back closer to race date for more info on following both races live.

Fukuoka International Marathon Elite Field Highlights

Fukuoka, 4 Dec., 2022
times listed are best in last 3 years except where noted

Abel Kirui (Kenya) - 2:05:05 (Valencia 2020)
Kenneth Keter (Kenya) - 2:06:05 (Amsterdam 2021)
Silas Too (Kenya) - 2:06:32 (Eindhoven 2021)
Maru Teferi (Israel) - 2:06:58 (Seville 2022)
Yemane Tsegaye (Ethiopia) - 2:07:17 (Barcelona 2021)
Michael Githae (Kenya/Suzuki) - 2:07:51 (Fukuoka Int'l 2021)
James Gitahi Rungaru (Kenya/Chuo Hatsujo) - 2:08:25 (Fukuoka Int'l 2021)
Barelign Teshager Yegzaw (Ethiopia) - 2:08:28 (Los Angeles 2020)
Daiji Kawai (Toenec) - 2:08:31 (Tokyo 2022)
Kazuma Kubo (Nishitetsu) - 2:08:48 (Tokyo 2022)
Kenta Murayama (Asahi Kasei) - 2:08:56 (Berlin 2019)
Chihiro Miyawaki (Toyota) - 2:09:04 (Tokyo 2020)
Akira Akasaki (Kyudenko) - 2:09:17 (Beppu-Oita 2022)
Shoma Hosoya (Tendo City Hall) - 2:09:18 (Tokyo 2022)
Takamitsu Hashimoto (Komori Corp.) - 2:09:43 (Lake Biwa 2021)
Junnosuke Matsuo (NTT Nishi Nihon) - 2:09:48 (Tokyo 2022)
Brett Robinson (Australia) - 2:09:52 (London 2022)
Koshiro Hirata (SG Holdings) - 2:09:57 (Lake Biwa 2022)

Debut
Vincent Raimoi (Kenya/Suzuki) - 59:51 (RAK Half 2020)

Hofu Yomiuri Marathon Elite Field Highlights

Hofu, Yamaguchi, 4 Dec. 2022
times listed are best within last 3 years except where noted

Men
Masato Kikuchi (Makes) - 2:07:20 (Lake Biwa 2021)
Yuki Kawauchi (ANDS) - 2:07:27 (Lake Biwa 2021)
Tsubasa Ichiyama (Komori Corp.) - 2:07:41 (Lake Biwa 2021)
Junichi Tsubouchi (Kurosaki Harima) - 2:08:35 (Lake Biwa 2021)
Yuta Koyama (Toenec) - 2:08:46 (Lake Biwa 2021)
Takumi Kiyotani (Chugoku Denryoku) - 2:09:13 (Lake Biwa 2021)
Madoka Tanihara (Osaka Police) - 2:09:15 (Lake Biwa 2021)
Shoma Yamamoto (NTT Nishi Nihon) - 2:09:18 (Lake Biwa 2020)
Ryo Hashimoto (GMO) - 2:09:29 (Beppu-Oita 2019)

Women
Ikumi Fukura (Otsuka Seiyaku) - 2:25:15 (Nagoya 2022)
Rie Kawauchi (Otsuka Seiyaku) - 2:25:35 (Osaka Int'l 2022)
Nana Sato (Starts) - 2:30:19 (Nagoya 2022)
Momoko Watanabe (Tenmaya) - 2:30:42 (Nagoya 2022)

Debut
Yuna Daito (Tenmaya) - 1:10:12 (Nat'l Corp. Half 2022)

© 2022 Brett Larner, all rights reserved

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Stefan said…
I was totally off the mark with my hunch that Honami Maeda might enter the Hofu Marathon. With the Queens Exiden so close on the schedule I guess it was a very long shot. Hopefully both her Tenmaya teammates will post MGC qualification times. It should be a closely run race with the 2 Otsuka Seiyaku teammates so close in times too. I'm looking forward to it.
November 5, 2022 at 4:05 AM
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