Mei Ichinose is a former Paralympian, representing Japan as a swimmer during the 2016 Paralympics held in Rio de Janeiro, and ASICS' brand ambassador. At Tokyo Marathon 2025, she worked as a volunteer on projects such as sustainability events over the three days leading up to the Marathon.

"VOLUNTAINER Meeting 2025 ~ Explore, Learn, and Connect for Sustainability through Tokyo Marathon ~" was held at Tokyo Big Sight on February 28, 2025. During the "Connecting Together! Another Interview Relay (Official Partner: ASICS Japan Corp.)" round-table discussion, Ichinose spoke with visually impaired runner Hiroshi Machida and guide runner Hideki Takizawa. Their discussion covered topics such as the relationships of trust between visually impaired runners and guide runners, the support provided by volunteers, the power of cheering, and the fact that if Machida completed the Tokyo Marathon, he would likely become the first completely blind Japanese runner to achieve Six Star Finisher status in the Abbott World Marathon Majors.

Father-and-son team Shaun and Shamus Evans, who had come from America to compete in the Duo Team category being pilot-tested in Tokyo Marathon 2025, also took part in the discussion. Rider Shamus, who had competed in over 50 marathons before but for whom the Tokyo Marathon would be his first international race, said, with a smile on his face, "Now to have the opportunity to represent inclusion and show the world, it’s almost mind boggling." Shaun, who would be pushing his son Shamus in a racing wheelchair customized for the Duo Team race, said "I talked with my wife and we thought about what we could do to enable Shamus, who can't walk on his own due to his disability, to do all kinds of things. I'm very proud to have been able to come to Japan by serving as his legs and running myself," he said, with deep emotion in his voice.

Ichinose was stirred by what Machida, Takizawa, Shaun, and Shamus had to say. "One of the things that makes the Tokyo Marathon so special is that all kinds of people can participate in the same way, regardless of their physical ability." Her eyes shined as she talked about the diversity and future potential of the Tokyo Marathon, continuing "I look forward to seeing that approach become even more widespread in the future."

Ichinose also took part in the "Yoga and Sustainable Social Event to Lift Your Spirits! (Official Partner: ASICS Japan Corp.)," which was held at the event site on the same day. During the event, she tried her hand at standing yoga and stretching exercises that can be done before running or volunteering, along with the participants.

Ichinose then took part in a round-table discussion on sustainability initiatives with members such as former women's marathon world record-holder Paula Radcliffe, Tegla Loroupe, and Yuko Kawakami, who took 7th place in the women's 10,000 metres at the Atlanta Olympics. They discussed promoting sustainability through sports.

On the following day, March 1, she took part in an early morning "plogging" event, jogging through Asakusa while picking up garbage.

"Plogging" is a new SDGs experience sport that originated in Sweden, combining the words for trash picking ("Plocka Upp") and "jogging." The Tokyo Marathon is supported by the understanding and cooperation of many people, including those around the course. This year, again, roughly 130 runners and volunteers, with gratitude to the city of Tokyo in their hearts, took part in the event, whose theme was "A Day Tokyo Blossoms in."

In the afternoon, she returned again to the VOLUNTAINER Meeting 2025 site, where she took part in a workshop where participants used waste materials (such as pellets created during the process of recycling garments collected at the Tokyo Marathon start area) to make unique items for cheering on runners.

On March 2, the day of the marathon, she participated as a volunteer, interacting with runners such as by helping junior volunteers hand out finisher medals at the 10.7 km finish line.

She then cheered on runners from the sustainable cheering area (barrier-free cheering area) at the Tokyo Marathon 2025 finish line. Over the three days of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, she was deeply involved in the Tokyo Marathon, assisting with events and encouraging runners.

After the marathon, Etsuko Yamamoto of the Tokyo Marathon Foundation's Social Contribution Division spoke with Ichinose about her impressions of her first ever Tokyo Marathon, what she had discovered, her hopes for the future, and more

"I was really moved by the Tokyo Legacy Half Marathon that I ran before," she said, "but the Tokyo Marathon felt like it was in a class of its own, like how the Paralympics are a world apart from the World Athletics Championships." She mentioned that she was especially surprised "at how much power we got from the runners by cheering."

Until now, Ichinose has been on the receiving end of the cheering, as a top athlete. "I've gotten power from people cheering for me, so it felt strange when volunteers and people who had come to cheer would talk about getting energy from the athletes." However, having experienced what it's like to be on the cheering and support side, it all clicked into place.

"I truly understood what it means to be energized by runners, through being involved in the marathon in a capacity other than as an athlete. The expressions on runners' faces after they'd finished running. The relationships of trust between runners and their escort runners. Just seeing that filled me with power. It's a sporting event, but it's not just about running. There are all kinds of people involved, whether they're watching or cheering or supporting, and each have their own qualities. But there's one way in which they're all the same, and that's the power they're filled with."

Ichinose wasn't just impressed by the fact that the Tokyo Marathon overflows with that kind of power. She also strongly felt the diversity of the Tokyo Marathon—the way that people with different goals, such as her fellow round table participants Machida and Takizawa, the father-son team of Shaun and Shamus, and elite runners, shared the same space and positively influenced each other—and the strong connections between people, including spectators and supporters.

Discussing these connections created through the marathon, Yamamoto said, "You may able to reach new heights on your own, but when people connect to each other, it creates an incredible amount of power. Having raced in a marathon myself, I feel that such connections and power have the potential to enable us to achieve the Tokyo Marathon's vision, The Day We Unite." Ichinose, who saw Shaun & Shamus's run in person, exclaimed, "It was so moving!" Yamamoto talked about her own discovery of the potential of the connections created by the Tokyo Marathon, saying, "Unfortunately, I wasn't able to catch even a glimpse of the Duo Team's race, but I heard about their finish from another of the event staff, and it was so moving we both ended up crying. Just hearing about it was enough to make me feel a kind of connection."

In 2027, the Tokyo Marathon will celebrate its 20th anniversary. Ichinose was asked about the hopes she had for the further expansion of the marathon's sustainability, charity, and volunteer activities leading up to this milestone and then in the years beyond.

"I think the first step should be showing the world the wonderful initiatives already being performed by the Tokyo Marathon. This year, I participated over the course of three days, and I felt first-hand the truth of the phrase 'The Day We Unite.' I hope even more people will come to feel the same way. It's my heartfelt wish that many people will learn about the Tokyo Marathon's initiatives and that, more than ever, it will truly be the day we unite."

Listening to Ichinose reflect on her experiences and discoveries over the three days, Yamamoto said, "I'm really happy that Ichinose took part." Ichinose's final words of advice appeared to inspire Yamamoto and the other Tokyo Marathon Foundation staff members to pursue future initiatives.

Thank you so much, Ichinose!

In an effort to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) the international community has set out to pursue, the Tokyo Marathon Foundation will continue to carry out sustainability initiatives as part of the Tokyo Marathon. These initiatives, focused on reducing waste, protecting the environment, and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion), will be carried out through cooperation with official partners in projects such as charity and volunteering projects.