The second annual Tokyo Marathon was held yesterday.
The second annual Tokyo Marathon was held February 17th 2008, beginning at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building and tracing a course past historic temples and the Imperial Palace grounds, as well as the capital’s most modern landmarks. 30,000 participants were selected by lottery draw from applicants all over the world.
The first Tokyo Marathon in 2007 was marked by foggy, rainy weather, while this year’s runners enjoyed clear skies. The event was also better organized this year, with thousands of police officers redirecting traffic and hundreds of employees from the sportswear maker ASICS positioned alongside the course. There were also thousand of well-wishers along the route. The popularity of the marathon is evidence of the increased interest in running in Japan, as well as part of the build up to the 2008 Olympic Games.