2026 Tokyo Marathon date set with increase of 1,000 participants
The 2026 Tokyo Marathon will be held on March 1 with the participant cap set at 39,000, up 1,000 from the 2025 edition, its organizing body said Monday.
Of the total entries, 38,500 will be for the full marathon. A further 500 will be accepted for the 10.7-kilometer race, unchanged from 2025, according to the Tokyo Marathon Foundation.
General entries will open on Aug. 15 with categories for male, female and non-binary runners.
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The Mainichi
10-07-2025
- The Mainichi
Football: Moriyasu, Hong drawing up big blueprint for Japan, S. Korea
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The current masterminds behind two of Asia's most successful footballing nations, Japan's Hajime Moriyasu and South Korea's Hong Myung Bo, believe their teams will continue to inspire each other as they dream of one day meeting in a World Cup final. Speaking to Kyodo News on the 60th anniversary of diplomatic normalization between the two countries, the two 56-year-old managers shared their thoughts on their respective paths since they first faced each other on the pitch, as well as the future of the footballing relationship between the nations. "I was happy to be part of the long history (between the countries)," Moriyasu, a defensive midfielder during his playing days, said of that first meeting, a 0-0 draw at the Dynasty Cup in Beijing in August 1992. "Japan and South Korea might put more pressure on their players facing each other than any other two countries, and that brings about mutual growth." All-round defender Hong, who made his World Cup debut in Italy in 1990, said the rivalry was "a big competition, beyond football." "Players from each side put their pride on the line and feel the emotion, nervousness and more during the preparation process before heading in," he said. The two nations have met 78 times to date, with South Korea winning 40, Japan 15, with 23 games ending in draws. It has been a tight contest since the J-League started in 1993, with nine wins apiece and 10 draws. Kazuyoshi Miura's goal gave a Japan side featuring Moriyasu a 1-0 win against South Korea in October 1993 in the Asian final-round World Cup qualifiers, when all six teams were housed in the same hotel. It preceded the game which came to be known in Japan as the "Tragedy of Doha" that resulted in the Samurai Blue dramatically missing the 1994 finals. A late Iraq equalizer saw them settle for a point in their last game and let their first World Cup appearance slip through their fingers, in what would be Moriyasu's only qualifying campaign. South Korea snatched the berth instead on goal difference to head to the United States. "Japan were developing steadily from around 1992 and the 1993 team at the qualifying round really had lots of good players," Hong said. "I strongly felt Japan would eventually make the World Cup." The neighbors have not been grouped together in World Cup qualifying since 1997. South Korea won 2-1 in Tokyo while Japan prevailed 2-0 against the already-through hosts in Seoul, with Japan reaching their first finals in 1998 via a playoff win over Iran. "In terms of history, South Korea were the top runner in Asia and Japan have been catching up," Moriyasu said. "Now Japan have upped their level and we're both pushing each other to propel Asia." Hong left Pohang Steelers to play five seasons in the J-League from 1997 and faced Moriyasu again on the pitch during that period, spending the first two years with Bellmare Hiratsuka, now Shonan Bellmare, before moving to Kashiwa Reysol. The two nations were pulled closer as co-hosts of the 2002 World Cup, at which Japan reached the last 16 for the first time and South Korea upset Portugal, Italy and Spain en route to finishing fourth. "It was a momentous World Cup for both countries. It was a wonderful and pioneering competition too, where nations and associations connected and cooperated for a successful staging of the tournament," Moriyasu said. "I feel South Korea put in a performance that made Asia proud as their representatives." Calling the tournament "extremely positive" for both co-hosts, Hong revealed Guus Hiddink, their Dutch manager at the time, gave a crucial speech ahead of their last 16 tie with Italy following Japan's defeat to Turkey earlier the same day. "Italy were an extremely strong team at the time and we might have been thinking it can't be helped (to lose) after the defeat for Japan," the former South Korea captain said. "Hiddink implored, 'don't get satisfied by reaching this stage' and 'we'll aim much higher.' The players' motivation was reignited by that." Moriyasu hung up his boots in 2003 a year before Hong and started his managerial career in 2012, winning three J1 titles with his former club Sanfrecce Hiroshima over the next four years. He took the Japan job following the 2018 World Cup, four years before stunning both Germany and Spain in Qatar. Hong managed South Korea at the 2014 finals when they went out in the group stage. He returned to the post in 2024, having guided Ulsan Hyundai to back-to-back K-League titles, and the two managers find common ground in their philosophies. "I put extreme emphasis on how players positively influence the team and how much they can devote to it," Hong said. "The crowd may like star, big-name, popular players, but someone like Moriyasu, who can really dedicate himself to the team, leads the team to wins." "Japanese players often said 'for the team' when I was in Japan and that's the idea. You might sometimes play for your name and number on the back of your shirt, but there's the emblem and sense of mission at the front. I want players to understand their importance." Moriyasu said his approach was "nearly the same" with team spirit "at its core." Teams are "comprised of individuals" and he seeks "mutual respect" among the different members. "Hong was a wonderful player who was given captaincy also in Japan because he could express both what he had to do as an individual and as a member of the team," Moriyasu said. "I hope to see many such players develop." Japan will make their eighth straight World Cup next summer in Canada, Mexico and the United States, while South Korea will appear for the 11th straight time and 12th overall. The Samurai Blue's four knockout-stage appearances are the most by an Asian team, but they are still aiming to make the quarterfinals for the first time. "We want to dream big and have been fighting with the shared goal of winning the World Cup," Moriyasu said. "People looking at our past record of course might say 'are they dreaming?' But taking each game at a time, I don't think anything is at the center of this belief is seeing South Korea reach the last four in 2002." "Having pushed each other, and seeing each other as comrades in leading Asian football, if we and South Korea can face each other in the final at the next World Cup or another in the future, I'll be really happy." Hong, who has set a last-16 berth as a target, recalled managing the South Korean under-23 team in a bronze-medal playoff victory over Japan at the 2012 London Olympics, saying he hoped "such a day comes again soon." Both managers also believe football can play a part in forming a better relationship between the two countries. "At our 1998 World Cup qualifier, a banner in the home section of a Seoul stadium read 'Let's go to France together,'" Hong said. "At the 2002 World Cup, I heard afterward that lots of people in Japan cheered for us as we reached the last 16, quarterfinals and semifinals. I hope we can build a new future without forgetting these things." Moriyasu said, "We each have a year left in our jobs for now, but hopefully we can both produce something in that period that leaves something for the future generations." "If Japan and South Korea getting connected as good footballing rivals and friends were to influence broader society, I'd be happy."
Kyodo News
30-06-2025
- Kyodo News
Sumo: Onosato aims to buck trend, win Nagoya meet in yokozuna debut
KYODO NEWS - 1 hour ago - 13:53 | Sports, All Newly promoted Onosato said Monday he aims to win the upcoming Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament as a yokozuna debutant and add his name to the small group of wrestlers to achieve the feat. The 25-year-old star will compete for the first time as a grand champion at the 15-day tournament opening July 13 at the new IG Arena. Of the 30 previous wrestlers promoted to yokozuna, just six won their first grand tournament at the sport's highest rank. "It's not something that everyone does," said Onosato, speaking at a press conference at his Nishonoseki stable's base near Nagoya. The Ishikawa Prefecture native will also be under the spotlight as the first new Japanese-born yokozuna since his stablemaster, the former Kisenosato, debuted at the top rank in March 2017. Onosato went 9-6 as a sekiwake last July in his only previous Nagoya meet as a member of the elite makuuchi division. "I don't have good memories of the Nagoya tournaments over the past two years," he said. "If I can achieve good results here, I think I'll be able to feel that I've become stronger." While his stellar performance in the ring, culminating in his yokozuna promotion, has made him the talk of the sumo world, Onosato says he has not been affected by the attention. "Nothing has changed, including my life away from sumo," he said. "I want to stay the same person I've always been." He continues to cherish his connection with Ishikawa, especially his hometown of Tsubata, which was hit hard by the Jan. 1, 2024, Noto Peninsula earthquake. The town held a parade on Sunday to celebrate his yokozuna promotion. "I got a lot of energy from it," he said. "I hope it's reflected by my performance in Nagoya. I want to energize Ishikawa Prefecture by continuing to succeed."
Kyodo News
30-06-2025
- Kyodo News
Sumo: Onosato aims to buck trend, win Nagoya meet in yokozuna debut
KYODO NEWS - 20 minutes ago - 13:53 | Sports, All Newly promoted Onosato said Monday he aims to win the upcoming Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament as a yokozuna debutant and add his name to the small group of wrestlers to achieve the feat. The 25-year-old star will compete for the first time as a grand champion at the 15-day tournament opening July 13 at the new IG Arena. Of the 30 previous wrestlers promoted to yokozuna, just six won their first grand tournament at the sport's highest rank. "It's not something that everyone does," said Onosato, speaking at a press conference at his Nishonoseki stable's base near Nagoya. The Ishikawa Prefecture native will also be under the spotlight as the first new Japanese-born yokozuna since his stablemaster, the former Kisenosato, debuted at the top rank in March 2017. Onosato went 9-6 as a sekiwake last July in his only previous Nagoya meet as a member of the elite makuuchi division. "I don't have good memories of the Nagoya tournaments over the past two years," he said. "If I can achieve good results here, I think I'll be able to feel that I've become stronger." While his stellar performance in the ring, culminating in his yokozuna promotion, has made him the talk of the sumo world, Onosato says he has not been affected by the attention. "Nothing has changed, including my life away from sumo," he said. "I want to stay the same person I've always been." He continues to cherish his connection with Ishikawa, especially his hometown of Tsubata, which was hit hard by the Jan. 1, 2024, Noto Peninsula earthquake. The town held a parade on Sunday to celebrate his yokozuna promotion. "I got a lot of energy from it," he said. "I hope it's reflected by my performance in Nagoya. I want to energize Ishikawa Prefecture by continuing to succeed."
