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

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

The 13th interviewee is Yurika, the representative of the fitness community “Cocochii,” which has the theme of a comfortable place where you can exercise like you’re having a girls’ night out.

From the perspective of a community organizer, we asked her about the appeal and value of the Tokyo Marathon, the changes it has brought to the city and the running culture, her expectations for the Tokyo Marathon, which she will be participating in for the first time with community members, and how she wants to promote running to women in their 20s in the future.

A Goal Race that Women in their 20s Aspire to

 

—From the perspective of a running community organizer, how do you view the significance and value of the Tokyo Marathon?

 I believe it serves as a source of motivation and a goal for everyone’s running. The Tokyo Marathon is a major event in Tokyo, and indeed the world, that people of all ages can enjoy. I think not just people in Tokyo, but citizen runners from all over the world apply because they want to run it at least once in their lives. In our community, “Cocochii,” we have many women around the age of 25, and they all talk about wanting to run the Tokyo Marathon someday. I think it’s a race that people of various generations admire and that serves as motivation for running.

 

—Have you ever watched the Tokyo Marathon in person? If so, what was your impression of the race as you experienced it on-site?

 Before I made running a habit, I watched the Tokyo Marathon in person. I have a vivid memory of being overwhelmed by the sight of runners filling the main streets of Tokyo and the enthusiastic cheers from the sidelines. Among the runners—young and old, men and women—there were people running with the goal of finishing, others running with friends, and people with various other motivations. The sight of the spectators wholeheartedly cheering them on and the runners giving their all in; that moment was awe-inspiring. It made me think that one day I wanted to be among those runners and run alongside them.

 

—As the Tokyo Marathon has started and has become one of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, what changes have you noticed in the running culture?

 My own running experience is relatively short, about two years, but of course, I knew about the Tokyo Marathon even before I started running and had always thought I’d like to run it someday. With such a large-scale, city-wide event like the Tokyo Marathon being held every year and with such an iconic race, I think it creates an opportunity for people who aren’t yet familiar with running to become interested in it. I also think it has broadened the range of people who enjoy running.

 

Running Like Going Out with Friends

 

—Please tell us what motivated you to start running and what motivated you to want to run the Tokyo Marathon.

 I started running because I thought it was the best way to encourage women my age to start exercising. After retiring from sports, I got hooked on CrossFit training and hardly ran at all. However, I’d always had this desire to “increase the number of women who enjoy exercising in their immediate environment.” I realized that running, which anyone can start immediately with just a pair of shoes, would be an easier way to achieve this than the training I was currently doing. So, I started sharing information about running.

About a year after I started running, I participated in my first marathon. After running marathons both overseas and in Japan, I noticed how low the participation rate of young women was in Japanese marathons. Overseas, I saw many young women running with friends, but in Japan, I hardly saw any, and it felt like it was perceived as a difficult hurdle. I wanted more young women to experience the joy of marathons. From that feeling, I began to have a vague dream of running the Tokyo Marathon with Cocochii members someday.

 

—How is running perceived as a sport among women in their 20s? If there are any unique ways that women in their 20s enjoy running, please tell us about them.

 I think many women in their 20s run primarily for weight loss, but I believe it has so much more to offer. At Cocochii, which I manage, we regularly enjoy running as a tool for refreshing ourselves. We don’t just run; in warmer seasons, we also have picnics afterward, so I feel that our members see it as a sport that they can easily enjoy with friends. Running with friends through parks and the city while enjoying a pleasant breeze, going to cafes, or having picnics—incorporating running into our daily activities—has become a daily pleasure.

 

—How do you feel about the appeal of the Tokyo Marathon? Why do you think runners want to run the Tokyo Marathon?

 Tokyo has a concentration of world-famous tourist attractions in one place, and I think you can run with high spirits while enjoying attractive buildings and scenery along the course. I feel that the greatest appeal is being able to run through such a world-leading metropolis filled with runners.

Also, as it’s known as one of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, being able to run through the beautiful city of Tokyo makes it a coveted event for runners around the world. Runners from all over the world gather in Tokyo and run toward the same goal. It seems like tremendous energy is generated there, and perhaps that’s what people want to experience.

 

Enjoying the process so that we can all finish with smiles

 

—Please tell us a memorable story related to the Tokyo Marathon.

 This year, I’ll be running the Tokyo Marathon with the “Cocochii” members, but the truth is, we got our entry by pure luck. Last autumn, we participated in a running event organized by the Tokyo Marathon Foundation called “TOKYO ROKUTAI FES,” and we won a lottery there. We had only started the community about a year ago, and we never imagined we’d be able to participate in this coveted race so soon, so it felt like a dream come true!

We’re currently training together, and with members of varying levels, I’m so happy that we can all enjoy running together toward the same goal! We’ll enjoy the process and keep training until the day of the race so that we can all finish with smiles.

 

—If there are any places on the course you’re currently looking forward to or anything you’re looking forward to on the day of the race (not just limited to the course), please tell us about it.

 The area around Kaminarimon in Asakusa is an area I don’t usually run in, and I’m really looking forward to running while experiencing the traditional Japanese architecture and atmosphere. Also, since this is the first marathon we’re running as a community, I want us all to work together and fully enjoy the exciting, festival-like atmosphere of the Tokyo Marathon until the very end and reach the finish line together. And I’d be happy if this moving experience reaches young women and encourages even a few more people to participate in marathons.

 

—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?

 Because the race is held in Japan, which has a strong image of safety and security, I think it gives runners from around the world the impression that they can participate safely and have fun, which is a perfect concept. I believe the enthusiastic support from the crowds in Tokyo is a highlight for many runners, and I hope the warm and welcoming cheers of the people in Japan will create a truly vibrant event.

 

Bringing the fun and relaxed atmosphere of a girls’ night out to exercise spaces across the country

 

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

 For me, the Tokyo Marathon is the first full marathon I’ll be running with my community members. I believe it’s a valuable event that allows us to deepen our bonds through the race.  We have runners of all levels participating, many of whom are beginners, but we’re all aiming to cross the finish line with smiles on our faces, each pursuing our individual goals. I hope this will be a truly memorable event for everyone involved and that it will inspire those who aren’t running this year to set their sights on future races.

 

—Do you have any expectations for the future Tokyo Marathon? What would you like to see as a way to further promote the running culture?

 I think if the atmosphere became one where young people and women could participate more easily, the number of people enjoying running would increase even further. Because it’s a full marathon representing Tokyo, I think there are still many people who feel it’s a bit of a high hurdle to clear. We hope that by taking part, we can show young women that it’s an achievable goal and inspire more women to get into running.

 

—At “Cocochii,” how do you plan to spread the joy of running and exercise to women in their 20s in the future?

 Running tends to give the impression of being a grueling activity, but by showing how women who exercise and spend their days positively enjoy their workouts, we want to dispel the stoic image of exercise and create opportunities for people to incorporate it into their daily lives.

Without pushing too hard and focusing on fun, we plan to expand places where people can casually exercise like they’re having a girls’ night out, not just in Tokyo but nationwide, in 2025!