The Tokyo Marathon Family Run 2025 was held on Sunday, March 2, in the Marunouchi area of Tokyo. This year, a total of 459 pairs, including participants in wheelchairs—918 elementary school students and their parents or gardians—joyfully ran approximately 1 km from Marunouchi Naka-Dori, part of the official Tokyo Marathon course, to the finish gate at Gyoko-Dori in front of Tokyo Station.

At the opening ceremony held prior to the start, Blue Pegasus, the cheering supporters from the Komazawa University Athletic Association Support Guidance Department, put on a full-throttle cheering performance, with the three groups of leaders, cheerleaders, and the brass band working together to fire-up the participants.

Also, MC and guest M Takashi, the Tokyo Marathon Foundation's Sports Legacy Charity Ambassador, livened up the event with his talk, and special guest runner, Barcelona Olympic silver medalist and Atlanta Olympic bronze medalist Yuko Arimori, encouraged the runners with "Are you all excited? I hope you enjoy the Tokyo Marathon course. Let's run with a smile!" before joining them in the race.

The starter was Tomomi Tanaka, an adviser to the Dai-ichi Life Group Women's Running Team (official event sponsor) and representative for Japan in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics women's marathon. As a guest team, Yuka Suzuki and Haruka Kokai, who represented Japan at the Paris Olympics, and other members of the Dai-ichi Life Group Women's Track and Field Club also ran the course with the participating families.

At 9:25 a.m., "Let's all have the best day ever!" Tanaka shouted, an air horn sounded, and the 1-kilometer family run finally began!

There were children taking off enthusiastically, parents and children dressed in matching costumes or cosplaying as characters from popular anime, and families running at their own pace waving to the cheers of support—everyone was enjoying the cityscape of Tokyo and the Tokyo Marathon course.

We spoke to the Oe family, who participated as a family of four. The father, Ganoshin, and his daughter, a third-grader in elementary school, participated in the Family Run two years ago, making this their second time. With the younger son, Shingen, now in the first grade of elementary school, the whole family, including the mother, Naoko, participated.

As Shingen took off with a sprint, his mother said, "Just trying to keep up with him was exhausting. I tried my best not to come in last (wry smile)." Shingen, who participated for the first time, shared his impressions with a smile, saying, "I didn't realize one kilometer was so long, but everyone was waving at me and it was fun!"

Meanwhile, his older sister Kotoko said, "I did my best to reach the finish line. I was happy that the cameraman took our pictures." It seems that this year was a good memory, just like two years ago. Seeing his children like that, their father said with a smile, "I participated because my children like to exercise, and I'm glad they looked like they were having fun."

We were blessed with fine weather again this year, perfect for a family run. The bright smiles and expressions of all the parents and children who participated were wonderful.

Thank you to everyone who participated! We look forward to seeing you not only at the next Tokyo Marathon Family Run 2026 but also at a future Tokyo Marathon!