Interview Relay 42 Stories of the Tokyo Marathon
〜Connecting Hearts〜

Interview Relay: 42 Stories of the Tokyo Marathon ~ Connecting Hearts ~

The 10th interviewee is Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., one of the Official Partners of the Tokyo Marathon.
Otsuka Pharmaceutical develops health-beneficial products with a scientific basis and has supported runners since the first race in 2007 through the provision of beverages for aid stations and health-related information.
Mr.  Naoshi Satou, Executive Director of the Nutraceuticals Division at Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., speaks about the value the company sees in the Tokyo Marathon and the changes this sporting culture has brought to the city of Tokyo. He also talks about why they continue to be an official partner as a company and the internal changes that have occurred as a result of supporting the Tokyo Marathon.

Supporting runners with products and health information

 

—Please tell us what led Otsuka Pharmaceutical to become an official partner.

 We are a total healthcare company that aims to contribute to the health of people around the world by creating innovative products and services. In sports, we provide broad support through our products and through providing useful information on conditioning to everyone, from athletes aiming to improve their performance to people aiming to improve their daily health. Among these activities, when the world’s largest-scale citizen’s marathon was to be held in Japan’s capital, Tokyo, in 2007, we thought about how we wanted to support the runners gathering from within Japan and abroad, all aiming to achieve their goals.

 

—Please tell us why you have continued to be an official partner.

 We have supported the Tokyo Marathon since its inaugural race in 2007. This ongoing partnership reflects our commitment to our corporate philosophy of ‘contributing to better  health worldwide.’ We support runners in their daily training with our ‘Body Maintenance’ products and provide ‘Pocari Sweat,’ our globally recognized sports drink, at the start, eight-course aid stations, and the finish line. Through these efforts, we aim to contribute to the health of runners and event staff by supporting their hydration, electrolyte balance, and nutritional needs.

 

“The world uniting as one” – be a catalyst for that initiative

 

—When the Tokyo Marathon was first announced, what were your thoughts, and are there any differences or changes in how you feel about the Tokyo Marathon now?

 We had been supporting citizen marathons domestically and internationally, but I remember feeling both excitement and apprehension when a new marathon was to be held in Tokyo. Given the course setting that runs through the heart of Tokyo and the world’s largest number of participants, we worked with the event organizers every day, discussing the types and amounts of beverages and food needed for runners at aid stations, how to provide them, and how to manage the volunteers supporting the event. By continuing to improve the operation with each event, I think the Tokyo Marathon triggered an increase in citizen runners in

 

—How do you feel about the changes in the city and its people since the Tokyo Marathon began?

 Tokyo is a city that has always attracted many visitors from overseas, but at the EXPO venue and the start line on race day, we indeed feel that runners from all over the world gather in Tokyo. It’s inspiring to see Tokyo residents warmly welcoming and cheering on participants alongside friends and family who have traveled from abroad. Furthermore, with the increase in both domestic and international runners in places like the Imperial Palace and other areas within Tokyo, I believe that the Tokyo Marathon is becoming a catalyst for ‘the world uniting as one.”

 

Recycling and utilization of plastic bottles and paper cups

—Is there any case that Otsuka Pharmaceutical worked on within the company by utilizing the Tokyo Marathon as the official partner?

 As part of our efforts to reduce the burden on the global environment, we are promoting a circular economy that focuses on resource recycling. Currently, in the beverage industry, we are promoting ‘bottle-to-bottle’ horizontal recycling, which uses used plastic bottles as raw materials for new plastic bottles. We collect the plastic bottles used at the Tokyo Marathon’s aid stations and implement this ‘bottle-to-bottle’ process.

At the Tokyo Marathon 2024, we also implemented initiatives aimed at ‘recycling paper cups.’ Used paper cups at the aid stations were collected by having runners place them in special collection boxes. These cups were then processed and used as raw material for recycled paper and ultimately reborn as toilet paper.

 

—Are there any changes within the company since Otsuka Pharmaceutical became the official partner?

 The rising popularity of running internationally has inspired our group companies, especially in Asia, to plan and run their own running events for local citizen runners. The momentum to support running for health promotion is growing not only within our company but also within our group companies. It has also sparked more vibrant communication with partners and individuals involved in running and marathons.

 

—What do you think is the significance and value of the Tokyo Marathon for the city of Tokyo?

 We believe that the fact that so many runners can enjoy participating in a marathon in Tokyo, a city with a large population and many of Japan’s most important institutions, strongly demonstrates that Tokyo and Japan are safe cities and countries and that they have the capacity to manage such events. It attracts people globally, boosts the city’s energy and economy, fosters new connections, and reinforces Tokyo’s image as a place where running promotes physical and mental well-being. This, we believe, is the enduring value of the Tokyo Marathon.

 

We aim to evolve along with the Tokyo Marathon in the future

 

—How do you feel about the differences, developments, and growth of the Tokyo Marathon from its inception to the present day?

 The inaugural race in 2007 faced numerous operational challenges, including a shortage of beverages at the aid stations and restrooms, compounded by the challenging weather conditions of rain. Learning from these experiences, we made improvements with each subsequent race. As a result, the Tokyo Marathon has grown into an event where many runners from Japan and abroad can enjoy participating while maintaining a high completion rate and popularity. This growth, we believe, was achieved through the hard work and ingenuity of everyone involved, as well as the cooperation of the official partners. We hope to continue contributing to the ongoing growth of this event.

 

—What does the Tokyo Marathon mean to your company?

 For our company, which upholds the corporate philosophy of providing products and services that ‘contribute to better health worldwide,’ the Tokyo Marathon is a significant opportunity to realize that philosophy. Through our products, services, and health-related information, we hope to continue contributing to the health of runners who gather from around the world, as well as the volunteers and staff who support them, and to the growth of the event itself.