What this is
Running the same roads where Japan's first Olympic athlete jogged to school as a child is the quietly remarkable hook of this community marathon in Nagomi, Kumamoto. Held in honor of Kanakuri Shiso — who competed at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics and later founded the Hakone Ekiden relay — the race offers four distances: half marathon, 10km, 3km, and 1.2km. The 2026 edition is the 43rd running, with Olympic marathon gold medalist Mizuki Noguchi and long-distance great Kayoko Fukushi joining as guest runners.
Who should go
Runners with an interest in Japanese athletics history will get the most out of this — the historical framing elevates what is otherwise a well-organized local road race. The shorter 3km and 1.2km courses make it accessible for families with children or casual participants.
Good to know
Registration for this type of regional Japanese marathon is typically handled through the official event website or via running entry platforms such as RunNet (runnet.jp) — foreign credit cards may not be accepted, so having a Japanese payment method or asking a local contact to assist is advisable. The venue is a community plaza in a small rural town, so facilities will be modest; bring your own hydration supplies beyond what is provided at aid stations. Arrive well before the 08:45 start as parking and bib collection at smaller Japanese races can take longer than expected. The presence of guest runners Mizuki Noguchi and Kayoko Fukushi may draw larger crowds than in previous years, so factor in extra time.
This event was sourced and translated from Japanese by What's On Japan. Details may change — verify with the official source before attending.