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

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

The 7th interviewee is Ms. Etsuko Yamamoto, the Director of the Social Contribution Division of the Tokyo Marathon Foundation.

We asked her about the appeal and value of the Tokyo Marathon from the perspective of her position to supervise the charity programs, volunteer programs and sustainability initiatives. In the interview, she touches on the social contribution activities in which the Tokyo Marathon Foundation engages and the thinking leading up to the milestone 20^th anniversary in 2027.

 

Advertisement calling for volunteers encouraged me

–Referring to your experience and background before, how came to become a staff member of the Tokyo Marathon Foundation?

 I was already a city runner, running a full marathon and half marathon a few times a year, when I first learned about the holding of the inaugural Tokyo Marathon. However, the race day was very close to the other race I had already signed up, so I did not apply for the Tokyo Marathon as a runner. While I was thinking of involving in the Tokyo Marathon in some form, I found an advertisement calling for volunteers and applied for the volunteer leader training program.  Since the Tokyo Marathon 2007, I joined as a staff member of the Volunteer Center, and then in July 2013, I became a staff member of the Foundation.

 

–What was your impression of the Tokyo Marathon before becoming a staff member of the Tokyo Marathon?

　I had been involved in the Tokyo Marathon since its inaugural race in 2007 as staff, but soon it turned out to be challenging to maintain a balance with parenting, so I left my role for the race in 2013. For this reason, I participated in the Tokyo Marathon 2013 as a volunteer and served at Packet Pick-up, and on the race day, I cheered my friends at several spots throughout the course.  I clearly recall that watching the Tokyo Marathon from the perspective of a spectator, instead of staff made me want to experience the atmosphere, enthusiasm and passion much closer once again.

 

“To contribute to the society” through running, which is a new form of donations

–Please tell us the social contribution activities, including charity, in which the Tokyo Marathon Foundation engages.

 In addition to charity activities that we collaborate with recipient organizations through the Tokyo Marathon, we take various initiatives such as supporting athletes and parasports by utilizing donations in the Sports Legacy Program of the Tokyo Marathon Foundation. Further, we offer occasions to do volunteer activities and conduct the skill-up sessions which can also be helpful in our daily lives as well as cooperate with other marathon races for volunteer recruitment and guidance. In the sustainability initiatives through the race and the Foundation activities, in addition to the recycling campaign in collaboration with the official partners of the race, we aim to reduce the CO2 emissions by using electric cars in the race, and we also donate in the green conservation activities in the Green Mileage Program.

 

–What is the reason you think that the Tokyo Marathon needs to take initiatives to promote Sustainability, DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) as well as social contribution activities such as charity?

　The Tokyo Marathon Foundation upholds “Building a better society through the joy of running” as one of its action plans. The Tokyo Marathon Charity was launched in the Tokyo Marathon 2011 with the aim of fostering the donation culture in Japan. From that time, the concept of the “charity run” was already widely known overseas, whereas in Japan, the style of “running through donation” was not yet recognized as much. I think it is the mission of the Tokyo Marathon, which is the largest marathon in Japan and the member of the Abbott World Marathon Seven Majors, to widely convey a new style of donation to “contribute to society” through running not only to runners but also to those who are thinking of donating.

 

—Please tell us about what the Tokyo Marathon wishes to give back to the society through charity as well as future initiatives.

 While charitable giving through running is important, we also strive to broaden the scope of charity in the future, involving not only charity runners but also other runners, volunteers, and the companies and organizations that support the event.  As one of the initiatives, we have started posting blog in the website of RUN with HEART of the Tokyo Marathon Charity since October 2024. The recipient organizations which participate in the charity program introduce their activities, programs conducted through the donations collected, make an announcement calling for volunteers for their organizations, and we hope that their posts will lead to opportunities where people look to global social issues, what actions require to tackle with such issues and think about them through the Tokyo Marathon.

 

The Day We Unite. – runners, volunteers, spectators 

—What is the value and role of the Tokyo Marathon, for Tokyo and the city of Tokyo ?

The Tokyo Marathon, held on a course that starts with a flurry of heart-shaped confetti and tours famous locations in Tokyo before finishing in front of Tokyo Station and Gyoko-dori Avenue, is a representative early spring tradition and iconic presence in Tokyo, and we believe it is connected to the image of not only Tokyo but also Japan. I believe the value of this marathon lies in the human connections it fosters and the powerful force that emerges from our unity. I would be happy if the image of the runners, volunteers, spectators and the city being united is created.

When I joined the Chicago Marathon as a volunteer in 2015, I was told by a local volunteer that “when I traveled to Japan, Japanese people were very kind to me, so today, it is my turn to be kind to you,” so I really had an enjoyable volunteer experience. Kindness to people is also united and comes back to someone someday, and it would be wonderful if the Tokyo Marathon becomes its starting point and passing point.

 

—What is the value of the Tokyo Marathon for elite runners, city runners and volunteers?

 Every time the race ends, I look forward to reading the questionnaires. Some people express the Tokyo Marathon as a “dream” and “aspiration,” the race day as a “grand stage,” and the memory as a “treasure.” Many share that they were deeply touched, some even saying they were moved to tears.  Some people said the Tokyo Marathon became the turning point of their lives for change, just like it was so for me. I imagine that the process of the race day, various encounters during the race period, and the satisfaction on the race day become the essence of people’s daily lives after the race ends or create opportunities to uphold their next goal. As a result, while everyone becomes a star and is moved by each story generated from encounters and experiences, the “Tokyo Marathon” is an extraordinary event for us to recognize the blessings of our daily lives. Moreover, in the Tokyo Marathon 2021 (held in March 2022) during the COVID, we received a word of thanks, “thank you for holding the race,” from many runners and volunteers, and I felt that holding the Tokyo Marathon itself is significantly important.

 

—The Tokyo Marathon Foundation has set a vision of the “Tokyo Marathon, the best marathon in the world, held in Tokyo, the best city in the world” based on three pillars: “The safest and most secure race in the world,” “The most exciting race in the world,” and “The warmest and most friendly race in the world.” What is your view on this and how do you plan to achieve it from the perspective of the Social Contribution Division?

The Tokyo Marathon is made possible not only by participants and officials but also in cooperation with many people from the facilities and organizations located throughout the course.  In addition, because the race utilizes the city of Tokyo, it draws tourists from around the world while also impacting the daily lives of residents and workers.  We hope to showcase how our sustainability efforts give back to the city and the environment. Furthermore, sometimes there are days when it is too hot to do sports outdoors, and while we appreciate the natural environment we have where we can run, and for the environment we can run because of people who follow the traffic restrictions, we also hope to value the environment of our mind where we listen intently with an open mind when we receive consultation from people with disabilities who “wish to cross the other side of the road.” We hope to create a warm and kind atmosphere through various initiatives so that there will always be realizations for people who are involved in the race and to encourage others to feel empathy and support.

 

To preserve the environment to continue running forever

–What does the Tokyo Marathon mean to you?  #MyTokyoMarathon is…？

“Sustainable” refers to something that endures and continues over time.

It shows my hope that the Tokyo Marathon becomes sustainable and indispensable for many people. The force generated from “The Day We Unite” is indispensable and the one and only. And I believe that by uniting our thoughts as one powerful force, we can realize something extraordinary beyond our imagination. I hope that as many people as possible think “So happy we have the Tokyo Marathon.”

 

—Please share with us any other thoughts about the Tokyo Marathon.

I would love to run the Tokyo Marathon as a runner as I have never run it.  Since the Sydney Marathon joined the Abbott World Marathon Majors in 2025, I have a dream of ultimately gaining the last medal in the Tokyo Marathon with an aim to obtain all Seven Star Medals.

Until then, and during all this time, I will make utmost efforts to preserve the environment so that everyone can continuously run and operate a better race through my tasks.  We look forward to your participation in the Tokyo Marathon in various tasks. We would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation for your continued understanding and cooperation.