Toshinari Takaoka (高岡 寿成, Takaoka Toshinari; born 24 September 1970) is a Japanese long-distance runner who specializes…Toshinari Takaoka (高岡 寿成, Takaoka Toshinari; born 24 September 1970) is a Japanese long-distance runner who specializes in the 5000 metres, 10,000 metres and the marathon race. He owned the former men's marathon Asian record.
Michiko Shimizu (志水 見千子, Shimizu Michiko; born 22 September 1970 in Amino, Kyoto) is a retired Japanese long-distance…Michiko Shimizu (志水 見千子, Shimizu Michiko; born 22 September 1970 in Amino, Kyoto) is a retired Japanese long-distance runner who mainly competed in the 5000 metres. She finished fourth at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
Yoshiko Yamamoto (Japanese: 山本佳子, born 6 March 1970) is a Japanese former marathon runner who won the 1990 Paris…Yoshiko Yamamoto (Japanese: 山本佳子, born 6 March 1970) is a Japanese former marathon runner who won the 1990 Paris Marathon, came second at the 1992 Boston Marathon, and third at the 1992 New York City Marathon.
Junko Asari (浅利 純子, Asari Junko; married name Takahashi (高橋); born 22 September 1969 in Kazuno, Akita) is a retired…Junko Asari (浅利 純子, Asari Junko; married name Takahashi (高橋); born 22 September 1969 in Kazuno, Akita) is a retired Japanese marathon runner. She won the gold medal at the 1993 World Championships in a time of 2:30:03 hours. In addition she won the Tokyo International Women's Marathon in 1995 and 1998 and the Osaka Ladies Marathon in 1993. Her personal best time was 2:26:10, from January 1994 in Osaka. She finished 17th at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Izumi Maki (真木 和, Maki Izumi; née Yamaoka (山岡); December 10, 1968 – October 18, 2018 in Namikata, Ehime) was a Japanese…Izumi Maki (真木 和, Maki Izumi; née Yamaoka (山岡); December 10, 1968 – October 18, 2018 in Namikata, Ehime) was a Japanese long-distance runner who competed in the marathon. She represented her native country twice at the Summer Olympics: in 1992 (12th place in the 10,000 metres) and 1996 (12th place in the women's marathon). She competed for the Wacoal corporate team during her career. In addition to her Olympic appearances, Maki competed three times at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships (1991 to 1993) with her best performance being 22nd in the 1991 women's race. She was also a two-time participant at the World Championships in Athletics in the 10,000 m, coming 20th in 1991 and 17th in 1993. She won the Japanese Championship in the 10,000 m once in her career, in 1992. Maki had back-to-back wins at the Shibetsu Half Marathon in 1993 and 1994, and also won the Gold Coast Half Marathon in the latter year. She was the initial winner of the 1995 Sapporo Half Marathon in a time of 70:10 minutes but was disqualified for a doping violation and banned for three months. Later in her career she focused on marathon running. She won the 1996 Nagoya International Women's Marathon and the Pilot Marathon in 1998. She retired from the sport in the late 1990s. She is now a training advisor to the Fujita Running Academy. Maki holds the Asian record for the infrequently contested 20,000 m track race, a mark which was formerly the world record for the event. She died of breast cancer on October 18, 2018. She was 49.
Hiromi Suzuki (鈴木 博美, Suzuki Hiromi; born December 6, 1968) is a Japanese former long-distance runner. She represented…Hiromi Suzuki (鈴木 博美, Suzuki Hiromi; born December 6, 1968) is a Japanese former long-distance runner. She represented her country at the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics. She won the world title in the women's marathon at the 1997 World Championships in Athens, Greece.
Harumi Hiroyama (Japanese: 弘山晴美; born 2 September 1968 in Naruto, Tokushima) is a Japanese long-distance runner. In her…Harumi Hiroyama (Japanese: 弘山晴美; born 2 September 1968 in Naruto, Tokushima) is a Japanese long-distance runner. In her early career she specialized in the 1500 and 3000 metres, but gradually she shifted to the 5000 metres, 10,000 metres and the marathon race. She won her first marathon in 2006 at the age of 37 when she beat Yoko Shibui to the finish to win the Nagoya International Women's Marathon.
Kenichi Suzuki (鈴木 賢一, Suzuki Ken'ichi; born April 6, 1967) is a retired male long-distance runner from Japan, who won…Kenichi Suzuki (鈴木 賢一, Suzuki Ken'ichi; born April 6, 1967) is a retired male long-distance runner from Japan, who won the 1993 edition of Amsterdam Marathon, clocking 2:11:56 on September 26, 1993.
Masaki Oya (Japanese: 大家 正喜, Hepburn: Ōya Masaki; born 11 July 1966) is a Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in…Masaki Oya (Japanese: 大家 正喜, Hepburn: Ōya Masaki; born 11 July 1966) is a Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in the men's marathon at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Shinji Kawashima (川嶋 伸次, Kawashima Shinji; born 4 June 1966) is a Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in the…Shinji Kawashima (川嶋 伸次, Kawashima Shinji; born 4 June 1966) is a Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in the men's marathon at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Kumi Araki (荒木 久美, Araki Kumi; born October 11, 1965) is a retired long-distance runner from Japan. She represented her…Kumi Araki (荒木 久美, Araki Kumi; born October 11, 1965) is a retired long-distance runner from Japan. She represented her native country in the women's marathon at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. She won the silver medal in the women's 10.000 metres at the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul, South Korea.
Toshihiro Takada (高田 稔浩, Takada Toshihiro) is a Paralympian athlete from Japan competing mainly in category T52…Toshihiro Takada (高田 稔浩, Takada Toshihiro) is a Paralympian athlete from Japan competing mainly in category T52 long-distance events.
Yuichi Takahashi (高橋 勇市, Takahashi Yūichi) is a Paralympian athlete from Japan competing mainly in category T11…Yuichi Takahashi (高橋 勇市, Takahashi Yūichi) is a Paralympian athlete from Japan competing mainly in category T11 long-distance events. Yuichi took part in the 5000m, 10000m and marathon in the 2004 Summer Paralympics winning the T11 marathon. In the 2008 Summer Paralympics he attempted to defend this title but only managed to finish 16th.
Shuichi Morita (森田 修一; born February 3, 1965) is a retired long-distance runner from Japan, who won the 1991 edition of…Shuichi Morita (森田 修一; born February 3, 1965) is a retired long-distance runner from Japan, who won the 1991 edition of the Fukuoka Marathon, clocking 2:10:58 on December 1, 1991. The event also served as the national championship contest.
Sachiko Yamashita (山下 佐知子, Yamashita Sachiko; born August 20, 1964, in Tottori) is a Japanese former long-distance…Sachiko Yamashita (山下 佐知子, Yamashita Sachiko; born August 20, 1964, in Tottori) is a Japanese former long-distance runner, who won the silver medal in the women's marathon at the 1991 World Championships in Athletics in Tokyo.
Akemi Masuda (Japanese: 増田 明美; born January 1, 1964) is a retired Japanese female long-distance runner. She competed…Akemi Masuda (Japanese: 増田 明美; born January 1, 1964) is a retired Japanese female long-distance runner. She competed for Japan at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, although she failed to finish the race. Masuda set her personal best in the classic distance (2:30:30) in 1983. She rose to prominence with a gold medal on the track over 3000 metres at the 1981 Asian Athletics Championships and by winning the inaugural 20 km women's race at the Sapporo Half Marathon event. She continued to focus on road events and won at the 1982 Chiba Marathon and the 1983 Nike OTC Marathon. Her 2:30:30 at age 19 in that race was the World Junior Record. She was the runner-up at the 1984 Osaka Ladies Marathon, a result which led to her the starting line of the first Olympic women's marathon. Among her other results, she was third at the 1989 Hokkaido Marathon and took 19th place at the 1990 London Marathon.
Mari Tanigawa (谷川真理, Tanigawa Mari; born 27 October 1962) is a Japanese former marathon runner. Born in Fukuoka…Mari Tanigawa (谷川真理, Tanigawa Mari; born 27 October 1962) is a Japanese former marathon runner. Born in Fukuoka Prefecture, she was a two-time winner at the Tokyo International Women's Marathon, winner of the Australia's Gold Coast Marathon in 1992 and won the Paris Marathon in 1994. Tanigawa also competed in half marathon races: she won individual and team silver medals at the 1993 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships and won the 1994 Sapporo Half Marathon and 1996 America's Finest City Half Marathon. She was a team bronze medalist at the 1994 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, where she finished tenth. She had career personal bests of 2:27:55 hours for the marathon and 1:09:37 hours for the half marathon. She is the organizer of several popular races in Japan, the Mari Tanigawa Half Marathon and the Mari Tanigawa Ekiden.
Toshihiro Shibutani (born August 30, 1962) is a retired long-distance runner from Japan, who won the 1988 edition of…Toshihiro Shibutani (born August 30, 1962) is a retired long-distance runner from Japan, who won the 1988 edition of the Fukuoka Marathon, clocking 2:11:04 on December 4, 1988.
Misako Miyahara (宮原 美佐子; born May 29, 1962) is a retired long-distance runner from Japan. She represented her native…Misako Miyahara (宮原 美佐子; born May 29, 1962) is a retired long-distance runner from Japan. She represented her native country in the women's marathon at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, alongside Eriko Asai and Kumi Araki. She won the silver medal in the women's marathon at the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul, South Korea.
Tsukasa Endo (遠藤 司, Endō Tsukasa; born 9 November 1961) is a Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in the men's…Tsukasa Endo (遠藤 司, Endō Tsukasa; born 9 November 1961) is a Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in the men's 10,000 metres at the 1988 Summer Olympics.
Eriko Asai (浅井 えり子, Asai Eriko; born October 20, 1959) is a retired long-distance runner from Japan. She represented…Eriko Asai (浅井 えり子, Asai Eriko; born October 20, 1959) is a retired long-distance runner from Japan. She represented her native country in the women's marathon at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. She won a gold medal at the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul, South Korea, and won the 1994 edition of the Nagoya Women's Marathon. She competed at a weight of 40 kilograms and a height of 150 centimeters.
Yutaka Kanai (金井 豊, Kanai Yutaka; 16 October 1959 – 23 August 1990) was a Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in…Yutaka Kanai (金井 豊, Kanai Yutaka; 16 October 1959 – 23 August 1990) was a Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in the men's 10,000 metres at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Teruyo Tanaka (田中 照代, Tanaka Teruyo) (born 24 May 1959) is a Paralympian athlete from Japan competing mainly in…Teruyo Tanaka (田中 照代, Tanaka Teruyo) (born 24 May 1959) is a Paralympian athlete from Japan competing mainly in category T52 sprint events. She competed in the 1996 Summer Paralympics in Atlanta, United States. There she won a gold medal in the women's 800 metres T51, finished sixth in the women's 200 metres T51 and finished sixth in the women's 400 metres T51. She also competed at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney, Australia. There she won a silver medal in the women's 200 metres T52, a silver medal in the women's 800 metres T52 and a silver medal in the women's 1500 metres T52. She also competed at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, China. There she won a bronze medal in the women's 100 metres T52 and finished fourth in the women's 200 metres T52.
Hisatoshi Shintaku (新宅 永灯至, Shintaku Hisatoshi; born December 20, 1957), also known as Masanari Shintaku (新宅雅也…Hisatoshi Shintaku (新宅 永灯至, Shintaku Hisatoshi; born December 20, 1957), also known as Masanari Shintaku (新宅雅也, Shintaku Masanari), is a retired long-distance runner from Japan. He won the 1985 edition of the Fukuoka Marathon, clocking 2:09:51 on December 1, 1985. He represented his native country at the 1988 Summer Olympics, finishing in 17th place (2:15:42).
Nanae Nagata (永田 七恵, Nagata Nanae), born as Nanae Sasaki (佐々木 七恵, Sasaki Nanae), (February 8, 1956 – June 27, 2009) was…Nanae Nagata (永田 七恵, Nagata Nanae), born as Nanae Sasaki (佐々木 七恵, Sasaki Nanae), (February 8, 1956 – June 27, 2009) was a Japanese long-distance runner. She was a high school teacher in Ōfunato, Iwate when she set a Japanese record of 2:40:56 at the Boston Marathon in 1981. She quit running as an amateur and began her professional career with the S & B Foods Inc. Athletic Club, which included among its members her coach, Kiyoshi Nakamura, and Toshihiko Seko, then one of the top marathon runners in the world. She set a new Japanese record of 2:35:00 at the Christchurch Marathon in June 1982. She won the Tokyo International Women's Marathon in 1983, and she represented Japan at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, finishing the race in 19th place, at 2:37:04. She retired from competition after setting her personal best time of 2:33:57 at the Nagoya Marathon in March 1995, and she then served as a coach at the S & B Athletic Club for a while. On June 29, 2009, Japanese news media reported that she died on June 27 at the age of 53 due to colorectal cancer.
Kunimitsu Itō (伊藤 国光, Itō Kunimitsu; born January 6, 1955 in Ina, Nagano) is a retired long-distance runner from Japan…Kunimitsu Itō (伊藤 国光, Itō Kunimitsu; born January 6, 1955 in Ina, Nagano) is a retired long-distance runner from Japan, who finished second in the 1981 edition of the Fukuoka Marathon on December 6, 1981.
Shigeru So (宗 茂, Sō Shigeru) (born 9 January 1953 in Usuki, Ōita) is a Japanese retired long-distance runner who…Shigeru So (宗 茂, Sō Shigeru) (born 9 January 1953 in Usuki, Ōita) is a Japanese retired long-distance runner who represented his native country at two Summer Olympics: 1976 and 1984. He won the 1985 edition of the Tokyo Marathon. His twin brother Takeshi So is also a retired Olympic marathoner, and finished fourth in Los Angeles, California (1984). Both Shigeru So and his twin brother Takeshi So were known for attending training camps in New Zealand, including at Mount Taranaki. Some road racing authorities consider his winning run at the Beppu-Ōita Marathon in 1978 (2:09:05.6) to have been a marathon world best.
Takaharu Koyama (小山 隆治, Koyama Takaharu; 8 July 1948 – 11 September 2018) was a Japanese middle distance runner who…Takaharu Koyama (小山 隆治, Koyama Takaharu; 8 July 1948 – 11 September 2018) was a Japanese middle distance runner who competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics and in the 1976 Summer Olympics. Koyama finished second behind John Davies in the 3,000 metres steeplechase event at the British 1974 AAA Championships.
Seiichiro Sasaki (佐々木 精一郎, Sasaki Seiichirō; born 2 September 1945) is a Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in…Seiichiro Sasaki (佐々木 精一郎, Sasaki Seiichirō; born 2 September 1945) is a Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in the marathon at the 1968 Summer Olympics. Sasaki achieved a personal best in the marathon of 2:11:17, set in the 1967 Fukuoka Marathon, finishing second behind Derek Clayton, who ran 2:09:36.4, a world record for the marathon distance at that time. Sasaki's performance in this marathon was the second fastest in history up to that time.
Yoshiaki Unetani (采谷 義秋; 6 October 1944 – 5 November 2022) was a Japanese long-distance runner. Unusually for an elite…Yoshiaki Unetani (采谷 義秋; 6 October 1944 – 5 November 2022) was a Japanese long-distance runner. Unusually for an elite athlete, he combined training with his job as a high school teacher at Takehara Senior High School. Unetani had a personal best for the marathon of 2.12:12 which he set in the Fukuoka Marathon in 1970. He competed in the marathon at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, placing 36th. He secured his place at Munich by finishing third in the Lake Biwa Marathon, a race he had won the previous year. He is most well known for winning the 1969 Boston Marathon in a time of 2.13:49. Unetani died from pneumonia in Wu City, Hiroshima Prefecture, on 5 November 2022, at the age of 78.
Keisuke Sawaki (澤木 啓祐, Sawaki Keisuke; born 8 December 1943) is a Japanese former long-distance runner who competed in…Keisuke Sawaki (澤木 啓祐, Sawaki Keisuke; born 8 December 1943) is a Japanese former long-distance runner who competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics and in the 1972 Summer Olympics.
Akio Usami (宇佐美 彰朗, Usami Akio; born 31 May 1943) is a Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in the marathon at…Akio Usami (宇佐美 彰朗, Usami Akio; born 31 May 1943) is a Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in the marathon at the 1968, 1972 and the 1976 Summer Olympics. His most important win in his marathoning career occurred at the prestigious 1970 Fukuoka Marathon, in which he ran a personal best 2:10:37.8 (also setting a Japanese record at the time). He beat runner-up Kenny Moore by nearly a minute. Usami won the British AAA Championships title at the 1974 AAA Championships.
Kenji Kimihara (君原 健二, Kimihara Kenji; born March 20, 1941) is a retired Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in…Kenji Kimihara (君原 健二, Kimihara Kenji; born March 20, 1941) is a retired Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in the marathon at the 1964, 1968 and 1972 Olympics and finished in eighth, second and fifth place, respectively. He won two gold medals in the marathon at the Asian Games in 1966 and 1970, and won the Boston Marathon in 1966. He was very successful on the Japanese road racing circuit, winning the Tokyo International Marathon and Lake Biwa Marathon in both 1963 and 1964, and registering four wins at the Beppu-Ōita Marathon between 1967 and 1973. Kimihara raced in the 2016 Boston Marathon, celebrating the 50th anniversary of his 1966 win. He completed the race in a time of 4:53:14.
Morio Shigematsu (重松 森雄, Shigematsu Morio; born 21 June 1940) is a former Japanese long-distance runner who competed in…Morio Shigematsu (重松 森雄, Shigematsu Morio; born 21 June 1940) is a former Japanese long-distance runner who competed in marathons. On June 12, 1965, Shigematsu set a world's best in the marathon with a time of 2:12:00 at the Polytechnic Marathon. Less than two months earlier, he had set a course record at the 1965 Boston Marathon (2:16:33). In his career, in 22 marathons started, he recorded 6 victories, placed second 3 times and third once. Shigematsu ran seven marathons under 2:20.
Kōkichi Tsuburaya (円谷 幸吉, Tsuburaya Kōkichi) (born Kokichi Tsumuraya (円谷 幸吉, Tsumuraya Kōkichi); May 13, 1940 – January…Kōkichi Tsuburaya (円谷 幸吉, Tsuburaya Kōkichi) (born Kokichi Tsumuraya (円谷 幸吉, Tsumuraya Kōkichi); May 13, 1940 – January 9, 1968) was a Japanese athlete who competed mainly as a marathoner. Kokichi was also a 1st lieutenant in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.
Teruo Funai (船井 照夫, Funai Teruo; born 28 April 1938) is a Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in the men's…Teruo Funai (船井 照夫, Funai Teruo; born 28 April 1938) is a Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in the men's 10,000 metres at the 1964 Summer Olympics.
Michiko "Miki" Suwa Gorman (August 9, 1935 – September 19, 2015) was an American marathon runner of Japanese ancestry.…Michiko "Miki" Suwa Gorman (August 9, 1935 – September 19, 2015) was an American marathon runner of Japanese ancestry. Gorman did not begin running competitively until she was in her mid-30s, but rapidly emerged as one of the elite marathoning women of the mid-1970s. She is the only woman to win both the Boston and New York City marathons twice and is the first of only two woman runners to win both marathons in the same year.
Osamu Inoue (井上 治, Inoue Osamu; born 16 September 1932) is a Japanese former long-distance runner who competed in the…Osamu Inoue (井上 治, Inoue Osamu; born 16 September 1932) is a Japanese former long-distance runner who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics.
Shigeki Tanaka (田中 茂樹, Tanaka Shigeki; 1931 – October 4, 2022) was a Japanese long-distance runner who won the 1951…Shigeki Tanaka (田中 茂樹, Tanaka Shigeki; 1931 – October 4, 2022) was a Japanese long-distance runner who won the 1951 Boston Marathon.
Keizo Yamada (山田 敬蔵, Yamada Keizō; January 30, 1927 – April 2, 2020) was a long-distance runner from Japan, who won the…Keizo Yamada (山田 敬蔵, Yamada Keizō; January 30, 1927 – April 2, 2020) was a long-distance runner from Japan, who won the 1956 edition of the Fukuoka Marathon, clocking 2:25:15 on December 9, 1956. He represented his native country at the 1952 Summer Olympics, finishing in 26th place (2:38:11) and won the 1953 Boston Marathon. He retired on July 18, 2009. He was born in Odate, Akita.
Yasuo Ikenaka (池中 康雄, Ikenaka Yasuo; March 1914 – March 14, 1992) was a Japanese long-distance runner who is credited…Yasuo Ikenaka (池中 康雄, Ikenaka Yasuo; March 1914 – March 14, 1992) was a Japanese long-distance runner who is credited by the International Association of Athletics Federations for setting a world's best in the marathon on April 3, 1935. According to the IAAF, Ikenaka's time of 2:26:44 was over a minute faster than the previous record set by Fusashige Suzuki three days earlier.
Shoichiro Takenaka (竹中 正一郎, Takenaka Shōichirō; 30 September 1912 – 4 April 1997) was a Japanese long-distance runner.…Shoichiro Takenaka (竹中 正一郎, Takenaka Shōichirō; 30 September 1912 – 4 April 1997) was a Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in the men's 5000 metres at the 1932 Summer Olympics.
Sohn Kee-chung (Korean: 손기정; Korean pronunciation: [son.kidʑʌŋ]; August 29, 1912 – November 15, 2002) was a Korean…Sohn Kee-chung (Korean: 손기정; Korean pronunciation: [son.kidʑʌŋ]; August 29, 1912 – November 15, 2002) was a Korean Olympic athlete and long-distance runner. He became the first Korean to win a medal at the Olympic Games, winning gold in the marathon at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. He was born in the Korean Peninsula, but he was forced to compete as a member of the Japanese delegation because Korea was under Japanese rule at the time. Sohn set an Olympic record of 2 hours 29 minutes 19.2 seconds. Sohn competed under the Japanese name Kitei Son, as Korea was under Japanese occupation during his career.
Kenzo Yashima (八島健三, Yashima Kenzō; 6 April 1902 – 17 October 1979) was a Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in…Kenzo Yashima (八島健三, Yashima Kenzō; 6 April 1902 – 17 October 1979) was a Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in the marathon at the 1920 Summer Olympics.
Shizo Kanakuri (金栗 四三, Kanaguri Shisō; 20 August 1891 – 13 November 1983) was a Japanese marathon runner celebrated as…Shizo Kanakuri (金栗 四三, Kanaguri Shisō; 20 August 1891 – 13 November 1983) was a Japanese marathon runner celebrated as the "father of marathon" in Japan. He holds the Guinness World Record for the longest time to complete a marathon with a time of 54 years 8 months 6 days 5 hours 32 minutes 20.3 seconds. Kanakuri retired from the men's marathon event at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics without informing the authorities, but Sveriges Television gave him the opportunity to complete his marathon in 1967.
Yahei Miura (三浦弥平, 2 April 1891 – 1971) was a Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in the marathon at the 1920…Yahei Miura (三浦弥平, 2 April 1891 – 1971) was a Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in the marathon at the 1920 and 1924 Summer Olympics.
Kaori Yoshida (吉田 香織, Yoshida Kaori; born August 4, 1981) is a Japanese long-distance runner and marathon athlete. She…Kaori Yoshida (吉田 香織, Yoshida Kaori; born August 4, 1981) is a Japanese long-distance runner and marathon athlete. She is a Salomon footwear ambassador.
