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

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

The 9th interviewee is ASICS Corporation (“ASICS”), one of the official partners. 

What made ASICS become the official partner of the Tokyo Marathon since its inauguration in 2007? Mr. Yasuhito Hirota, Chairman and CEO and Representative Director of ASICS will touch on the development and expectations of the Tokyo Marathon leading up to the milestone 20th anniversary in 2027 from the perspective that ASICS has supported runners and the race for a long time.  

With an aim to realize our desire for people to live healthful, happy lives both physically and mentally through sports

 

—Please share with us what made ASICS become the official partner of the Tokyo Marathon. 

 Under the brand slogan of “Sound Mind, Sound Body” representing our founding philosophy of “Anima Sana In Corpore Sano (A Sound Mind In A Sound Body),” ASICS works on realizing our desire for people to live healthful, happy lives both physically and mentally through sports. In marathons, with an intention for everyone to feel the joy of running, supporting and cheering, we have been supporting races held all over the world. At the time of the inauguration of the Tokyo Marathon in Japan, as we had wished to cooperate for the success of the world top level race representing Asia in both name and reality, we executed the official partnership agreement.

 

—What is the reason for ASICS to continue to be the official partner?

 Marathon is a highly attractive event in which all sports lovers can be involved in some form throughout their lives. In addition to runners who enjoy running, we can also be involved in it in various ways, such as cheering and volunteering. Runners from all over the world come to the Tokyo Marathon. As it is an important opportunity for us to convey the appealing points of sports and those of Tokyo to the world, we are committed to provide full support as a sports brand originated in Japan. 

 

Everyday running and volunteer activities have popularized within the company

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

 

 Since the inaugural Tokyo Marathon, our employees have participated in volunteer activities. For the inaugural Tokyo Marathon in 2007, we put a towel around the runners’ shoulders at the finish area, and since 2008, we have been playing a role as course marshal, and in 2020, we provided support at water stations. The company has been given the opportunity to participate in volunteer activities in a wide variety of areas, and in addition to participating in the event as runners, many of our employees have found the joy of volunteering. Further, our employees who were to participate in the race as runners invited each other to do training together on weekends, resulting in the creation of a new form of communication. In response to runners who were very cold after finishing the Tokyo Marathon in 2019 held on a cold day, we developed a new product, “finisher robe,” taking into account runners’ feelings.

 

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

 

 Definitely, the word “running” has constantly sunk into the minds of our employees. Many of them tried running, particularly the inaugural Tokyo Marathon. From the sprint start to today, the running culture continues to expand within the company, not only through business activities but also through everyday running and volunteer activities; the joy of sports and the joy of support have also been popularized within the company.

 

The Tokyo Marathon has proceeded to a phase to exert a positive impact on the world. 

 

—Please share with us about what you felt at the time when the decision to hold the Tokyo Marathon was made as well as what you feel today. 

 When the decision to hold the Tokyo Marathon was made, ASICS had already supported a number of marathon races, so we thought there was no reason for ASICS not to leverage our experience and expertise in Tokyo. We had already known that a city marathon held in a big city would have significant value for people. As we almost reach the 20th milestone anniversary, we have a conviction that what we had felt at the time of preparing for the inaugural Tokyo Marathon is absolutely true; that is, the Tokyo Marathon has become “a leading city marathon both in Japan and the world.” 

 

—What are the differences between the Tokyo Marathon in its early years and the Tokyo Marathon today?

 The Tokyo Marathon, in its early years, focused on fulfilling the following three pillars (do, watch, support); in other words, runners who are the main characters run (do), cheerers on sidelines and improvement of the environment and support to the region (watch) and volunteer cooperation to operate the race (support). Today, it seems that the Tokyo Marathon has developed and grown to be on the stage of “social contribution.” The Tokyo Marathon has proceeded to a phase where it thinks about and implements how it can exert a positive impact on the world as one of the leading marathon races in the world while being highly conscious about sustainability, diversity, and charity which draw international attention. 

 

—Then, what about any changes you see in the city and people since the inaugural Tokyo Marathon?

 We see an increasing number of runners in the city. Running must have adapted to our everyday life. Whenever we find runners in local races proudly wearing the Tokyo Marathon outfits, we feel that the culture of the Tokyo Marathon has taken root throughout Japan.  In our daily conversation, we bring up and ask, “Are you running the Tokyo Marathon?” Even those who do not exercise on a regular basis want to try running if it is for the Tokyo Marathon, or they feel they can run if it is the Tokyo Marathon.  The Tokyo Marathon makes people think in that way and brings such changes.

 

To be the race where everyone can smile

 

—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?

 As the company that aims to be also “No. 1,” we are proud of being able to participate in the race as the partner and hope to use the products and services that only ASICS can provide and to further enhance the value of the Tokyo Marathon for runners and volunteers. We hope that the Tokyo Marathon becomes an attractive race for runners all over the world who would list the Tokyo Marathon at the top of the races to run someday in the future. 

 

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

 The Tokyo Marathon is a precious event that allows us to have contact with everyone related to the marathon. It is the event where our customers both in Japan and abroad in various scenes can learn about the products and services of ASICS and where we can experience how fun and wonderful the Tokyo Marathon is and grow together with our customers and stakeholders.

 

—Do you have any expectations for the future Tokyo Marathon?

 ASICS strives to develop products and provide services from day to day, placing the “safety and security” on top of the list as the most important item. We hope that the Tokyo Marathon continues to be a safe and secure race and develops into a race in which everyone wishes to participate regardless of age and physical strength. We also hope that each person finds his or her own way of having fun in the “Tokyo Marathon” and that everyone can smile there, and we hope to provide support to realize it. 

 

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

 

 The Tokyo Marathon is a day when everyone who is involved in it can be a star. We are happy to be able to participate in this amazing event.

It will be my tenth time running the Tokyo Marathon. I will continue to run with my motto of “gracefully resisting aging.”