Welcome back Tokyo Marathon! It was finally held at full scale (38,000 runners) on March 5, 2023 for the first time since 2019. Runners from overseas also ran en masse after Japan finally allowed inbound tourists since last autumn. Glad to see them give the marathon a much needed international flavor.
Both elite and amateur runners enjoyed a nice, overcast day. Not too cold, not too warm, and no wind. Perfect for the 42.2-km (26.2-mile) full marathon.
Photos on this page were taken near the 24 km (15 mi.) checkpoint/turnaround in Monzen-Nakacho.
Tokyo Marathon 2023 started at 9:05 a.m. with the Wheelchair Marathon in front of Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No. 1 in Shinjuku. Then the marathon started at 9:10 a.m. with a bang and confetti.
Runners had 7 hours to finish the full marathon (9:10 a.m. – 4:10 p.m.).
Left: In the men’s wheelchair race, Marcel HUG (1001) in the lead followed by Tomoki SUZUKI (1005) who finished 2nd. They reached Monzen-Nakacho at about 9:50 a.m. Right: Women’s wheelchair race was won by Manuela Schar (2002) of Switzerland.
At 24 km, lead pack with Ethiopia’s Deso GELMISA (aqua), Tsegaye GETACHEW KEBEDE (white), and Mohamed ESA (orange shorts). Gelmisa won the marathon in 2 hours, 5 minutes, 22 seconds, followed by Esa (2:05:22), and Getachew Kebede (2:05:25). All three are from Ethiopia.
At Monzen-Nakacho 24 km, the lead pack also included top Japanese runners L-R Hidekazu HIJIKATA (white, finished 18th), Kenya SONATA (green, finished 8th), Suguru OSAKO (aqua, finished 9th), and Ichitaka YAMASHITA (red) who finished 7th and was the top Japanese finisher at 2:05:51.
At Monzen-Nakacho 24 km, the women’s lead pack included Kenya’s Rosemary Wanjiru toward the right. She eventually won the women’s Tokyo Marathon 2023. (Pacemakers have a yellow bib.)
Top Japanese woman marathoner Mizuki MATSUDA (red) was surrounded by male runners at Monzen-Nakacho. She tearfully finished 6th at 2:21:44 as the top Japanese woman finisher at Tokyo Marathon 2023.
Ai HOSODA leading a small pack in Monzen-Nakacho. She finished 7th and was the 2nd fastest Japanese woman runner at Tokyo Marathon 2023.
Yuta SHITARA
Yuta SHITARA
Yuta SHITARA
Mao ICHIYAMA, 14th place
Mao ICHIYAMA, 14th place
Mao ICHIYAMA, 14th place
Shogo NAKAMURA, 36th place
Shogo NAKAMURA, 36th place
Shogo NAKAMURA, 36th place
More major Japanese marathoners. Shitara is a former Japanese marathon record holder.
The full-scale Tokyo Marathon is very entertaining with cosplay runners in all kinds of costumes. Here are some of them near the 24 km mark (15 mi.) in Monzen-Nakacho. Great to see so many overseas runners. Foreign nationals numbered around 13,000 verses 24,929 Japanese runners. The men (27,952) well outnumbered the women (8,618).
If you are in any of these photos, let me know and I’ll send you a high-resolution copy for free. 写っている方々に無料で高解像度の写真を提供します。Contact me here.
Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay
UK
UK
UK
National pride expressed with the country’s flag. Only 10 runners from Paraguay, and 923 runners from the UK.South Africa
South Africa
South Africa
Denmark
Denmark
Denmark
USA
USA
USA
National pride expressed with the country’s flag. Only 56 runners from South Africa, 50 from Denmark, and 2,724 runners came from the USA.Mexico
Mexico
Mexico
Mexico
Mexico
Mexico
National pride expressed with the country’s name or dress. Above are two of the 270 Mexicans who ran.Brazilian martial artist
Brazilian martial artist
Brazilian martial artist
Elvis
Elvis
Elvis
Amazing how Japan’s cosplay culture caught on overseas.Power of pink
Power of pink
Power of pink
New York
New York
New York
Pretty in pink and runner from New York.
Neanderthal, basketball player, and samurai.Anpan Man
Anpan Man
Anpan Man
Super Mario
Super Mario
Super Mario
Lum-chan
Lum-chan
Lum-chan
Anpan Man, Super Mario, and Lum-chan.From Taiwan
From Taiwan
From Taiwan
Sailor Moon from Bermuda
Sailor Moon from Bermuda
Sailor Moon from Bermuda
Posing for the camera at the turnaround point. 984 runners came from Taiwan.Nemo
Nemo
Nemo
Cookie monster
Cookie monster
Cookie monster
Nemo the clownfish and cookie monster? No running, no life.Neko Hiroshi
Neko Hiroshi
Neko Hiroshi
Neko Hiroshi is a comedian. Pirate and ninja.
Spider Women
Rabbit costumes have always been popular, especially in 2023, the Year of the Rabbit.Hula
Hula
Hula
Hawaiian
Hawaiian
Hawaiian
Sunflower
Sunflower
Sunflower
Flower power.Fit father
Fit father
Fit father
Mito Komon
Mito Komon
Mito Komon
The oldest runners were in their 80s. Maybe these two are that old.
Colorful…
Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon
Minnie Mouse costume at every Tokyo marathon. Sailor Moon too.
Minion
Minion
Minion
Minion running head and shoulders above everyone else.French fries
French fries
French fries
Sake
Sake
Sake
Beer
Beer
Beer
Food & drink costumes.Joseph Tame
Joseph Tame
Joseph Tame
Xiao Xiao
Xiao Xiao
Xiao Xiao
Kaeru Marathon
Kaeru Marathon
Kaeru Marathon
Joseph Tame (UK) with spinning flowers on his head, panda (Xiao Xiao シャオシャオ), and Kaeru (Frog) Marathon in Kawauchi, Fukushima.
Porco Rosso
Porco Rosso
Porco Rosso
Tokyo 2020 volunteer (notice the pins on his shoulder bag), Porco Rosso Ghibli movie, and American flag suit.
Welcome to Tokyo!
An endless stream of marathoners. Such an awesome sight.
Don’t forget the Tokyo Marathon volunteers. Thank you for a great event. I was also a Tokyo Marathon volunteer for three years before working for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics.
Cleanup crew
Cleanup crew
Cleanup crew
For runners, these yellow sweeper buses are a dreaded sight, lurking in the shadows to sweep up non-finishers. Normally, they are sightseeing tour buses operated by a famous bus tour company Hato Bus. Runners had to pass this 24 km mark by 1:20 pm. Otherwise, they had to quit the race and board the bus. Fortunately, these buses remained almost empty.After all the runners passed, sweep buses were almost empty. Cleanup crew followed.
Congratulations to all Tokyo Marathon 2023 runners. Happy to see you all. Enjoy Tokyo.
